Montenegro successful in implementing EU funds

Podgorica, Montenegro (6 December 2016) – The meeting of the Steering Committee of the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA) was held today in Podgorica. The effectiveness, quality and usefulness of implementation of programmes and projects financed by the European Union were discussed at the meeting, as well as activities within the preparation of programmes and activities which will be financed through EU funds in the next period.

The meeting was opened by Minister of European Affairs and National IPA Coordinator Aleksandar Andrija Pejović, on behalf of the Government of Montenegro, and by Director for the Western Balkans at the Directorate-General for European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations of the European Commission Genoveva Ruiz Calavera, on behalf of the European Commission.

Minister Pejović said that Montenegro has a high level of utilisation of IPA funds, which shows that we have the knowledge and skills to plan and successfully implement projects. He recalled that between 2007 and 2013 Montenegro used more than 90% of the funds from the available EU grant support of 235 million EUR.

"As the smallest country of the Western Balkans, we were able to successfully finalise the most projects of cross-border cooperation, which speaks about the intensity of cooperation between Montenegro and its neighbours in this area. That the European Union has confidence in the Montenegrin structures and procedures further confirms the fact that in 2014 we were entrusted to independently manage the support funds within IPA Components III and IV in important areas of policy relating to the protection of the environment, transport, education, employment and social policy," Minister Pejović said, noting that during this period 136 bilateral projects with neighbouring countries, worth around 20 million EUR, were conducted, as well as 56 projects of the IPAAdriatic Cross-Border Programme in Montenegro worth 14.1 million, and 35 projects worth 3.8 million under transnational cooperation programmes.

Director for the Western Balkans at the Directorate-General for European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations of the European Commission Genoveva Ruiz Calavera emphasised that Montenegro uses IPA as an important tool to support the implementation of major reforms in the EU accession process. She said that Montenegro's successful usage of EU funds also confirms the readiness of the EU to increase the amount of available IPA funds during 2014 - 2020. She stressed that the EU will continue to support priority sectors in Montenegro, in order that every citizen of Montenegro feel the tangible benefits of the reforms being implemented in the EU accession process. She also pointed out that the IPA support will certainly be a good chance for Montenegro, in partnership with the European Commission, to prepare its institutions for future EU membership.

Ministry of European Affairs