European funds as a development opportunity for the economy

Montenegrin companies recognize European funds not only as a source of financial support, but also as an opportunity for business modernization, strengthening competitiveness, digital and green transformation, internationalization and sustainable development, the Chamber of Commerce (PCCG) assessed.

Project Director at PKCG, Tanja Radusinović, said at the panel discussion FinansirajMe.EU – Through Synergy to EU Financing that there is great interest in this topic among businesses.

The event, as announced by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Montenegro, was aimed at strengthening the capacities of the Montenegrin economy to use European funds, investment instruments and development programs.

The event is designed as an operational platform connecting institutions, businesses and the expert community, with the aim of creating a clear, practical and sustainable path to EU funding.

Montenegro is entering a period in which European funds, investment mechanisms and support programs will become one of the key drivers of growth, innovation and modernization. In order for the economy to be ready for that moment, it is necessary to build knowledge, structures and partnerships in advance. That is why this panel discussion is not just an event — it is the first step in creating a new culture of project thinking, in which ideas turn into projects, and projects into investments.

"It is important that we do not wait for the moment of membership, but rather that we build knowledge and capacities today. The experiences of countries that have already gone through this process show that it is precisely the companies that prepared in time that were the most successful in using European funds after joining the Union," said Radusinović.

The Director General of the Directorate for Coordination of EU Financial Support at the Ministry of European Affairs, Bojan Vujović, assessed that accelerating Montenegro's European path also implies more intensive preparations for using the opportunities that membership brings.

"We must already prepare not only for the obligations, but also for the opportunities that membership in the European Union will open up. Participation in European projects will be one of the important mechanisms for further strengthening the competitiveness and development of the Montenegrin economy," said Vujović.

During the first panel, entitled "European Funds Today - Where Are the Opportunities for the Montenegrin Economy?", moderated by Radusinović, participants spoke about available sources of financing from European Union funds, expected opportunities after Montenegro's EU membership, the Growth Plan for the Western Balkans, as well as the readiness of the domestic economy to use funds from European programs.

Vujović pointed out the importance of timely preparation for the new budgetary framework of the European Union after 2028, emphasizing that Montenegro is expected to receive significantly more funds than in previous financial perspectives.

He said that EU membership would open up new opportunities for financing infrastructure, development and economic projects, and that institutions were already working on defining priority areas that would be supported through future funds. He particularly emphasized that companies should use the period leading up to membership to gain knowledge and experience in the preparation and implementation of European projects.

The representative of the European Union Delegation to Montenegro, Zdravko Ilić, presented the Growth Plan for the Western Balkans, explaining that it is an instrument of the European Union aimed at accelerating the economic convergence of the region to the single European market.

He spoke about measures that enable earlier use of certain benefits of the European market, including facilitating trade, mobility and business. He pointed out that six billion euros have been allocated for the implementation of the Growth Plan for the Region, and that the future funding system will be more strongly based on results and implemented reforms.

EU funds expert and PAG director, Predrag Janković, pointed out the need to further strengthen the capacity of the economy to use European funds, assessing that successful participation in future programs will depend on the level of preparedness of companies.

He stated that understanding the European project methodology and application process is one of the key prerequisites for success, and that it is necessary to intensify cooperation between the economy, institutions and experts in order to create conditions for more efficient use of available funds.

An expert on EU funds and co-founder of the Adria Consulting company from Croatia, Krešimir Budiša, shared the country's experiences after joining the European Union, stating that European funds were one of the key drivers of economic development and growth in the competitiveness of companies.

He pointed out that after membership, Montenegrin companies will have access to significantly more funds for development projects, investments, innovations and internationalization of business. Through examples from Croatian practice, he pointed out that numerous small companies have achieved significant growth, increased the number of employees and successfully entered international markets thanks to European funds.

The second panel, titled "First-hand: How we financed development through EU projects", was moderated by Ivana Tomašević, Director of the Business Start Center. Panel participants shared their experiences in preparing and implementing projects financed from European Union funds, highlighting the challenges they faced, but also the benefits they achieved through using available support programs.

Senior consultant at Adria Consulting, Boris Pekić, pointed out that the key to successful use of EU funds are good preparation, clearly defined development goals and projects that meet the real needs of the company, emphasizing that European funds should be viewed as a tool for achieving development plans, and not as a goal in itself.

The General Manager of the University of Donja Gorica (UDG), Sandra Tinaj, spoke about the experience of this institution in the implementation of numerous international projects, emphasizing the importance of research, innovation and cooperation with the economy, as well as the need for additional support to provide co-financing for projects in which Montenegrin organizations participate.

The Director of EVC Montenegro, Dejan Filipović, presented the project to develop infrastructure for electric vehicles, which was implemented with the support of EU funds within the EmBRACE project, emphasizing that European funds enabled the implementation of an investment that contributes to the green transition and the development of sustainable mobility in Montenegro.

The Director of Lorasi, Milan Marić, spoke about the development of innovative energy solutions and pointed out the importance of joining international consortia and partnership projects, assessing that such programs represent an opportunity for companies to turn their ideas into concrete development projects with the support of European funds.

Continuous learning, exchange of experiences and strong cooperation between institutions, the economy, the academic community and the professional public are key prerequisites for the efficient use of European funds. It was stated that Montenegro should use the period leading up to membership in the European Union to acquire knowledge and experience that will enable domestic companies to readily welcome new financing opportunities and fully utilize the potential of European development and investment funds.