With a two-day workshop held on July 2 and 3 in Kolašin, the program "Journalists for the EU - Reporting on the EU integration process" was officially launched. The initiative is implemented by the Ministry of European Affairs, in cooperation with UNOPS through the Knowledge for Reform Action in the Western Balkans project, funded by the Government of Norway, and the EU4ME project, financed by the European Union.

The program is designed for journalists from national and local media who deal with EU topics, with the aim of strengthening their capacities for professional, analytical and ethical reporting on key aspects of the process of accession of Montenegro to the European Union.

During the two-day training, ten journalists from eight national and two local media had the opportunity to learn about the strategic and technical aspects of EU integration, IPA funds, cross-border cooperation, the Growth Plan for the Western Balkans and the role of the media in this complex process through interactive sessions and workshops.

The chief negotiator of Montenegro with the EU, Predrag Zenović, and the State Secretary in the Ministry of European Affairs, Biljana Papović, discussed the technical and political aspects of the negotiation process with the journalists.

"The media is an indispensable ally in this process - they shape the public's perception, open space for dialogue and call for responsibility. That is why it is important to speak about European integration clearly, accurately and with arguments. Communication of the negotiation process is not a secondary activity, but an integral part of the European transformation of our society. Citizens have the right to know where we are in the accession negotiations, what the obstacles are, and what the chances are," stressed Zenović, speaking about the importance of professional media reporting.

He added that professional reporting contributes to building trust and a wider social consensus on the need and dynamics of European reforms. "The Ministry of European Affairs and I, as the main negotiator, remain open to cooperation with all journalists and newsrooms that want to contribute to the objective, critical and constructive monitoring of Montenegro's European path," Zenović concluded.

The State Secretary, Biljana Papović, emphasized the role of the media as a partner to institutions in European integration.

"European integration is a national priority, and the media are our key allies in that process. We need informed and professional journalists who will bring European topics closer to the citizens, convey the truth about the reforms and contribute to strengthening trust in the integration process itself. With this training, we aim to build a strong partnership with the media, in order to provide accurate, timely and understandable information about the course of negotiations with the European Union and the real effects of the reforms on the daily lives of citizens," said Papović.

Special attention during the workshop was devoted to the opportunities provided by EU funds, Interreg and territorial cooperation programs.

Director General of the Directorate for European Territorial Cooperation, Miloš Marković, emphasized the importance of territorial cooperation: "Programs of European territorial cooperation are an important instrument of connecting Montenegro with neighboring countries and the EU and enable the implementation of joint projects, access to funds and strengthening of the capacities of local and state institutions, and in addition they make a strong contribution to regional development and preparation for EU membership".

Head of the Directorate for Coordination of EU Financial Support, Irena Bošković, presented the available support programs of the European Union, with an emphasis on the Growth Plan for the Western Balkans.

"The growth plan for the Western Balkans is a comprehensive instrument that not only accelerates our path to EU membership, but also brings concrete benefits for citizens through new jobs, better services and stronger economic development," said Bošković.

On the second day of the training, the focus was on the development of practical journalistic skills. Long-time correspondent from Brussels, Augustin Palokaj, held a workshop on reporting techniques on EU topics, fact-checking and working with EU sources.

"I think that such workshops are extremely important. During the Croatian negotiation process, I myself participated in similar trainings and visited countries such as Poland and Estonia in order to understand first-hand their experiences. The process of enlargement and the functioning of the European Union itself are very complex, and therefore it is crucial that journalists are well prepared - so that they first understand the processes themselves, and then convey that information to the citizens in a clear and accessible way. For Montenegro, which has been negotiating for 13 years and is close to the final stage, it is extremely important for the media to focus on the content, benefits and consequences of membership. This is why workshops like this, as well as study visits to Brussels and the new member states, are of inestimable value," said Palokaj.

Experiences and impressions about the importance of the workshop were also shared by the participants.

"The workshop was very important for us journalists as someone who is an important social actor in spreading accurate information and awareness about this process. Great interest and a high degree of interactivity were shown at the workshop. Kudos to the organization, lecturers and concept", pointed out Aleksandar Lutovac, journalist of the daily newspaper Dan.

Milica Kapa, RTCG journalist, said that this was a very useful experience. "It was only through concrete examples and conversations with lecturers who are directly involved in the EU accession process that I realized how complex and multi-layered that process is. It was especially meaningful to me that we talked about how to bring these topics closer to citizens in a clear and understandable way. I am motivated to approach reporting on this area more carefully and responsibly in the future."

The program "Journalists for the EU - Reporting on the EU integration process" will continue during 2025 through a series of thematic briefings, visits to successful EU projects in Montenegro, as well as a study visit to Brussels.

The initiative aims to contribute to a better understanding of the EU process and better information to the Montenegrin public.