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The President of the Municipality of Nikšić, Marko Kovačević, together with the President of the Municipal Assembly, Milica Lalatović Žižić, hosted a meeting with the EU Ambassador to Montenegro, Johan Sattler. They discussed ongoing projects being implemented in the Municipality of Nikšić, as well as the results achieved in the previous period — among which the prestigious title of European Capital of Culture 2030 stands out. The meeting was also attended by representatives of the Office Nikšić 2030 – European Capital of Culture, Mato Uljarević and Nemanja Popović. “This prestigious title is of great importance not only for Nikšić but for the entire country. Through this success, as well as through many other projects, Nikšić has made a contribution to Montenegro’s path toward the European Union. We have achieved significant progress in the field of environmental protection — we have resolved the decades-long problem of the Mislov Do landfill, and given that the Gračanica River has been environmentally degraded for decades and its riverbed is barely recognizable, we plan, in cooperation with the World Bank and the Ministry of Agriculture, to implement an important project for the restoration of the Gračanica River bed in the area of existing bridges. In addition, we have carried out numerous infrastructural projects and will continue to do so, all for the benefit of the citizens of Nikšić,” stated President Kovačević. Ambassador Sattler congratulated the Municipality on winning the European Capital of Culture title and expressed his satisfaction that Nikšić is making extensive use of EU projects. “Nikšić plays an important role in Montenegro’s accession to the European Union because you are the closest to the citizens, and we know that 70 percent of EU legislation is implemented at the local level. I am pleased to see that Nikšić is taking advantage of EU-funded projects,” noted the Ambassador.   Project Manager of the Nikšić 2030 – European Capital of Culture Office, Mato Uljarević, emphasized that the title of European Capital of Culture is extremely important not only in the cultural sense but also in the social and European context. “This title represents an opportunity for Nikšić to become a platform for promoting European values, dialogue, cooperation, and creativity — and to strengthen the European identity of our city through culture and innovation. The Nikšić 2030 project will play a strong role in Montenegro’s European integration process, as through its implementation we promote the core values of the European Union — openness, solidarity, sustainability, and unity. Symbolically, the opening ceremony of the European Capital of Culture in 2030 will be designed in the spirit of European unity and dedicated to Montenegro’s accession to the European Union,” said Uljarević. Following the meeting, the participants, together with members of the Municipal Assembly, took part in a tree-planting activity in the City Park, with saplings donated to the city by the European Union.   The Ambassador, along with representatives of the Municipality of Nikšić and the Nikšić 2030 – European Capital of Culture Office, also participated in a cleanup action along the Gračanica River. During his visit, he toured IPC Tehnopolis, the Nikšić 2030 – European Capital of Culture Office, and the newly opened House of Digital Revolution.

The delegation of the Nikšić European Capital of Culture 2030 team traveled to Brussels on October 19, 2025, to present the city’s vision before a panel of European Commission experts and participate in the final stage of the competition. This candidacy represents a significant opportunity for cultural, economic, and social advancement – transforming a post-industrial city into an open, creative, and contemporary European cultural hub. October 19 – Preparations for the Final Presentation The day before the final presentation was dedicated to intensive preparations. The team meticulously reviewed every segment of the presentation – from the cultural program and infrastructure to strategies for sustainable development and ways to engage the local community and international partners. Each delegation member had a key role in presenting Nikšić’s vision, with the goal of ensuring that the presentation was clear, well-reasoned, and grounded in concrete projects.   October 20 – Final Presentation On October 20, the Nikšić delegation delivered the final presentation before the European Commission panel in Brussels. The presentation was evaluated as highly professional and serious, followed by two rounds of detailed questions. The team answered all questions clearly, precisely, and convincingly, confirming that Nikšić’s candidacy was thoughtfully planned, sustainable, and capable of truly transforming the city in the years to come.   October 21 – Official Announcement At the House of European History, the panel president, Hrvoje Laurenta, announced that Nikšić had been selected as the European Capital of Culture for 2030. This recognition is a tribute to the dedicated work, clear vision, and community energy behind this project. The Nikšić delegation representing the city in Brussels: Marko Kovačević – Mayor of Nikšić Tamara Vujović – Minister of Culture and Media of Montenegro Mato Uljarević – Project Manager, Nikšić 2030 ECoC Nemanja Popović – Operations Manager, Nikšić 2030 ECoC Aljoša Matović – Outreach Manager, Nikšić 2030 ECoC Lucija Strunjaš – International Cooperation PR, Nikšić 2030 ECoC Darko Aleksić – Administrative Manager, Nikšić 2030 ECoC Nataša Krivokapić – Professor, Faculty of Philosophy, Nikšić Anđela Nikčević – Project Manager, IPC Tehnopolis Nina Bogdanović – Art Historian Miljan Mijušković – Cultural Advisor to the Mayor of Nikšić Their presentation reflected the spirit of our city, Nikšić’s readiness to shine on the European cultural stage and its ability to meet all standards and expectations of this prestigious recognition.   This is a victory for all of us – for everyone who loves Nikšić, lives it, creates in it, and believes in its potential.