International Police Organization of Montenegro Organizes Panel Discussion on Climate Change and Security in Bar

The International Police Organization of Montenegro, in partnership with the Municipality of Bar and in cooperation with Europe House Bar, successfully organized the panel discussion “Bar Keeping Pace with Climate Change – Strengthening Security through European Integration” as part of the project “Safe Community through Euro-Atlantic Standards.”

The panel brought together representatives of state institutions, the Municipality of Bar, academia, protection and rescue services, the healthcare sector, civil society organizations, and the media, with the aim of exchanging knowledge and experience, strengthening inter-institutional cooperation, and enhancing capacities to respond to the challenges posed by climate change.

The “Safe Community through Euro-Atlantic Standards” project will be implemented over the next six months and will include four capacity-building workshops designed to strengthen participants' knowledge and practical skills in the areas of risk management, civil protection, climate change, security, and the implementation of European and Euro-Atlantic standards.

The project is coordinated by Momčilo Šćekić, Executive Director of the International Police Organization of Montenegro, while Ivana Šćekić serves as Project Assistant. The training programme will be delivered by Neđeljko Đurović, President of the International Police Organization of Montenegro, Prof. Dr. Mehmedin Tahirović, Prof. Dr. Vesna Ratković, and Boris Janković, Secretary General of the International Police Organization of Montenegro, who will serve as lecturers and expert contributors throughout the project.

The panel was opened by Danilo Dedović, who emphasized that the project was developed by Momčilo Šćekić and Ivana Šćekić. He highlighted that the project's primary objective is to strengthen the resilience of local communities through education, inter-institutional cooperation, and the implementation of European and Euro-Atlantic standards in the field of security.

Neđeljko Đurović, President of the International Police Organization of Montenegro, addressed European security policies, Montenegro's accession process to the European Civil Protection Mechanism, and the importance of international cooperation in responding to the consequences of climate change.

Expert presentations were delivered by Dr. Ivana Vojinović, Director of the Centre for Climate Change, Natural Resources and Energy, Aco Vulević, Commander of the Bar Protection and Rescue Service, and Dr. Ljiljana Jovićević. They addressed the impact of climate change on security, public health, civil protection and rescue systems, as well as the importance of prevention, early warning systems, and strengthening the resilience of local communities.

The common message of all participants was that climate change is no longer a challenge of the future but a reality of the present, and that an effective response requires coordinated action by institutions, the professional community, civil society organizations, and citizens.

Through the implementation of the “Safe Community through Euro-Atlantic Standards” project, the International Police Organization of Montenegro will continue to promote European and Euro-Atlantic values, strengthen international cooperation, and contribute to building safer, more resilient, and better-prepared communities in Montenegro and the wider region.