Press conference: 26 million financial support to Montenegro through the IPA Component III -Regional Development 2012-2013

The first session of the Sectoral Monitoring Committee for the Operational Program Regional Development 2012-2013 will be held on Tuesday, 9 December, at 9:30 AM in the premises of the Ministry of Sustainable Development and Tourism (address: IV Proleterske 19, multimedia conference hall /ground floor).

By the Operational Program, a financial support is envisaged to be granted to Montenegro as nonrefundable funds in the amount of EUR 22 million, and another EUR 4 million to be provided through national co-funding. The total value of the Operational Program amounts to EUR 26 million.

In the introductory part of the session, open for media 9:30-9:50 AM, the participants will be welcomed by Ratka Sekulović, Head of the EU Fund Management Department of the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Sustainable Development, and Rastislav Prokopič, representative of the Directorate General of the European Commission for Regional Policy.

Montenegro and its citizens for the first time will be granted a financial support for realization of 5 important projects from the domain on environmental protection and traffic, related to the IPA Component III - Regional Development in compliance with national policies and strategies, as well as EU policies and standards, what is proclaimed to be a main objective of the Operational Program.

The main topics of the first session of the Sectoral Monitoring Committee will be the adoption of the Rules of Procedure, presentation of the composition of the Monitoring Committee, requirements contained in the Decision of the European Commission on conferral of management powers for the IPA Component III from the EC to the Montenegrin institutions, further steps in the IPA Component III, realization of the Operational Program - Regional Development 2012-2013, presentation of the Communicational Plan for the IPA Component III, as well as presentation of the Annual Work Plan.

The first session of the Sectoral Monitoring Committee will be attended by representatives of the European Commission, as well as all other institutions involved in the IPA Component III in Montenegro, together with relevant representatives of the governmental and civil sector, municipalities, and other parties interested in the realization of projects planned by the Operational Program.

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On 25 April 2014, the Accreditation has been approved for the operational structure of the IPA Component III for decentralized management of IPA funds by the European Commission. The Financing Agreement, as a precondition for implementation of the Operational Program - Regional Development 2012-2013 has been signed on 5 December 2014. It has been preceded by setting up of the Sectoral Monitoring Committee for the Operational Program - Regional Development 2012-2013.