Entry to 19 faculties of the University of Montenegro begins on Wednesday. The papers are submitted to the faculties then and on Thursday. This year, UCG has offered 3,486 free indexes.

Candidates are obliged to submit more documents along with the application for registration:

"Original diploma on passing an external graduation exam or a professional one; original testimonies of completed individual grades of secondary education; a diploma 'Luca' or an equivalent diploma; a diploma (or equivalent document) about the first or second prize won at a national or international competition in subjects that are of importance for continuance of the education," said the University.

Among the required documentation is a copy of the biometric ID card and for foreigners the corresponding ID card. A foreigner also submits evidence of their language knowledge, except when he has completed high school in one of the languages ​​that are in official use in Montenegro.

At its last session, the government approved the proposal for enrollment in the first year of study, which was previously determined by the University Management Board.

The largest number of places at the state university was offered by the Faculty of Economics - 390 places.

From that number, 240 will study economics, 100 management in Podgorica, and another 50 in Bijelo Polje.

More than 300 places were offered by Philosophy (355), Electrotechnical studies (330) and the Faculty of Philosophy (315).

Between 200 and 300 students will enroll in three faculties - Maritime 260, Law 260 - with 240 in Podgorica and 20 in Bijelo polje, while at Faculty of Natural Sciences, there are places for 230 freshmen.

The Faculty of Medicine has 185 places, the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering 180, the Faculty of Tourism and Hospitality 180, the Faculty of Biotechnology 155, the Faculty of Political Science 140, the Faculty of Sport and Physical Education 120, the Faculty of Metallurgy 115 and the Faculty of Civil Engineering 110.

Fifty students this study year will study the Faculty of Architecture, 10 less at the Faculty of Fine Arts, Academy of Music 36, and Faculty of Drama Art 35. The Faculty of Montenegrin Language and Literature at Cetinje offers 40 places.

Text by Milos Rudovic, on June 25th, 2019, read more at Vijesti

In yet another attempt to choose a brand for the plum rakija from Moraca, the residents of Donja Moraca will begin a producers' association for this special alcoholic beverage.

The founding of the association is also one of the priorities in Kolasin's local government when it comes to stimulating measures for agriculturalists. "The energy of joint ventures is what Kolasin agriculture needs. Even the most organized and productive agricultural producers in the area of ​​our municipality are not able to have high-quality, independent presentations on the market. The first steps were taken, so with a lot of ambition, we accepted the initiative from Donja Moraca to start the formation of an association of local rakija producers. For this purpose, we have also allocated €10,000," explains the president of the Municipality, Milosav Bulatovic.  

The formation of the association, he says, would also create opportunities for "raising the quality of homemade rakija, as well as providing necessary certificates for the market entry". The association will "set regulations and standards that will transform this local tradition of homemade rakija into certified packs ready for foreign markets". In Donja Moraca, they believe that their "plum rakija" should have made great success in the domestic market in the region, but also on the broader area.

Attempts have waned at the very end of the process. One of the rakija producers, Momo Rakocevic from the village Prekobrdje, recalls that ten years ago they were closest to branding the rakija.

"Through the project dedicated to organic production, assisted by experts from Germany and Switzerland. They also offered 7,000 euros as a donation, the rest of the money needed to be provided by the producers themselves. This was not cheap, and they could not hope for any help from the local or state level."

In the production of this beverage, he claims, the situation is now without much control. Prices are formed by each producer individually, and he also chooses the mode of production. The price for one liter of rakija from Moraca is 8 to 10 euros.

"That is, if it is produced traditionally, with much effort and from the qualitative plums. Unfortunately, some hosts neglect all these criteria, so they sell it to cafes for two to three euros per liter. Due to the specific climate and land, plums in Moraca are of special quality, and alcoholic beverages also have specificities that cannot be achieved in other parts of the state or region."

For a liter of this beverage, 8 to 10 kilograms of ripe fruit are needed. The Germans and Swiss who helped the rakija be legally and better positioned on the market a decade ago did not find a disadvantage in the traditional way of production. In those years, according to estimates by foreign experts, about 20 households fully met high ecological standards. 

"I do not doubt it would be the same now. We have no reason to fear the European Union (EU) standard. I would say that someone wants to impose an attitude that it is difficult to follow these demands. I know that dozens of households in this area can make their production according to the highest European standards. We just need the wind in our back from the competent institutions, advice and facilitation procedures. In addition to being the pride of Donja Moraca, that rakija could become the state one, in a very easy way and in a very short time."

Rakocevic says he is aware that it will not be easy to reconcile in detail the traditional way of production and contemporary standards.

"First of all, the strength of the “plum rakija” should not exceed 38 to 40 “degrees”. Now, unfortunately, a much stronger rakija is produced, which greatly influences the aroma and loses some of its specific features. There must not be any additional sugar in either rakija because it is simply a tradition. “Sugar rakija” is when some people add sugar at the end of production. It produces more rakija, but it causes headache.

He explains that, before it reaches the market, "plum rakija" should age for at least one year. It is also necessary to boil it a dozen times.

Text by Dragana Scepanovic, on June 23rd, 2019, read more at Vijesti

The oldest Montenegrin brewery, "Trebjesa", recently launched a new product, the Niksic IPA Beer. After the presentation in Niksic, the youngest member of Niksic family was presented to the partners and friends in Podgorica, who enjoyed the new beer and a brilliant performance by one of the most popular regional bands, Elemental.

The Niksic IPA is one of the company's most important innovations this year. For the first time since its beginnings, the brewery produced the first ale beer. Ale beers are distinguished by the use of different yeasts, yeast brewing, and the addition of larger quantities of hops, having a distinctive aroma, but also a different, darker color compared to a lager beer.

