The Ministry of European Affairs organised an Info Day in Podgorica on the 7th call of the Interreg Euro-MED Programme, published under the Mediterranean Multi-Programme Mechanism, an initiative bringing together ten Interreg programmes.
This mechanism provides a strategic framework for strengthening cooperation among Interreg programmes, with the aim of jointly addressing the challenges facing the Mediterranean area, as well as making more efficient use of its resources.
This coordinated call, primarily focused on sustainable tourism, reflects the shared commitment of Interreg programmes to transforming tourism into a driver of climate resilience and territorial cohesion across the Mediterranean, while simultaneously mitigating environmental degradation and ensuring that local communities benefit equally.
Opening the event, Miloš Marković, Director General of the Directorate for European Territorial Cooperation at the Ministry of European Affairs, stressed that international cooperation and the exchange of experiences provide an opportunity to develop more concrete and sustainable solutions in the field of tourism.
“The region is particularly exposed to the consequences of climate change and pressures on natural resources, which is why the need for more sustainable tourism development models is becoming increasingly important, while cooperation among institutions and organisations from different countries provides an opportunity to respond to common challenges through concrete projects,” Marković said.
He recalled that Montenegrin partners are currently participating in 31 projects under the Interreg Euro-MED Programme, with a total value of approximately EUR 89.1 million, of which approximately EUR 5.6 million is allocated to partners from Montenegro, confirming the growing capacity of Montenegrin institutions to actively participate in European territorial cooperation programmes.
Marković stressed that participation in the Interreg Euro-MED Programme is particularly important during the final stage of Montenegro’s EU accession negotiations, as it enables institutions and organisations to exchange knowledge with partners from Member States through practical cooperation and jointly work on issues of importance to citizens and local communities.
As part of the Info Day, representatives of the Ministry of European Affairs presented the objectives and thematic focus of the 7th call, participation requirements, rules for preparing project proposals, as well as opportunities for identifying and establishing quality partnerships and transferring results developed through other Interreg programmes under this Mechanism.
Montenegro participates in three programmes included in the Mediterranean Multi-Programme Mechanism, two of which are participating in this coordinated initiative: Interreg Euro-MED and Interreg IPA South Adriatic.
The 7th call of the Interreg Euro-MED Programme is open from 1 to 30 September 2026.