The European Commission has officially approved the disbursement of the first tranche of funds to Montenegro under the European Union's Reform and Growth Instrument, the Ministry of European Affairs and the Ministry of Finance announced.
They said that this continued the positive trend in the implementation of the Growth Plan for the Western Balkans and confirmed Montenegro's commitment to its European perspective.
"Based on the submitted report on the implementation of the Reform Agenda and the assessment of the European Commission, the payment of the first regular tranche in the amount of 10,2 million euros was approved, of which 4,7 million euros were paid as budget support through a soft loan. The remaining amount of 5,5 million euros will be allocated to finance infrastructure projects through the Western Balkans Investment Framework (WBIF), of which 2,6 million euros are loans and 2,9 million euros are grants that will be paid in the coming period," the statement reads.
These funds, according to two government departments, are the result of significant reform steps, from a public register of state-owned enterprises, greater transparency of international agreements, the introduction of energy certificates, the development of a broadband network, the full digitalization of public services, and the adoption of EU-harmonized regulations, the deadline for implementation of which was February 28, 2025.
For reforms whose implementation is underway, Montenegro will, in accordance with EU rules, be able to use an additional period of 24 months for their full implementation, without losing available funds.
"In the first half of the year, additional progress was made in important areas such as spatial planning and energy, which is presented in detail in the Second Semi-Annual Report, which the Government of Montenegro adopted on July 10 and submitted to the European Commission for opinion," it added.
They said that the payment of this tranche represents a clear signal that Montenegro is achieving measurable results in implementing reforms and is effectively using available European funds to support development and integration into the EU.
"The Ministry of European Affairs and the Ministry of Finance remain committed to fulfilling the planned reform steps in accordance with the set dynamics, strong coordination and efficient management of funds from the Reform and Growth Instrument for the sake of a better and higher quality of life for the citizens of Montenegro," the statement reads.
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