"Our IPA has three types of aromatic hops, and the whole team of experts from the brewery worked on the development of the first ale beer from Trebjesa. In total, the product development and the entire creative concept of the Niksic IPA beer lasted about a year and a half. That is why we are particularly proud of the result we are sharing tonight with all of you. If you like different styles of beer, Niksic IPA is something you have to try," said Jelena Pavicevic, marketing manager at the brewery.

The Niksic IPA beer is full of aromas of hops, tropical fruits, and pine needles, and the first comments by consumers are that it is an extremely filtered, drinkable IPA beer. "By making the Niksic IPA, we respond to the wishes of our consumers and broaden the beer category in Montenegro. Nevertheless, as a brewery which has built the story of brewing in Montenegro for more than a century, we do not forget what is at the heart of everything we do - quality," Pavicevic said.

IPA is an abbreviation for India Pale Ale, a sub-type of beer, made by the British in the 18th century and is today one of the most popular ale beers around the world.

The Niksic IPA is available in glass bottles 0,33l and cans 0,5l. For those who prefer draft beers - Niksic IPA beer can be ordered at bars.

In addition to the IPA, the family of beers produced at "Trebjesa" includes Niksic original, Niksic Dark, Niksic Gold, Niksic Unfiltered and Niksic Cool.

Text by Promo, on June 24th ,2019, read more at Vijesti

Another new airline has started operations to Montenegro, which is the largest regional flight company from Norway - Wilderoe Airlines.

This airline landed its first flight the regular route between Oslo and Tivat, bringing around 100 Norwegian tourists to the Montenegrin coast. The flight was greeted at the airport with the traditional water cannons. 

Interestingly, this was the first arrival in Montenegro of a new type of aircraft - the newest so-called E2 generation of the regional jet Embraer E-190. Wilderoe Airlines is the world's first buyer of the aircraft, as it operated with Brazil’s airplane manufacturer Embraer in the spring when the E2 generation production started.

At Tivat Airport, some 42 airplanes landed on Sunday on regular and charter lines from Germany, Russia, Serbia, France, Norway, Denmark, Ukraine, UK and Sweden.

Text by Sinisa Lukovic, on June 23rd, 2019, read more at Vijesti

The municipality of Pluzine and the Nature Park (NP) "Piva" have prepared many musical, cultural, sports events for both the residents and numerous tourists visiting Piva, either because of rafting or because of its natural beauties.

The 27th of June is reserved for Saint Petersburg’s "Embassy of Art", where the audience will be presented laureates of international competitions, Aleksandar Vasiljev, Elisavet Ivanov and Evgenij Saveljev.

The last day in June is reserved for mountain lovers when a climb to Veliki Vito will be organized.

The repertoire in July begins in Pluzine with the "Party bus", within which the bands “Electricni Orgazam”, “Prti Bee Gee” and “Rudolf” will perform in the city amphitheater on the 4th of July. July will also welcome the concert of Sule Jovovic and his quartet, 49th "Poetry at the spring of Piva", as well as the 12th traditional climb to Prutas.

The beginning of August will mark the Day of the Municipality, the 51st traditional tournament in soccer, the sixth "3x3" basketball tournament, various concerts and the sixth painters' colony that will bring together artists from the country and the region. The August repertoire will be concluded with the poetry encounters "Tara without borders", which are held for the 22^nd time at the shore of the river Tara in Scepan polje. 

"During the summer, besides the already mentioned events, we will organize other manifestations and events, which will aim to promote the tradition and culture of the Piva area. We are sure that, besides the numerous natural and cultural values ​​of Piva, this will be another reason to visit Pluzine and Nature Park "Piva" this summer," said the NP.

Text by Svetlana Mandic, on June 21st, 2019, read more at Vijesti

The Municipal Secretariat for Culture and Social Activities will provide a set of textbooks for pupils of the first, second and third grade of the elementary schools in the area of ​​the Tivat Municipality.

Unlike the previous years, when the Tivat Municipality provided support only to pupils in the first year of schooling, the 2019/2020 school year will cover all the children from the first cycle i.e., the first three grades of the elementary school.

"Students belonging to the Roma-Egyptian population will receive free textbooks as support from the relevant ministry, as has been the practice so far," said mayor of Tivat Sinisa Kusovac.

The municipality did not state how much purchasing the free textbooks for another two generations of Tivat pupils will cost.

Kusovac, however, at the last session of the local parliament on Tuesday, in controversy with the opposition delegates, said that 18,000 euros for the then-adopted revision budget, increased the item "other transfers to individuals - pupils and students", and will be aimed at buying textbooks for the first three grades. This money was originally planned for tourist events - like the organization of the second International Summer Carnival in Tivat, but Kusovac diverted it to support the local administration for the parents of the youngest pupils in Tivat.

Thus, in September, half a year before the regular local elections in this town, the Tivat Municipality will give away free textbooks for all the children up to the third grade of the elementary school.

Tivat's local DPS-SD-HGI administration in the previous years was the target of fierce criticism of the opposition that, like some other cities in Montenegro, should provide free textbooks for students of all nine grades of primary school, but its leaders always justified it with the alleged lack of money and claimed that the municipality has only money to buy the books for the first-grade pupils.

Now, in front of the local elections to be held in March 2020, the administration has decided to include another two generations of Tivat pupils in this action, and to facilitate financial burden on their parents.

Text by Sinisa Lukovic, on June 21st, 2019, read more at Vijesti