Linda Robinson took part in the 13th meeting of the Joint Consultative Committee between the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) and Montenegro, which took place on 14 and 15 October. After an update on relations between the EU and Montenegro, the meeting focused on the exchange of good practices at the local level.

The event gave Montenegrin local administrators a chance to discuss major issues in the field of local governance with local administrators from EU countries. These included systems for financing and maintaining municipal infrastructure and the role of the manufacturing industry in the local economy.

During the debate on how to manage waste at local level, ECR Member Linda Robinson gave some practical advice from the United Kingdom. She said that in the UK "we had to stop putting waste collection into landfill in order to comply with the new EU environmental standards & start recycling". She advised the partners from Montenegro to align themselves with the EU standards as soon as possible to achieve positive impact.

The visit gave the members of the European Committee of the Regions the chance to admire how its ability to attract private investment had breathed new life into the small town of Tivat. A new tourist port and a number of commercial activities, in addition to an airport with numerous European connections, have brought economic regeneration to the small coastal town in Montenegro, providing job opportunities for the local community.