November 11, 2018 - The European Union (EU) is ready to continue financially supporting the Western Balkan countries and Turkey in the area of leading regional initiatives in line with the EU's enlargement strategy to the Western Balkans, it was announced at the coordination meeting of the IPA Multi-beneficiary program in Brussels.
As announced by the General Secretariat of the Government, representatives of the countries of the Western Balkans, Turkey and the European Commission took part in the meeting, which was held on Thursday and Friday.
On behalf of Montenegro, the meeting was attended by the representatives of the Office for European Integration led by the Deputy Chief Negotiator - National IPA Coordinator Vucic Cetkovic. It is reported that the participants discussed the actions proposed for funding under the IPA Multi-beneficiary Program for the next year, for which the EU has committed EUR 578 million, related to initiatives in the areas of rule of law, security and migration, socio-economic development, empowering connectivity, digital agenda and good neighborly relations. "It was concluded that the engagement of additional EU funds at the regional level will result in a greater volume of investment in infrastructure, improved security and responses to organized crime and corruption, as well as improving the situation in the areas of youth education, employment, statistics, cybersecurity, cultural cooperation and the private sector," the statement said.
The European Committee will, as it is clarified, after the implementation of additional consultations, officially adopt the proposed program in the middle of next year.
It is estimated that the proposed projects for Montenegro will be of extreme practical importance to the negotiation process and implementation of key reforms in the process of EU accession. Cetkovic said that EU financial support to reforms that are thematically common to all beneficiary countries contributes to the improvement of regional cooperation, where Montenegro has been recognized as a constructive and reliable partner of the Union and the countries of the region. "Montenegro's willingness to contribute to the implementation of approved regional projects will be a significant factor for further successful implementation of the program," said Cetkovic.
Text by MINA, on November 10th, 2018, read more at Vijesti
