On January 27th 2024, the second Citizens’ Assembly of Mostar was opened in Hotel Mostar.
The topic of the second deliberative process is from the strategic area of economy and tourism- „Tourists are staying in Mostar shortly and thus don’t bring significant profit to the City. How could we achieve that tourists stay longer in Mostar and therefore contribute to the economical development of Mostar?“
At the opening, the President of Mostar’s City Council Mr. Salem Marić addressed the present members and he thanked the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities within the Council of Europe for recognizing the City of Mostar as a leader of deliberative democracy.
The Head Counselor of the City of Mostar Ms. Radmila Komadina expressed contentment with the number of citizens who responded to the invitations of becoming the members of Citizens’ Assembly and stated she has no doubt that this second Citizens’ Assembly will do it’s part on the same level as the first Citizens’ Assembly did in 2021, when the topic was cleanliness and maintenance of public spaces.
The General Secretary of Congress of Local and Regional Authorities within the Council of Europe Mr. Mathieu Mori pointed out that the first Citizens’ Assembly was successful and inovative thereby adding how Mostar was a pioneer regarding deliberative democracy and that many cities in Bosnia and Herzegovina, in the region and Europe are observing what is happening in Mostar demanding The Council of Europe to implement Citizens’ Assemblies in their own cities. The Council of Europe is also monitoring what is happening in Mostar, which aiding in creating new standards of democracy through it’s activities.
The second Citizens’ Assembly is carried out with profesional and financial support by the Council of Europe, within the projects „Innovating democratic participation at local level in Bosnia and Hercegovina“, implemented by the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities within the Council of Europe Action Plan for Bosnia and Herzegovina 2022-2025.
Gallery of photos can be seen HERE