CNVP organised a cross-border cooperation workshop on 1 June 2018 in Hotel Leotar,Trebinje attended by representatives of organisations, institutions and NGOs from Montenegro and Bosnia-Herzegovina.

Key topics discussed were challenges in the common border area concerning: sustainable development of tourism and cultural heritage; sustainable agriculture and coastal activities; agri-rural value chains, economic empowerment of women and youth; as well as environmental protection, biodiversity and nature.

The workshop included presentations by CNVP and the participants' organisations. Group discussion focused on agriculture, tourism and environmental protection, including problems, potential solutions, and opportunities for joint projects.
Concerning agriculture, key problems identified included: insufficient labour, as well as the lack of appropriate personnel; lack of administrative support for manufacturers; insufficient promotion of domestic food; underdeveloped rural tourism; poor diversification of agricultural products; insufficient involvement of young people; lack of initiative, by both institutions and individuals; poor cooperation between institutions and producers; lack of interest and distrust of manufacturers; poor product certification; insufficient education of producers; insufficiently organized visits to examine best practice examples; poor incentive policy; and lack of infrastructure to retain young people in the countryside.

For tourism, participants identifiedas problems: lack of promotional materials; limited finance; lack of possibilities for cooperation; insufficient marketing literacy; poor communication with decision-makers; and waste management problems.

In the area of ​​environmental protection, key problems included: pollution of rivers; inadequate waste management; lack of environmental awareness; ignorance; application of poor standards; lack of punitive measures; and lack of producer responsibility. A potential solution included the introduction of waste collection and recycling.

The workshop was organized to examine the possibilities for: improving cross-border cooperation/exchange meetings and related initiatives; establishing an informal cross-border alliance; identifying opportunities for using cross-border meetings to strengthen regional cooperation, partnerships and joint project activities; as well as improving communication/promotional literature, linking better wth decision-makers, and establishing an agrarian fund.

CNVP focuses on creating a greener economic environment, and using evidence-based analysis to support the sustainable development of rural communities and civil society during the process of ongoing climate change