Montenegro is recognized as a leader in the region in terms of the consumption of IPARD II funds, having used nearly 90 percent of the available funds, announced the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management, Vladimir Joković.
Joković, as announced by the Ministry, said that IPARD II, through a series of measures and activities, made 39 million euros of European Union (EU) support available to Montenegrin agriculture.
"From this, thanks to the successful implementation, by the end of the year, agricultural producers and processors from Montenegro will use close to 90 percent of the available funds of the IPARD II program, that is, about 35 million euros of European funds," Joković said at a press conference in Villa Gorica on the occasion of the closing IPARD II.
Through four published public calls in the new IPARD III program this year, a great interest of future users was recorded, so the relevant Ministry has already received over 900 requests.
The Minister of Finance, Novica Vuković, announced that the department headed by him, within the coordination of the EU funds management system, managed to provide significant support to the Ministry of Agriculture in the implementation of key programs that have a long-term impact on the agriculture and rural development sector.
"Through joint achievements, we directed the available EU funds in the right way and ensured that farmers receive the help they need for modernization and further development," said Vuković.
Through the financing of Montenegrin applicants, about 90 percent of the money that was available under the IPARD II program was withdrawn, that is, about 34,7 million of the committed 39 million were spent, although until just a year ago there was a real and significant risk of loss and non-use. funds in the amount of 11 million euros.
"Such a step forward was made in the key phase of the implementation of the program, thanks to the synergy between the institutions through dedicated and teamwork. With it, we managed to overcome all the open challenges from the earlier period and to make almost maximum use of the funds available to the state", Vuković added.
He stated that this success is not just a number, but a concrete proof that the structures work for the benefit of Montenegrin farmers and for the development of the agricultural sector in Montenegro, which will have a multiplier effect on other sectors of production.
At the event, it was announced that the Ministry of Finance, in cooperation with colleagues from the relevant Ministry, will continue to research and develop new modalities of support for farmers, in order to enable easier access to favorable loans.
At the conference, it was noted that the implementation of the Agricultural Budget was very successful, over 95 percent of the planned funds, and that good progress was made in Chapter 11 - Agriculture and Rural Development.
The Law on Organic Production was also adopted, and the twinning project Strengthening capacities in the agriculture and rural development sector for the implementation of the Common Agricultural Policy in Montenegro, worth 1,9 million EUR, began.
"Through the MIDAS project, the second public call for the procurement of seven fishing vessels was successfully completed with the support of EUR 500. Through the new partnership framework with the World Bank (WB), EUR 15 million was approved for the construction of the port in Ulcinj," the announcement states.
In the field of forestry, the Law on Forests was adopted, which abolished the concession system of forest use. The new law is the basis for the reform of the forestry sector in order to achieve the sustainability of forest management.
As part of the reform, the Program for the Development of Wood Processing in Montenegro for the next three-year period was drawn up.
In the course of this year, together with the SB, the Forests of Montenegro project for common prosperity was prepared, the value of which is projected at EUR 18 million. The funds will be directed to support the state enterprise for forest management and development projects in the field of wood processing.
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