The Monitoring Committee of the Interreg Euro-MED 2021–2027 programme, comprising representatives from 14 Northern Mediterranean countries, convened today in Tivat under Montenegro’s co-chairmanship of this transnational cooperation programme.
Opening the meeting on behalf of Montenegro’s Ministry of European Affairs, Miloš Marković, Director-General of the Directorate for European Territorial Cooperation, expressed his satisfaction that the 11th Monitoring Committee meeting was being held on the Mediterranean coast. He emphasized the need to make the region greener, smarter and more sustainable.
“The Mediterranean faces significant challenges, particularly in terms of climate change. Strengthening resilience and adapting to these changes is no longer a choice but a necessity. This can only be achieved through collaboration and strong partnerships, especially in the areas of protecting cultural and historical heritage, fostering an innovative economy and promoting sustainable tourism,” Marković said.
Tarja Richard, representing the Managing Authority of the Mediterranean Programme in the Provence–Alpes–Côte d’Azur region, thanked all member states for their active contribution to the programme’s success and Montenegro for its hospitality.
“With five calls completed, I am pleased to note that the implementation of our programme is progressing as planned. Next year, we anticipate the approval and launch of projects under the Fourth and Fifth Calls, which promises a host of activities and events across the Mediterranean coastline,” Richard said.
The meeting reviewed the results of the evaluation of project proposals submitted during the first stage of the Fifth Call, which focused on two areas: waste management and water scarcity. The Committee decided that 25 projects would proceed to the finalization and evaluation phase, with results expected in 2025.
At the conclusion of the meeting, Marković handed over the Committee presidency to Croatia, which will lead its work for the next six months. Symbolically, Marković presented representatives of Croatia’s National Body with a gold-embroidered piece from the traditional costume of the Boka Navy. Founded in 809, the Boka Navy is the world’s oldest maritime organization and was inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2021.
Following the Monitoring Committee meeting, national contact persons and controllers of the Interreg Euro-MED program held sessions to exchange experiences from participating countries in implementing program activities.
The Interreg Euro-MED programme provides a framework for cooperation among 14 Northern Mediterranean countries: Portugal, Spain, France, Italy, Malta, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Albania, Greece, North Macedonia, Bulgaria and Cyprus. Co-funded by the European Union, its primary goal is to support the transition toward a climate-neutral and resilient society while addressing the impacts of global changes on Mediterranean resources, ensuring sustainable development and the well-being of its citizens.