For joint projects of Montenegro and Albania, EUR 2.8 million are available to potential beneficiaries in the areas of environmental protection and employment promotion at a conference held today in Podgorica on the occasion of the publication of the Second Call for IPA Cross-Border Cooperation Program Montenegro – 2020. “The second call, which we present today, was opened until May 27, 2019, for project proposals that should contribute to the protection of natural resources in lake and mountain areas, as well as strengthening employability and social inclusion.
The total funds earmarked for the Second Call amount to EUR 2.8 million, “said Deputy Chief Negotiator and National IPA Coordinator Ivana Glišević Đurović. She assessed that quality cooperation between the two countries resulted in the contracting of eight projects worth 3.2 million euros in the framework The first Call for Proposals, aimed at improving the quality of people’s lives in the program area, in the areas of tourism promotion and cultural and natural heritage, environmental protection and employment. “It is important to emphasize that this is already the fourth invitation under the cross-border cooperation program from the IPA II financial perspective that is implemented through indirect management of EU funds. This means that the role of the Contracting Authority is performed by the Directorate for Financing and Contracting EU Assistance Funds within the Ministry of Finance, and this invitation of the institution’s institutions will be carried out independently, and in accordance with the rules and procedures prescribed by the European Commission “, stressed EA. Director General of the Directorate for Financing and Contracting EU Funds of the Ministry of Finance Marija Vukčević.
Vukčević emphasized the readiness to build a partnership with applicants and future beneficiaries in order to better absorb available funds and contribute to improving the living conditions of the population in areas covered by the cross-border cooperation program. She added that all information can be found on the website of the finance minister, and that it is very important to comply with the deadlines and form. The deputy minister for Europe and foreign affairs of the Republic of Albania, Sokol Dedja, emphasized that the Program is being implemented very successfully and expressed the belief that the future projects contribute to concrete results important for the life of citizens in the border area. “It is very important to strengthen the partnership between people and institutions in the border region,” said Dedja.
The program manager for territorial cooperation in the Delegation of the European Union to Montenegro, Donatus von Sigsfeld, said that regional cooperation was high on the agenda of the European Union, and stressed that Montenegro is very successful when it comes to managing cross-border cooperation programs and has shown significant capacities in conducting programs implemented in indirect management. Joint Technical Secretariat Sanja Todorović presented the objectives of the Second Call, the available amounts, as well as the general rules for the submission of projects by the potential users. She highlighted a couple of important dates that are important to the applicants. In addition to May 27, which is the deadline for submission of projects, May 6th also pointed out the deadline for qualification from the contracting authority and 16 May, which is the deadline for asking questions related to the project. Projects can be sent by post or by special courier service to the address of Stanka Dragojevića 2 in Podgorica.