The first meeting of the Supervisory Board of the Reform and Growth Instrument gathered representatives of the Government of Montenegro, the European Commission, international partners, and civil society to review progress in implementing the Reform Agenda and determine priorities for the third reporting cycle.
The meeting was co-chaired by Bojan Vujović (Ministry of European Affairs), Barbara Hesus-Himeno (European Commission), and Velibor Damjanović (Ministry of Finance). Government representatives confirmed that Montenegro has successfully completed the first two reporting cycles and emphasized that the upcoming Regulation on the Implementation of EU Support through the Reform and Growth Instrument will further strengthen governance and accelerate the implementation of 130 planned reform steps.
Bojan Vujović underlined that after two years of intensive work within the Instrument, Montenegro can be proud of the achieved results, including the preparation of the Reform Agenda and the legal framework for its implementation, reiterating the Government’s readiness to pursue reforms that form part of the broader efforts aimed at closing negotiation chapters.
Speaking on behalf of the European Commission, Hesus-Himeno praised Montenegro’s strong commitment and solid performance in the first two evaluation cycles, highlighting that five negotiation chapters are close to closure. She emphasized the urgent need to adopt the Regulation on the Implementation of EU Support through the Instrument and to maintain the current pace, given that the third reporting period coincides with key phases of the EU accession process.
Velibor Damjanović stated that the Reform Agenda is just one example of the continuous partnership and cooperation between the EU and Montenegro. Strengthening institutions and advancing along the EU integration path—supported by significant financial assistance—are among the core benefits of this cooperation. The adoption of the Regulation will complete the legislative framework and further reinforce institutional cooperation, which is crucial for the continued implementation of the Growth Plan Programme.
The Board also reviewed Montenegro’s investment portfolio within the Western Balkans Investment Framework. The Government presented major infrastructure initiatives in the areas of energy, education, and transport, including €80 million in new projects approved in June 2025, along with four additional recently confirmed projects.
Civil society representatives called for clearer communication on topics such as gender equality and support services, while the Government reiterated its commitment to transparency and regular dialogue. The European Commission presented a new indicator within the Instrument—namely, a tool for real-time monitoring of reform progress.
Participants also discussed upcoming arrangements for audit and control and emphasized the importance of strong communication and visibility. Montenegro’s consistent public-information activities since the beginning of the Growth Plan’s implementation were commended as an important foundation for the period ahead.
In conclusion, the co-chairs stressed that Montenegro is entering a decisive phase, with 45 reform steps due in the next reporting cycle. They assessed that the country is well prepared and encouraged institutions to maintain the momentum of reform implementation.