The BlueCircle project in Neum shows how MICE.BA agency approaches EU project implementation in practice, working on marine litter, an issue that shapes everyday life on this stretch of the Adriatic coast.
BlueCircle is funded by the Interreg IPA Adriatic-Ionian Programme (IPA ADRION) with European Union support. The Municipality of Neum engaged us to bring the local community together, open a conversation about marine litter recycling and make sure the project reached as many people as possible.
For international agencies, this is often the hardest part of an EU project: knowing who to talk to on the ground. Our first step was to map the people who can drive change in Neum. We identified institutions, associations, entrepreneurs and citizen initiatives, and built a stakeholder database with an overview of opportunities for future cooperation.
Making the project visible
In EU projects, visibility matters as much as the activities themselves. Every material we produced followed EU visibility rules, carrying the project’s visual identity and a clear message that the project is supported by the European Union.
Working with our graphic designer, we prepared a poster for social media and press use, workshop invitations and a roll-up banner. We also printed 100 project brochures and delivered them to the Municipality for distribution to residents.
The two billboards were our favourite part, as everyone arriving in Neum now sees them. We published two stories on the Municipality’s Facebook page and sent two press releases about the workshops to the media. The response was excellent, with 20 online media outlets across Bosnia and Herzegovina covering the project.
Workshops and speakers
The heart of the project was two participatory workshops held in the Council Hall of the Municipality of Neum. They brought together people from institutions, associations, local businesses and community initiatives, all ready to share their ideas.
The first workshop, “Marine Litter Collection: From Problem to Solution”, took place on 13 October 2025. It was led by Dr Ana Buljubašić, Director of the Environmental Protection Fund of Herzegovina-Neretva Canton and Assistant Professor at the University of Mostar. An expert in sustainable development and ESG, Ana guided participants as they designed a public awareness campaign on marine litter.
The second workshop, “Marine Litter Recycling: Circular Economy in Practice”, was held on 29 October 2025. The speaker was Dr Irena Rozić, Director of Hutovo Blato Nature Park, who has long worked to protect the sensitive ecosystems of the Neretva valley. Together with her, participants imagined Neum in 2040 through three lenses: nature, waste management and community life.
Both speakers brought deep expertise and a genuine love for the nature of this region. That is exactly why the discussions were lively and the ideas practical and close to the people of Neum.
dila stvarnom broju sudionika. Izletu se pridružio i dio lokalne zajednice, pa su prijevoz i okrijepa pravovremeno prošireni.
What our partners say
Ana Krmek from the Projects Department of the Municipality of Neum highlighted our reliable deadlines, clear communication and detailed reporting. For us, that is the best measure of a project well delivered, and we sincerely thank the Neum team for their constant support.
Your local partner for EU projects in Bosnia and Herzegovina
International agencies and event organisers often win EU projects in countries where they have no local team. That is where we step in, as a partner who knows the institutions, the media, the venues and the people on the ground.
With MICE.BA, you can count on:
- Stakeholder mapping and outreach to local institutions, NGOs and businesses
- Organisation of workshops, consultations, conferences and study visits
- Visibility materials and media campaigns in line with EU visibility guidelines
- Bilingual reporting in English and the local languages, ready for your donor
Are you implementing an EU project in Bosnia and Herzegovina and looking for an experienced local partner? Get in touch with us at mice.ba, and together we will plan activities that fit your project and deliver results your donor will recognise.
Author: Josipa Terzić – Rezić, CIS and CCMEP Certified Professional Event Organiser
CIS – Certified Incentive Specialist (certified by SITE – Society for Incentive Travel Excellence)
CCMEP – Certified Congress, Meeting, and Event Professional (certified by the HCCP – Croatian Association of Congress Professionals)
mice@mice.ba | GSM: +387 63 408 597 | www.mice.ba
