Montenegro has officially been made available 80 million euros of grant support from the European Union’s Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA III), which represents a significant step forward in the use of EU funds and a concrete contribution to the implementation of key reforms on the eve of membership in the European Union, RTCG reports.
This success is, as emphasized by the Ministry of Finance, the result of dedicated teamwork of all institutions involved in the IPA structure, coordinated by the Ministry of Finance, with the continued support of the European Commission and commitment to achieving Montenegro’s strategic goals on its European path.
The funds are available through two multi-year financial agreements between the Government of Montenegro and the European Union: the Operational Programme for Employment and Social Inclusion (2024–2027), and the Operational Programme for Environment and Climate Change (2024–2027).
– These significant grants will be directly directed at reforms that will improve the quality of life of our citizens – through strengthening employment, social inclusion, environmental protection and response to climate change – said Minister of Finance Novica Vuković.
The signing of these agreements confirmed the successful completion of the accreditation process of operational programs, which places Montenegro among the countries that continuously and with increasing efficiency use the available funds of the European Union.
As emphasized in the press release, 48.5 million euros are allocated to the area of environmental protection and climate change, 31.6 million euros are intended for employment and social inclusion.
The focus will be on employment, equality and labor market development, on the operational program for employment and social inclusion, which is focused on strengthening social cohesion, increasing employment – especially among young people and vulnerable groups, as well as on the development of skills aligned with the requirements of the modern labor market.
