The regular annual meeting of the IPA Monitoring Committee was held in Podgorica, bringing together representatives of Montenegrin institutions, beneficiaries of IPA funds and officials from the European Commission. According to the Ministry of European Affairs and the Ministry of Finance, the purpose of the meeting was to review the results of EU support programs implemented during Montenegro’s pre-accession period and to define priorities for the next phase.
The session was co-chaired by representatives of Montenegrin institutions and the European Commission. The introductory address was delivered by Bojan Vujović, Director General for Coordination of EU Financial Assistance and Deputy National IPA Coordinator. This was followed by remarks from Barbara Jesús-Jimeno, Head of Unit B4 in the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Enlargement and Neighbourhood, and Velibor Damjanović, Director General for the Management of Pre-Accession Structures at the Ministry of Finance.
It was emphasized that Montenegro has built substantial capacity in managing EU funds over multiple IPA cycles, while national systems have been strengthened to ensure the efficient use of significantly larger volumes of assistance in the future. In this context, particular attention was given to the Government’s employment plan, which foresees the creation of 100 new positions in the fund-management sector, scheduled for implementation in 2026.
Vujović noted that since the start of the IPA III cycle, Montenegro has been allocated more than EUR 390 million in EU support for key reform sectors, including transport, the environment, energy, agriculture, public administration, the rule of law and employment. He highlighted, in particular, EUR 150 million earmarked for the Mateševo–Andrijevica highway section, a major infrastructure project that will modernize Montenegro’s transport network and enhance regional connectivity.
Speaking about Negotiating Chapter 22 – Regional Policy and Coordination of Structural Instruments, Vujović stressed that significant progress has been achieved through the adoption of the new Action Plan and accompanying documents. These were prepared through an inclusive process that included public consultations held in October 2025.
European Commission representative Barbara Jesús-Jimeno underlined that Montenegro, as the frontrunner in the EU accession process, must make full use of available IPA funds to meet the final benchmarks and prepare for membership, in line with the goal of joining the EU by 2028.
In the closing part of the meeting, Damjanović reported that nearly all IPA III programs have already been accredited or are in the final stages of accreditation. According to the European Commission’s assessment, Montenegro’s national system is stable, functional and ready to manage significantly larger volumes of funds efficiently. He also highlighted the new Growth Plan program, worth EUR 383 million, which further strengthens reform efforts and directly supports public finances and citizens.
Participants welcomed Montenegro’s steady and measurable progress in using IPA funds and reaffirmed their joint commitment to accelerating reforms and ensuring that EU support delivers concrete benefits to citizens as the country advances toward EU membership.
