Smart Horizont successfully organized the first national workshop in Montenegro as part of the IPA South Adriatic project “ROUTE,” a strategic initiative aimed at fostering smarter, more sustainable transportation systems across the South Adriatic region. The event took place in the historic coastal town of Ulcinj, drawing participation from local government representatives, urban planners, civil society organizations, environmental experts, and regional stakeholders.
The workshop served as a crucial platform for dialogue and knowledge exchange, centering on the pressing transportation challenges faced by the municipality of Ulcinj and its surrounding areas. Participants engaged in in-depth discussions on issues such as inadequate public transport infrastructure, congestion during peak tourist seasons, lack of multimodal transport options, and the environmental impacts of the current mobility system.
Opening the event, representatives of Smart Horizont highlighted the objectives of the “ROUTE” project within the framework of the Interreg IPA South Adriatic Programme 2021–2027. The project’s vision is to design and implement innovative, sustainable, and integrated transport solutions that can improve connectivity, reduce carbon emissions, and promote cross-border cooperation between Albania, Montenegro, and Italy.
A key theme of the workshop was the transition toward greener and more accessible mobility. Presentations included proposals for enhancing bicycle infrastructure, encouraging pedestrian-friendly urban planning, and introducing electric or hybrid public transport options. Experts also emphasized the importance of community engagement in shaping mobility policies that reflect the needs of residents, tourists, and vulnerable groups such as the elderly or people with disabilities.
Local authorities from Ulcinj expressed their commitment to exploring and adopting modern transportation policies aligned with EU environmental and sustainability goals. They recognized the “ROUTE” project as a timely opportunity to assess current gaps and formulate data-driven strategies that can lead to tangible improvements in mobility and quality of life.
The workshop concluded with a roundtable session, where participants discussed potential pilot actions and collaborative projects that could be developed under the “ROUTE” initiative. The exchange of experiences and best practices across borders was seen as a critical element for the success of future activities.
This first workshop marks the beginning of a broader series of national and cross-border engagements planned under the “ROUTE” project. With Ulcinj as its starting point, the initiative is set to spark a much-needed transformation in the way mobility is planned and implemented in the South Adriatic region.
