Montenegro is poised to implement the Reform Agenda for the Growth Plan for the Western Balkans, which will provide access to €383.5 million in funding and facilitate the country’s economic convergence, according to Minister of European Affairs Maida Gorčević.
At a working breakfast with journalists, Gorčević described the Reform Agenda as a crucial tool, not only for Montenegro but for the entire Western Balkans region.
She highlighted that this substantial financial resource includes €110 million in non-repayable funds, with the remainder available as favorable loans.
“Of the total allocation, €178.5 million is earmarked for budget support, while €205 million will finance infrastructure projects through the Western Balkan Investment Framework,” Gorčević explained.
She noted that initially, 7% of the funds will be allocated at the start of the Growth Plan implementation, with subsequent amounts released in six semi-annual tranches based on the achievement of planned reforms.
The European Commission (EC) is expected to approve the Reform Agenda by the end of this month, with the first disbursement of €29 million likely to occur before year’s end.
“The funds accessible to Montenegro are contingent upon the successful implementation of the reform measures outlined in the Reform Agenda, making this document critical for the country’s economic and political development, as well as for accelerating European integration,” emphasized Gorčević.
The funds will support significant reforms in four priority sectors essential for stable economic growth, enhancing the business environment, upholding the rule of law, and improving the quality of life for citizens.
“We have identified 32 priority reform measures with specific steps necessary for implementation, including success indicators to monitor progress,” Gorčević elaborated.
The Ministry of Finance is tasked with overseeing some reforms related to private sector development and competitiveness required to secure EU funding through the Reform Agenda.
State Secretary Bojana Bošković indicated that these reforms will establish a unified regulatory framework for overseeing state enterprises, enhance transparency in public companies, and improve public procurement processes.
General Director of the Ministry of Labor, Employment and Social Dialogue, Snežana Drobnjak, noted that key reforms to improve employability will focus on activating recipients of social assistance and supporting women’s employment.
A series of initiatives will be developed to facilitate these groups’ integration into the labor market.
The Ministry of Education, Science, and Innovation will implement various measures aimed at practical education, career counseling, and the development of educational infrastructure.
Marko Vukašinović, General Director for International Cooperation, European Integration, and EU Funds in that Ministry, announced plans to improve infrastructure to reduce the number of shifts in schools and to increase kindergarten capacity.
State Secretary Marijeta Barjaktarović Lanzardi highlighted that all activities in science and innovation will be based on the Smart Specialization Strategy (S3).
Minister of Social Welfare, Family Care, and Demography, Damir Gutić, announced the creation of a unified, inclusive cash transfer system related to disabilities that will cover all user rights, along with a minimum guaranteed package of social services and sustainable financing.
Minister of Public Administration, Marsh Dukaj, emphasized the importance of digitalization, mentioning initiatives such as implementing the Digital Wallet and delivering modern, user-friendly digital public services, as well as establishing a comprehensive framework for cyber resilience.
The development of digital services is expected to follow the established plan for 2025-2027 and align with the Open Data Directive.
Finally, Gorčević noted that the successful implementation of the Reform Agenda will require the signing and ratification of the Agreement on Accessing the EU Reform and Growth Instrument and the Credit Agreement with the EU in the near future.
After this, Montenegro will need to adopt subsidiary legislation to define the coordination and implementation system for the reform measures, while preparing action plans for the reforms across various policy areas and establishing monitoring and reporting mechanisms to track progress.
The EU Growth Plan for the Western Balkans is a strategic document adopted by the European Commission on November 8 of last year, designed to accelerate the economic convergence of candidate countries toward the EU.
This plan, alongside the EU Reform and Growth Instrument, will grant Montenegro and other Western Balkan countries access to substantial financial resources for the period 2024-2027, with a total allocation of €6 billion.
