Based on Articles 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 of the Regulation on the selection of representatives of non-governmental organizations to the working bodies of state administration authorities and the conduct of public consultations in the preparation of laws and strategies (“Official Gazette of Montenegro”, No. 41/18), the Ministry of European Affairs announces the following:
PUBLIC CALL
FOR PROPOSING REPRESENTATIVES OF NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS, INCLUDING BUSINESS ASSOCIATIONS
FOR PARTICIPATION IN THE WORK OF WORKING GROUPS FOR THE PREPARATION OF A STRATEGIC PLANNING DOCUMENT AND THE PROGRAMMING OF COHESION POLICY CHAPTERS WITHIN THE NATIONAL AND REGIONAL PARTNERSHIP PLAN
Based on the Action Plan for meeting the requirements of cohesion policy within Negotiation Chapter 22 – Regional Policy and Coordination of Structural Instruments, adopted by the Government of Montenegro on October 2, 2025, as well as the Information on the Analysis of Best Practices of EU Member States in the field of management of European funds, with the Proposal for the institutional and programmatic framework for EU funds after Montenegro’s accession to the European Union, adopted by the Government of Montenegro on February 12, 2026, the Ministry of European Affairs is implementing activities aimed at defining the program framework and institutional structure for the use of EU funds after membership.
This Public Call is published in the context of fulfilling the obligation arising from final benchmark 2 of Negotiation Chapter 22 – Regional Policy and Coordination of Structural Instruments, which states:
Montenegro shall submit to the Commission an advanced and comprehensive Draft Partnership Agreement (PA) containing defined ways in which Montenegro plans to ensure alignment with the EU strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth, selected thematic objectives and the main expected results for each of the ESI funds. The draft PA will contain indicative elements of the planned Operational Programme, including sources of financing, as well as a report on the assessment of the fulfilment of applicable ex-ante conditionalities.
The above benchmark is defined in accordance with the terminology and framework applicable to cohesion policy and the financial periods 2014–2020 and 2021–2027. However, for the multiannual financial period after 2027, the European Commission plans to introduce a new approach that directly affects the definition of the obligations Montenegro must fulfil in order to close the benchmark. The European Commission’s proposal for the Multiannual Financial Framework 2028–2034 foresees the integration of key cohesion, social, agricultural and migration instruments into a single National and Regional Partnership Plan (NRPP). After the adoption of the financial framework for the period 2028–2034, the Commission will apply an integrated approach that envisages the preparation of a single programming document which will replace existing partnership agreements, programmes and strategic plans after 2027.
In the context of the obligations arising from final benchmark 2, as well as the need to align with the framework currently being defined for the financial perspective 2028–2034, the European Commission requires Montenegro to prepare a Strategic Planning Document, which includes a strategic analysis (challenges, needs, target groups), priorities and objectives, main expected results, a list of planned chapters and funding sources, arrangements for ensuring alignment with relevant EU priorities and strategies, and the definition of a management system in accordance with the European Code of Conduct on Partnership.
During the programming phase of future cohesion policy and the preparation of the Sectoral Planning Document, Montenegro must respect the partnership principle, in accordance with the European Code of Conduct on Partnership, stemming from Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) No. 240/2014. This document establishes a set of standards ensuring that the partnership principle—strengthening cooperation between state institutions, economic and social partners, and non-governmental organizations—is respected during the preparation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of cohesion policy funds, in order to address the needs of different stakeholders. Full implementation of the European Code of Conduct on Partnership is an obligation that must be fulfilled with regard to the financial perspective 2028–2034.
In this regard, the inclusion of non-governmental organizations in the programming process of the Sectoral Planning Document aims to ensure partnership and inclusion, with the goal of jointly defining and identifying policies and areas that will be financed through EU funds after membership.
Since the Strategic Planning Document represents the first step towards the preparation of the NRPP, the drafting process includes the identification of all cohesion policy areas that will be included in the NRPP, namely:
- Business support
- Culture, tourism and media
- Digital technologies and infrastructure
- Education and skills
- Efficient public administration (partially relevant)
- Energy
- Environment and climate
- Housing policy and infrastructure
- Migration and borders
- Multi-sectoral support (partially relevant)
- Research and innovation
- Sustainability, defence industry and space (relevant for civil protection)
- Rights, equality and justice (partially relevant, including gender equality and fundamental rights)
- Social issues
- Transport
In order to ensure efficient work and the implementation of upcoming obligations regarding the preparation of the Sectoral Planning Document, the Ministry of European Affairs, based on the full application of the partnership principle, will coordinate the drafting process through the establishment of six working groups.
Respect for and implementation of the partnership principle within these working groups will be reflected through the establishment of close cooperation between authorities and institutions at the national and local level, as well as cooperation with economic and social partners, non-governmental organizations including business associations, research institutions and universities, and other relevant stakeholders.
