The implementation of the Reform Agenda, through which Montenegro will receive 383,5 million euros, will be key to speeding up the country's integration into the European Union (EU), it was assessed at the first session of the Coordinating Body for Monitoring the Implementation of the Reform Agenda 2024-2027.
The session was chaired by the Minister of European Affairs, Maida Gorčević, with the participation of representatives of the relevant line ministries for certain reform measures from that document.
Gorčević, opening the session, referred to the decision of the European Commission (EC) which on October 23 adopted the Reform Agenda of Montenegro, following the positive opinion of the EU member states, which fulfilled the main condition for withdrawing money from the Instrument for Reform and Growth within the Growth Plan for the Western Balkans.
As announced by the Ministry of European Affairs, she pointed out that EU support from this instrument will bring the Montenegrin economy closer to the economy of the EU member states and provide Montenegrin companies with the opportunity to participate in the Union's single market.
In the end, this will encourage the improvement of the socio-economic environment, but also fundamental reforms that will encourage the economic growth of Montenegro.
"However, the serious and hard work of the institutions is yet to come, because the successful implementation of measures from the Reform Agenda, for the benefit of Montenegro and its citizens, will depend on this," Gorčević emphasized in her introductory speech.
In the working part of the session, it was pointed out that the reforms planned through this document will contribute to the acceleration of economic convergence of Montenegro towards the Union average and faster integration into the EU.
Director General of the Directorate for Coordination of EU Financial Support in the Ministry of European Affairs, Bojan Vujović, pointed out that the Reform Agenda ensures EU support in a combination of grants and soft loans.
"For Montenegro, out of the total amount of support of 383,5 million euros, it is planned that 178,5 million will be provided in the form of budget support, while the remaining 205 million euros will be directed to the financing of infrastructure projects through the Western Balkan Investment Framework (WIF)". stated Vujović, adding that this instrument will provide Montenegrin companies with better opportunities on the EU single market.
In order to ensure the smooth implementation of the Reform Agenda, the relevant ministries are responsible for providing information on the current status of implementation for each reform and step, as well as implementation plans for the next period, until the planned results are achieved.
"It was agreed that the Ministry of European Affairs and the Ministry of Finance will work together on completing the legal basis and creating a system of coordination and monitoring of measures from the Reform Agenda," the announcement concludes.
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