Expeditio representative, as member of NCSD (National Council for Sustainable Development), attended the 23rd session of this body, held on Januarz 27th. At this session, the Council has supported the current process of preparing and setting Montenegro for Third World Summit on Sustainable Development (Rio + 20) and discussed in detail the concept of green economy as one of the two key themes of the Summit. The Council has assessed that Montenegro has great potential for the application of the green economy, especially in the sectors of energy, tourism and agriculture, which in the context of preparations for the Rio +20 Summit should be seen as part of the coupling topics such as increasing employment, the preservation of natural capital, effective use of resources and the fight against climate changes.

In accordance with the newly adopted guidelines for future work, the Council has adopted the work plan for the 2012. In addition to the work on preparing the platform for Rio +20, the main topics the Council will deal with in this year, are  the revision of the National Strategy of Sustainable Development as main document for the development of Montenegro, encouraging dialogue on key issues of sustainable development, supporting stronger application of standards of sustainable development at the local and the level of involvement in the assessment of overall capacity for sustainable development. The Council will have to determine, at the next session, the Award for Sustainable Development, which will be awarded to the most responsable for the promotion of sustainable development as well as indicate the negative examples in the application of this concept.

Members discussed the role and mandate of the Council for the next period and agreed that the Council should focus its work on the consideration of strategic issues and the development of guidelines for specific areas of sustainable development, but also to serve as a reference point for government departments and other stakeholders and members of society in solving the dilemma in choosing approaches and defining priority development policies and projects. Special attention is that in the future the Council strengthen its role in the public dialogue on sustainable development and, thus, contribute to a general-public consensus on this concept.

Dragi prijatelji/ce,

Sa žaljenjem Vas obavještavamo da je došlo do otkazivanja prezentacije Kulturna strategije Istre - Iskustva izrade i implementacije, koja je bila zakazana za 26. januar 2012. godine u Kotoru.

The second round table within the project "The Cultural Circle of Cetinje " was held on Wednesday, 21 December, in the Art Research Centre in Cetinje. "The Cultural Circle of Cetinje" is a project of cooperation between the Faculties of Arts in Cetinje – Faculty of Drama, Faculty of Fine Arts and Music Academy. The Project was conceptualised based on the modern programmes organised throughout Europe, and is aimed at the inclusion of the academic community in the consideration of cultural phenomena and issues of environment where it is implemented. Within the Project, discussions with university professors, representatives of cultural institutions, non-governmental sector and renowned artists from Montenegro and the region will be organised in Cetinje.

Dear friends, nearing the end of 2012, we want to briefly remind you of the most important projects and activities Expeditio implemented over the last 12 months. We wish you all the best for the coming 2013 and thank you cordially for taking interest in our work! Yours Expeditio

The meeting of the Board for Energy Efficiency and Environmental Protection, with the representative of EXPEDITIO as its member, was held on 15 December. The Ministry of Economy presented the activities carried out in the field of energy efficiency. The Deputy Minister of Economy, Ms. Dragica Sekulic, presented the 2012 plan and the progress of the ongoing projects. It was agreed that a larger number of educational activities in this field should be organised next year, as well as to try to encourage a larger number of enterprises to be involved in the ongoing projects which are financed from different credit lines.

Witnin the framework of a regional initiative “Public Dialogue on the Sustainable Use of Energy in Southeast Europe” a panel discussion entitled “Examples of Good Practice in the Field of Energy Efficiency” was held at the “Podgorica” hotel in Podgorica on December 13, 2011.

The meeting of organisations “Abart” from Mostar, “Blok” and “Kontraakcija” from Zagreb and “Expeditio” from Kotor was held in Dubrovnik from 25 to 27 November 2011 on the initiative of the Art Workshop Lazareti which is launching the project dealing with the issue of urban memory.

Within the public hearing about the draft Law on the Protection of the Natural and Cultural-Historical Area of Kotor, EXPEDITIO submitted the comments and objections to the draft Law to the Ministry of Culture.

Additionally, EXPEDITIO submitted objections to the following plans which were subject to the public hearing in the first half of November to the municipality Kotor, Secretariat for Urban Planning, Construction and Residential-Public Utility Affairs:

• Objections to the draft Amendment to the Detailed Urban Plan of Orahovac and Drazin vrt

• Objections to the draft Local Location Study of Glavati-Prcanj

• Objections to the draft Detailed Urban Plan of Prcanj.