The meeting of the Sectoral Monitoring Committee for the European Union Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA) was held on 18 June 2026 with the aim of analysing the current state of project implementation, as well as achieving progress and accelerating reform processes. The event was attended by representatives of relevant institutions of Montenegro, IPA fund beneficiaries.
The meeting was opened by Bojan Vujović, Director General of the Directorate for Coordination of EU Financial Assistance in the Ministry of European Affairs, and Velibor Damjanović, Director General of the Directorate for Management of EU Pre-Accession Support Structures in the Ministry of Finance. On behalf of the Delegation of the European Union to Montenegro, participants were welcomed by Bernard Brunet, Head of Cooperation, who praised Montenegro’s progress in its reform efforts, which he said confirms the dedicated work carried out within the framework of continuous EU pre-accession support.
The meeting highlighted significant progress in the implementation of projects launched under the IPA III financial perspective (2021–2027). The Montenegrin side expressed gratitude to the EU for its continuous financial support and stressed that the efficient use of these funds is a government priority, confirming strong commitment to strengthening European integration and aligning national policies with European Union standards. The Delegation noted that Montenegro has established a solid foundation for the implementation of projects under indirect management.
The meeting reviewed the results of EU support to date and the next steps in key areas covered by the IPA instrument, including rule of law, public administration reform, environmental protection, transport, education, employment, social protection, innovation, as well as agriculture and rural development.
The importance of strengthening institutional cooperation was emphasised at the meeting, as well as, in the context of EU accession, the importance of efficient programming and use of the budget provided under the Multiannual Financial Framework (2021–2027).
The meeting provided an important opportunity to present results, challenges, and obstacles with the aim of ensuring faster and continuous use of EU support.