The working groups will cover the above-mentioned areas of cohesion policy identified within the NRPP:
Working Group 1: Business support, culture, tourism and media, research and innovation
Working Group 2: Digital technologies and infrastructure, transport
Working Group 3: Education and skills, migration and borders, social rights, equality and justice
Working Group 4: Efficient public administration
Working Group 5: Energy, environment and climate, sustainability, defence industry and space
Working Group 6: Multi-sectoral support, housing policy and infrastructure
In addition to representatives of non-governmental organizations, including business associations, the working groups will also include representatives of authorities and institutions at the national and local level, economic and social partners, as well as research institutions and universities. This planned composition of working groups implies the full and transparent implementation of the partnership principle during the preparation of the Strategic Planning Document and the later programming of cohesion policy chapters within the NRPP.
The Ministry of European Affairs will coordinate the work of the working groups for the preparation of the Sectoral Planning Document and the subsequent programming of cohesion policy chapters within the NRPP.
Conditions for participation
To participate in this Public Call, a non-governmental organization, including a business association, must meet the following conditions:
- It is registered in the Register of NGOs before the date of publication of this Public Call;
- In its founding act or statute it defines at least one objective from the above-mentioned cohesion policy areas;
- It is not listed in the Criminal Records Register;
- It has submitted a report to the tax authority for the previous fiscal year (copy of the balance sheet and income statement);
- In the previous three years it has carried out activities or research, prepared a document, organized an event or implemented a project related to at least one of the above-mentioned cohesion policy areas aimed at improving the situation in that area; and
- More than half of the members of the governing body of the NGO are not members of political party bodies, public officials, managerial persons or civil servants.
Additionally, the following specific requirements must be met:
- The NGO, including business associations, conducts activities throughout the entire territory of Montenegro; and
- Representatives of NGOs, including business associations, must possess working knowledge of the English language.
For participation in the Public Call, each interested NGO, including business associations, may propose one representative from its organization for each working group.
Criteria for proposed representatives
Each proposed representative must:
- Have residence in Montenegro;
- Have experience in the area related to the indicated cohesion policy field;
- Not be a member of a political party body, a public official, a civil servant or an employee in public administration.
Required documentation:
- Together with the nomination proposal, the following documentation must be submitted:
- Proof that the organization is registered in the Register of NGOs (copy of the registration act);
- Copy of the statute;
- Proof that the organization submitted a report to the tax authority for the previous fiscal year (copy of the balance sheet and income statement);
- Signed statement by the authorized person of the organization confirming that more than half of the members of the governing body are not members of political party bodies, public officials, managerial persons or civil servants, certified with the organization’s stamp;
- Completed Form A, signed by the authorized person and certified with the organization’s stamp;
- Copy of the ID card or another public document of the proposed representative;
- CV of the proposed representative prepared using Form B;
- Signed statement of the proposed representative confirming that they are not a member of a political party body, public official, managerial person, civil servant or employee in public administration (Form B);
- Signed statement of the representative of the NGO confirming acceptance of the nomination to represent the NGO in the work of the working group for the preparation of the Sectoral Planning Document and future phases of programming the NRPP (Form B).
All statements must be signed, clearly dated and stamped where required by the forms.
The deadline for submitting proposals is 10 working days from the date of publication of this Public Call, no later than March 25 at 15:00.
Proposals must be submitted to the archives of the Ministry of European Affairs on working days between 08:00 and 14:00.
The envelope must contain the address of the Ministry of European Affairs:
Bulevar Ivana Crnojevića 167
81000 Podgorica
with the note:
“Nomination of representatives for participation in the work of the working group for the preparation of the Strategic Planning Document and programming of cohesion policy chapters within the National and Regional Partnership Plan.”
A copy of the documentation should also be sent electronically to: anita.berisa@mep.gov.me with the note that it refers to the nomination of representatives for participation in the work of the working group for the preparation of the Strategic Planning Document and programming of cohesion policy chapters within the National and Regional Partnership Plan.
In case of discrepancies or incomplete documentation, the paper version shall be considered valid.
Proposals for representatives will be considered only if submitted with all required documentation and within the specified deadline.
Within 7 working days after the deadline for submission, the Ministry of European Affairs will publish on its website the list of representatives of NGOs participating in the working groups for the preparation of the Sectoral Planning Document and future phases of NRPP programming.
Together with the list of representatives, the Ministry will also publish a list of NGOs that submitted incomplete or improper proposals, or those that do not meet the above conditions, or that proposed a representative who does not meet the requirements of this Public Call.
Any questions regarding the nomination procedure may be sent to: anita.berisa@mep.gov.me
MINISTER
Maida Gorčević