Montenegro: Stronger cooperation and exchange of best practices through SEE/MED transnational programmes

Budva, Montenegro (14 April 2014) – Earlier today, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration hosted a conference on transnational cooperation programmes South East Europe (SEE) and the Mediterranean (MED).

The meeting was launched by State Secretary for European Integration and National IPA Coordinator Aleksandar Andrija Pejović and representative of the European Union Delegation to Motnenegro Donata von Sigsfeld.

Ambassador Pejović said that transnational cooperation contributes to a sustainable and well balanced development across the European continent, which is one of the main objectives of the EU’s regional policy. He reiterated the previous results and underlined that 39 projects have been implemented within the SEE/MED projects in Montenegro, worth over four million EUR. For this reason, he stated, the implementation of projects within these programmes is very important for meeting the objectives of EU policies, as well as for strengthening cooperation and exchanging best practices and innovative approaches. By participating in cross-border and transnational programmes, as well as by cooperating with partners from EU member-states, Montenegro is preparing for active use of structural funds, which will become available once we become members, Mr Pejović noted.

Ms von Sigsfeld of the EUD congratulated the Ministry on hosting the conference, where beneficiaries of transnational programmes from Montenegro and the region got an opportunity to discuss the results, successes, lessons learnt, and best practices. She underlined that participation in such programmes is very important for the EU accession process, as they create direct links between members and candidate countries. The importance of these programmes is in the fact that they establish cooperation and links between various national partners who run the projects, which remains even after their completion.

After the introductory speeches, SEE/MED programmes for 2007-2013 were discussed, and participants presented the experiences of Montenegro, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Albania, and Macedonia. The participants heard from Montenegrin beneficiaries, who talked about their experiences and results of their cooperation with regional and EU partners.

In the final part of the conference, a presentation was made of the transnational programmes within the 2014-2020 financial perspective. In addition to the MED programme which will continue in the future, Montenegro will also take part in two other programmes – the Danube and the Adriatic-Ionian cooperation programmes, which will, as the participants agreed, bring about new opportunities for the countries wishing to join the EU.

SEE programme involves 16 countries, making it the programme with the largest scope. MED gathers 13 countries of the EU and the Western Balkans. The priorities of these transnational programmes are innovation, environment, accessibility, and sustainable development.

The event gathered representatives of participating countries, programmes’ management boards, and representatives of Montenegrin institutions in charge of SEE and MED projects.