Montenegro receives EUR 2.05 million grants for drafting projects within the Western Balkans Investment Framework

National IPA Coordinator and Chief Negotiator Aleksandar Andrija Pejović, and Director General for coordination of EU assistance programmes Ivana Petričević, participated at the IX session of the Steering Committee of the Western Balkans Investment Framework (WBIF), held at seat of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) in London.

WBIF Steering Committee is a joint body of the Western Balkans countries, the European Commission, and international investment institutions, which discusses most important issues related to IPA, including adoption of project proposals to be financed by this instrument.

The participants discussed key development policies in the Western Balkans – South East Europe 2020 Strategy, key trends in the economic environment, and guidelines for further development of this investment framework.

Presentations were given on investment projects and sectorial studies nominated for financing within the 10th call for grants, and talks were made about the preparations for the 11th call within IPA.

Within the 10th call for grants, the Western Balkan countries submitted in total 22 applications, 13 of which were adopted at the Steering Committee session.

Montenegro was granted funds for drafting documentation for three projects worth EUR 2.05 million in total: Master plan for the development of the pipeline, EUR 550 thousand grant; Improved reliability and safety of the railway Bar-Vrbnica, EUR 1 million grant; Technical assistance in the development of the feasibility study and the detailed design of priority ring roads in the coastal region of Montenegro, EUR 500 thousand grant.
The 11th call for IPA grants is announced for February 2014.