Representatives of the Directorate for Management of EU Pre-accession Funds Structures of the Ministry of Finance and the Directorate for Coordination of EU Financial Assistance of the Ministry of European Affairs, together with representatives of the Puglia and Molise regions of Italy, as well as the State Agency for Strategic Programming and Aid Coordination of Albania, participated from 17 to 19 November 2025 in the meetings organized within the strategic project SA GOVERNANCE. The meetings included mid-term monitoring of the project’s implementation and the fifth partner meeting, featuring detailed presentations of completed activities and plans for the upcoming period.
On behalf of Montenegro, Directors-General Velibor Damjanović and Bojan Vujović welcomed participants, thanked partner institutions for their cooperation to date, and emphasized the importance of the financial support provided through this strategic project. Representatives of partner institutions from Italy, Vito Bavaro and Michele Petracca, as well as the representative of Albania, Arber Qystria, expressed satisfaction with the progress achieved and reaffirmed the importance of continuous exchange of experience and joint action in the modernization of public administration.
The meetings reviewed the project’s progress under the Interreg IPA South Adriatic Programme 2021–2027, with a particular focus on improving digital public services and strengthening the administrative capacities of institutions in all three partner countries. Activities implemented in the previous period were presented, including training programmes, study visits, and the development of new digital solutions that contribute to a more efficient and transparent public administration.
Special attention was given to the Ministry of Finance’s pilot solution—the Information System for Managing IPA III Funds—which represents a significant step forward in the systemic improvement of programming, monitoring, and reporting processes. Also presented was the multifunctional HUB developed within the activities of the Puglia region, which will serve as a central platform for training, knowledge exchange, and networking among institutions involved in the project.
Additionally, the partners reviewed communication activities carried out so far, as well as plans for 2026, with a special emphasis on enhancing the project’s visibility and implementing a joint campaign on digital platforms.
It was concluded that the SA GOVERNANCE project significantly contributes to strengthening cross-border cooperation and modernizing public administrations in the South Adriatic region through digital transformation, exchange of best practices, and strong partnerships among institutions from Italy, Albania, and Montenegro.