Aligning and achieving EU standards through pre-accession funds is essential for Montenegro’s integration process. That was emphasized at the meeting of the IPA Sectoral Monitoring Committees held in Podgorica. The meeting discussed progress and results across all sectors supported by pre-accession programs and how best to utilize the support to complete Montenegro’s accession process in the coming years.
Opening the meeting, Milica Adžić, State Secretary and National Authorizing Officer at the Ministry of Finance, highlighted the significance of Montenegro’s commitment to EU integration through joint efforts of national authorities, primarily through the implementation of the IPA framework. She particularly stressed that Montenegrin IPA structures, through the EU’s pre-accession support framework, aim to align the legislative and institutional framework with European standards and prepare Montenegro for future activities as a full EU member. Significant progress has been made over the years through this support, particularly in strengthening institutional capacities, improving the environment through major infrastructure projects, and providing tangible incentives in socio-economic development and governance standards.
The importance of new IPA programs is particularly evident in the fact that national IPA structures, through the coordination of the Ministry of Finance, will grow within a broader framework of regional cooperation and alignment with EU standards. The Ministry of Finance, with new enthusiasm and impetus, is committed to maintaining the principles of transparency, accountability, and partnership, which will be supported through dynamic cooperation with the European Commission and partners in Brussels.
Acting Director General for the Coordination of EU Financial Support at the Ministry of European Affairs, Bojan Vujović, stated that Montenegro is entering the final phase of negotiations and, with a positive IBR (Interim Balance of Results), expects to close the chapters with the goal of Montenegro becoming the next EU member.
Vujović provided information on the current state of the use of European funds, highlighting the high contracting rate of funds within the IPA II financial perspective, which stands at 95%, forming a solid basis for ongoing efforts under the IPA III perspective. He pointed to activities aimed at strengthening institutional capacities for utilizing EU funds and meeting the final benchmarks within Chapter 22 – Regional Policy and Coordination of Structural Instruments, and emphasized the ongoing work on revising the Action Plan to meet the cohesion policy requirements, so Montenegro can efficiently absorb and use available EU funds after membership.
Vujović also reflected on the dedicated and demanding work of the Montenegrin administration in drafting the Reform Agenda for the EU Growth Plan for the Western Balkans, for which the EU has provided €383.5 million in support, of which 60% are favorable loans and the remainder are grants. On June 20, 2024, the government adopted a list of reforms for the Reform Agenda, which includes 32 priority reforms in four key areas: business environment, digital and green transition, human capital development, and the rule of law.
Head of the Cooperation Sector at the EU Delegation, Ingve Engstrom, highlighted the need to secure resources and work on fulfilling all remaining requirements to close all chapters in the upcoming period. “The EU provides unprecedented financial support through the new Growth Plan, along with the pre-accession support program. A novelty in the Reform Agenda agreed upon in the Growth Plan is that funds will be provided only when and if reform targets are met. To benefit from the Growth Plan funds, Montenegro will first need to invest in people, equipment, and IT, and carefully monitor the implementation of agreed reforms. The real benefit of the Growth Plan is not in the funding, but in implementing reforms that would significantly improve Montenegro’s economy,” Engstrom said.