On January 30, 2025, the CROSS-REIS project team held a successful Info Day with policymakers at the Secretariat for Spatial Planning and Sustainable Development of the Capital City Podgorica. This event, organized as part of CROSS-REIS WP7 activities, aimed to strengthen cooperation between the project team and local government representatives to support the integration of urban biodiversity and circular economy principles into city planning and development strategies.

The meeting was attended by CROSS-REIS project team members Ana Lalević Filipović, Milijana Novović Burić, Milena Lipovina-Božović, and Milan Raičević. They were welcomed by Gavrilo Vuković, Secretary of the Secretariat for Spatial Planning and Sustainable Development, along with colleagues Branka Knežević and Dušan Nikić.

At the meeting, opportunities for collaboration on improving urban biodiversity and circular economy principles in the Capital City Podgorica were discussed, with a particular emphasis on integrating project activities into city plans and strategies in the coming period. This initiative is part of WP 7 of the CROSS-REIS project.

Discussions focused on leveraging best practices from developed countries to enhance Podgorica’s approach to urban biodiversity management and green space development. The Capital City expressed its commitment to making available resources accessible for research and implementation, ensuring that the project's insights are effectively utilized for the benefit of Podgorica and Montenegro.

This meeting marked an important first step in engaging local decision-makers with the CROSS-REIS project. Representatives of the Capital City confirmed their willingness to actively participate in future project activities and integrate research findings into municipal policies. The University of Montenegro will serve as a key facilitator in connecting local authorities with leading research institutions to maximize the impact of these collaborative efforts.