16.12.2024 – Final conference of the project “CLean community for sustainability in Environment And Nature – CLEAN” was held in Ivanjica. Over the past two years, this project has brought numerous benefits to the municipalities of Ivanjica and Gusinje (Montenegro). The project, with a total value of €389,635, was co-financed by the European Union with €330,800 through the Cross-Border Cooperation Programme Serbia-Montenegro 2014-2020.
The President of the Municipality of Ivanjica, Aleksandar Mitrović; the President of the Municipality of Gusinje, Sanel Balić; and the project coordinator, Marija Milenković addressed the conference attendees.
President of the Municipality of Ivanjica, Aleksandar Mitrović, emphasized the importance of cross-border projects for the local community: “The significance of such initiatives is not only reflected in visible infrastructure changes but also in enhancing the capacities of public enterprises and establishing long-term partnerships and friendships.”
President of the Municipality of Gusinje, Sanel Balić, highlighted the project’s contribution to developing ecological awareness: “The project has improved the capacities and effectiveness of public services, but it also played a crucial role in educating young people and promoting ecological awareness through joint activities and concrete actions of participants in both municipalities.”
Key results of the CLEAN project include:
- Increased waste management capacity through the procurement of specialized waste collection vehicles (2), waste containers (10), and underground containers (7) totaling around €200,000. This equipment has improved the work of the public utility companies “Komunalne djelatnosti d.o.o.” Gusinje and PUC “Ivanjica,” contributing to more efficient services for citizens.
- Exchange of knowledge and experiences through study visits to Gusinje and Ivanjica, where representatives of local communities learned about best practices, such as the “zero waste” methodology and waste management.
- Education of young people through educational workshops, eco quizzes, and art contests in four primary schools in both municipalities, involving 653 students. Eco camps were also organized in Golija and Gusinje, gathering 40 students and enabling them to acquire practical knowledge about environmental protection.
- The project included celebrating World Environment Day on June 5th through creative activities and promoting sustainable development, including creating murals in schools as permanent reminders of the importance of nature protection.
- Improvement of local infrastructure through the installation of wooden waste bins (33) and informational-educational boards (10) in the Prokletije National Park and Golija Nature Park, aiming to protect natural resources.
The project was jointly implemented by the Municipality of Gusinje (Montenegro) and the Municipality of Ivanjica (Serbia) to contribute to environmental protection in the cross-border region through more efficient and modern waste management infrastructure. The project started on December 24, 2022, and will last for two years, ending on December 23, 2024.
