With the financial support of the European Union (EU) through the EU4ME and Europe House projects, the Ministry of European Affairs (MEA) and the Ministry of Education, Science, and Innovation (MESI) launched an educational-communication campaign called EUbuzz.

As part of the campaign, debates on EU-related topics will be organised in secondary schools across Montenegro. The goal of the three-month-long campaign is to bring EU topics closer to the youth, encourage critical thinking, and motivate them to actively engage in social processes.

Copyright: EU4ME

Exactly 18 schools from 16 Montenegrin cities have applied to participate in the campaign.

For debate clubs from the northern region, an EUbuzz Info Day was held at the "Panto Mališić" secondary school in Berane. Over 40 members of debate clubs and their mentors from Berane, Bijelo Polje, Petnjica, Mojkovac, Pljevlja, and Rožaje participated in the event.

"The EUbuzz campaign began on 7 October with the organisation of an Info Day in Podgorica. Today, we are in Berane, and next Monday we will be in Budva, where we will gather schools from the southern region. We can say that we are witnessing some kind of an EUbuzz caravan, which aims to present the European Union to young people in a different, more accessible way, motivating them to become active members of their community and to critically consider the world around them," explained Jelena Kulidžan from the EU4ME project, which supports the MEA in promoting the process of the European integration.

Copyright: EU4ME

During the Info Day, the "Buzzing Guide" was presented on the topic of the European Union, prepared by Melita Rastoder Ljaić from the MEA.

"The guide is intended for young people who want to better understand the European Union and its significance for Montenegro. Through a vivid overview of key information, the guide offers simple explanations of how the EU works and what membership in this community brings to its citizens. We want to make it clear to young people that they are the ones who will decide the future of the European Union and shape it when—hopefully soon—Montenegro becomes part of the European community," explained Rastoder Ljaić.

Copyright: EU4ME

The debaters also had the opportunity to learn new skills essential for successful debating on European Union-related topics during a lecture given by Krsto Vuković, head of Montenegro's Debate Programme. "The best results in the learning process often come from questioning the topics at hand through critical thinking about the pros and cons.

During the EUbuzz campaign, debate formats will require the acquisition of knowledge and key information on how the EU functions and Montenegro's positioning within the integration processes. Equally important will be raising awareness about democracy, the rule of law, responsibility, and other values and standards that we adopt on a personal level as citizens," said Vuković.

Copyright: EU4ME

The students also spoke with Young European Ambassadors Marija Blažević and Selda Jahjagić, who discussed the opportunities that the EU offers to young people and how important it was for them to gain a deeper understanding of the Union and the integration process. They also promoted the current call for a new generation of Young Ambassadors.

The next Info Day is scheduled for 21 October in Budva for secondary schools from the southern region. All 18 participating schools are expected to organise debating tournaments on EU topics, further expanding the knowledge gained during the Info Days. The final event is planned to take place in Podgorica, where the winning teams will receive diplomas and awards.