In May 2025, Montenegro didn’t just mark Europe Day, it lived it.
Across towns, schools, city squares and cultural landmarks, citizens of all ages came together to celebrate the values, diversity and spirit of Europe in a month-long journey filled with music, movement and meaning.
Led by the Delegation of the European Union to Montenegro, in partnership with the Ministry of European Affairs, and supported by the EU-funded projects Europe House, EU4ME and Municipalities for the EU, Europe Month 2025 transformed public spaces into vibrant stages of connection, making Europe present, visible and personal.
9 May was marked by a powerful evening of music and diplomacy at the Music Centre in Podgorica. The Montenegrin Symphony Orchestra presented the pre-premiere of the modern symphony Europe, composed by Srđan Nikčević and Darko Bulatović, alongside iconic works from Europe’s classical music heritage.
In his address, Ambassador Johann Sattler called on Montenegro to seize its European future: “We are not only celebrating the Europe of today, but the Europe of tomorrow — and Montenegro’s place in it. The EU will stand with you every step of the way.”
The energy peaked on 10 May in Podgorica, where visitors gathered at the EU Fair in University Park. Among them were EU Member States, local producers, ministries and youth organisations, each sharing a story, a flavour, a vision. Citizens enjoyed many thematic corners. As the sun set, the city swayed to the rhythm of Perper at Independence Square packed with people.
But the story didn’t end there.
Throughout the month, Montenegrin municipalities, from Pljevlja to Ulcinj, Herceg Novi to Rožaje, joined the celebration in their own unique ways. Whether through mountain races, community clean-ups, art workshops, quizzes or open-air concerts, Europe Month became a truly national celebration, carried by citizens and shaped by local spirit.
Children and young people were the heart of the campaign. Through Games Without Borders, hundreds of seventh and eighth graders in towns of Nikšić, Pljevlja, Žabljak, Petnjica, Bar, Berane and Plužine learned about teamwork, EU values and healthy lifestyles. In Gusinje, students took part in an EU-themed quiz, turning learning into a game. In Kotor, toddlers raced along the waterfront, while in Šavnik and Tuzi children proudly displayed EU-inspired artwork, each one imagining a shared European future. Danilovgrad joined with a Spring Fair featuring painting workshops, and festivities in Budva cheered both Europe Day and the summer season opening.
Europe Month also spotlighted local green action with clean-up campaigns organised in Plav, Andrijevica, Tivat and Plužine. In Rožaje, a scenic hiking tour intertwined nature appreciation with environmental conversation, echoing EU sustainability goals. In Ulcinj and Herceg Novi, historic fortresses glowed blue, linking Montenegrin and European history. And in Mojkovac, the final event, the Zlatni Ćemer folkloric festival, celebrated the richness of shared traditions through music, costume and dance.
With thousands of participants, hundreds of schoolchildren, dozens of partner municipalities, and wide media coverage, Europe Month 2025 demonstrated that the people of Montenegro are eager to connect with Europe, especially when Europe meets them where they are: in their towns, their schools, and their everyday lives.
The Delegation of the European Union to Montenegro remains proud of this shared achievement, and committed to taking the next steps together, hand in hand with communities, young people and institutions across the country.