EU to grant EUR 18 million within 2012, 2013 IPA projects in Montenegro

Podgorica, Montenegro (29 April 2013) – National IPA Coordinator, Ambassador Aleksandar Andrija Pejović and Head of Unit for Croatia and Montenegro at the General Directorate for Enlargement Dirk Lange signed Friday two agreements on EU’s assistance to Montenegro within the IPA programmes for 2012 and 2013 in the total amount of EUR 21.3 million, of which EUR 18 million will be granted by the EU and EUR 3.3 will be allocated by Montenegro.

The 2012 projects are mainly related to the strengthening of rule of law, environmental protection, energy use and alleviation of impacts of natural disasters, Ambassador Pejović told the press following the signing ceremony. For 2013, the IPA funding will cover the issue of displaced and internally displaced persons in Montenegro and the improvement of capacities in the area of business and social statistics.

Since 2007, the EU, within its Instrument for Pre-Acession Assistance, has supported Montenegro with more than EUR 235 million, and it is willing to allocate considerable funds in the period from 2014 – 2020 as well.

“In this new period, we will actualy try to link even closer our financial assistance with national strategy plans of Montenegro, which allows Montenegro to move forward on the European agenda,” Mr Lange underlined.