The mayor of Rijeka, Marko Filipović, took part in the meeting titled “Balkan Integration Forum 2022” organised in Podgorica by the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung and the European Movement in Montenegro.
The forum, held on 17 and 18 November, brought together public authorities and politicians at the state, regional and local levels, representatives of the academic community and civil society, and journalists from Europe. Through a series of discussions, forum participants looked at the future of regional security in the context of European geopolitical change and the war in Ukraine. In addition, they also discussed contemporary trends in the modernisation and reforms of local authorities in the EU countries and the Western Balkans countries.
Mayor Filipović participated in a panel dedicated to the role of smart cities in providing security and promoting freedom. During his presentation, he pointed out that, in accordance with the Development Plan of the City of Rijeka, the City had started implementing a new vision of Rijeka, as a smart, open and resilient city, a city in which a high quality of life stemmed from cooperation between the smart city administration and its engaged citizens.
Mayor Filipović at the Balkan Integration Forum
The mayor emphasised that the City of Rijeka held the title of the most transparent Croatian city, which had recognised the importance of using digital technologies to improve the quality of life of its citizens. For example, the transformation of the website Moja Rijeka into a website for young people was underway, as well as the Internet platform for investors Enter Rijeka, and a number of other projects, with the help of European funds, an upgrade of the geographic information system (GIS) was planned as a basis for sustainable planning of the city’s development. In the context of achieving the vision of a resilient city, the City of Rijeka had not forgotten the most vulnerable citizens as it kept widening the scope of its Social Programme.
“Our countries are currently on the border between digital transformation and innovative solutions that have also been greatly improved in the period of the COVID-19 pandemic and the risk of jeopardizing the principles of freedom and democracy. That’s why we need to act now and think about sustainable, left-wing connecting ideas and solutions. It is our responsibility to preserve the principles of tolerance and freedom within each city, state and nation. Today even more than ever”, said Mayor Filipović.
(photo: Balkan Integration Forum)