European Youth Capital — Podgorica 2028

European Youth Capital — Podgorica 2028 represents an important process for young people in Podgorica and Montenegro, through which the city develops as a space for active youth participation, innovation, culture, solidarity, and European values.

Mreža mladih Crne Gore through this process contributes to the inclusion of young people, youth organizations, and organizations for youth in planning and implementing activities that meet the real needs of young people. The goal is for young people not to be just program users, but active creators of content, policies, and solutions that shape their city and community.

Through consultations, meetings, public events, cooperation with institutions and civil society organizations, this program opens space for young people to speak about their priorities — from education, employment, and housing, to culture, mental health, participation, mobility, green policies, and quality of life.

What the program includes

European Youth Capital — Podgorica 2028 may include:

• consultations with young people and youth organizations;
• involving young people in planning programs and activities;
• public events, workshops, forums, and discussions;
• promotion of European values and youth participation;
• development of cultural, educational, and social content for young people;
• cooperation with local, national, and European partners;
• strengthening the role of young people in city development;
• creating programs that meet the needs of young people from different communities.

Program goal

The goal of this program is for young people to actively participate in shaping Podgorica as a city that recognizes their needs, supports their ideas, and creates opportunities for their development.

Through the European Youth Capital process, Mreža mladih Crne Gore contributes to embedding the youth perspective into public policies, local programs, cultural content, and city development plans.

This process simultaneously strengthens cooperation between young people, civil society organizations, institutions, educational institutions, cultural actors, and international partners.

Why it is important

European Youth Capital is not just a title — it is an opportunity to improve long-term how the city communicates with young people, plans for youth, and includes them in decision-making.

For Podgorica and Montenegro, this process can be an important step towards a stronger youth sector, greater visibility of young people, higher quality programs, and better connection with the European youth space.

For young people, it means more opportunities to participate, learn, connect, create, travel, volunteer, propose solutions, and be part of changes in their city.

Topics the program may cover

Within the European Youth Capital process, topics such as the following can be addressed:

• youth participation in decision-making;
• local youth policy;
• youth culture and creativity;
• education and skills development;
• employability and entrepreneurship;
• mental health and youth well-being;
• housing and quality of life;
• youth mobility;
• volunteering;
• green policies and sustainable development;
• digital skills;
• European cooperation and international opportunities.

European Youth Capital — Podgorica 2028 is an opportunity for young people to be drivers of the development of a city that belongs to their generation.