Although Euro Atlantic integration is one of the strategic goals of Montenegro, the research shows that citizens are not sufficiently informed about this process. As a consequence, there is a low level of support for Montenegrin Accession to NATO.
Accordingly, CDT mission is clear – education of the citizens about basic issues related to the process of Montenegrin accession to NATO. In that respect, CDT intends to open space for more constructive approach to learning about the topic. Increase in the level of information turns public opinion to knowledge, which implies that citizens will behave in accordance with the facts, not prejudices. CDT also believes that decision making processes regarding NATO accession process should be democratic and transparent in all its segments.
CDT is one of the signatories of the Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry for European Integration and non-governmental organizations on implementing the Communication Strategy Regarding Euro Atlantic integration (February 11, 2008). This document established cooperation and coordination of the activities among signatories of the Memorandum, based on the principles of partnership, transparency, accountability, mutual exchange of information and independence, with the goal of educating citizens about Euro Atlantic integration. Hence, CDT organized a number of panel discussions related to the Euro Atlantic integration.
Since 2005, CDT has realized following projects:
- NATO Workshops: Center for democratic transition, within the project "European way – safe direction", has realized interactive workshops for graduate students from Montenegrin high schools. Interactive workshops on European and Euroatlantic integrations have been organized in eleven high schools in Podgorica and involved about 1200 students. Lecturers were graduated students from Faculty of Political Sciences and Faculty of Law. The scope of the workshops was to introduce the students with objective informations about NATO and EU, in order to motivate them to create critical opinion about these subjects which are of great importance for out country.
- European Direction – Safe Road – the education program of senior high school students about EU and NATO, initiated in December 2008. Up to the moment 4,000 senior students from 9 municipalities participated in interactive workshops. The project was supported by the NATO Public Diplomacy Department and the Commission for Distribution of Part of Income from the Games of Chance.
- CineEXPRESS – In May 2009, CDT organized one day workshop about the security concept, using audio visual media, for the students of the High School in Cetinje, and in cooperation with the Estonian NGO KinoBuss. The project was supported by the NATO Public Diplomacy Department.
- NATO Photo Competition – In the period October-December 2009, CDT organized competition for the best photo NATO Photo Competition. The project was supported by the NATO Public Diplomacy Department.
- NATO info telephone – In September 2009, the project was initiated by CDT in cooperation with the Coordination team for the Implementation of the Communication Strategy Regarding Montenegrin Euro Atlantic integration, focused on easier and better informed citizens about NATO Alliance and relations between Montenegro and NATO.