Support to Montenegro’s EU accession
Overview
The main priorities of the Government of Montenegro remain European integration and economic reform. Although, through the process of European integration, Montenegro has improved the overall governance system but it still needs to strengthen its administrative and institutional capacities as stated in the last EC Progress Report (October 2012): “Overall, with the new government in office, government coordination and policy-making has further improved, particularly the quality of consultations with civil society. However, the overall capacity of ministries to produce high-quality legislation and impact assessments remains limited. The administrative capacity involved in coordination of European integration, including financial assistance, remains weak and needs to be substantially strengthened.”
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration has a mandate to implement foreign policy priorities on one side, and coordinate overall EU affairs in the country on the other side. In that sense, the ability of the Ministry to communicate, coordinate and achieve the foreign policy priorities will be of particular importance for Montenegro in the further EU accession process. In addition, Chief Negotiator (who is at the same time State Secretary for EU and National IPA Coordinator) is placed within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and EU Integration and he is supported with the newly established unit. Because of the accession negotiations’ complexity, additional assistance is required to establish a capable team to support the Chief Negotiator, as well as to coordinate the EU assistance and negotiations structures.
What is the project about?
The objective of this project, implemented within the Capacity Development Prorgamme, is to enhance capacities of the Government of Montenegro and in particular of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and EU Integration to efficiently implement foreign policy priorities and coordinate the overall EU accession negotiations process.
Expected Results:
1. Internal (functional and technical) capacities of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and EU Integration improved, resulting in more efficient performance of the Ministry;
2. Coordination capacities and technical knowledge of the relevant structures for accession negotiations improved, with specific focus on capacities of Chief Negotiator Office and Secretariat for Negotiations;
3. Coordination capacities of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and EU Integration, and line ministries’ capacities for programming of EU funds improved.
What have we accomplished so far?
The three project components are interlinked and correlate with the expected results:
1. Technical assistance to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and EU Integration and Chief Negotiator to effectively coordinate the European integration process with specific focus on EU accession negotiations;
2. Strengthening internal capacities of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and EU Integration to efficiently implement foreign policy priorities;
3. Strengthening capacities of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and EU Integration and line ministries for coordination and programming of EU assistance.
Who finances it?
Donor Name |
Amount contributed |
Government of Norway |
€ 390,530 |
European Union | € 400,000 |
Government of Montenegro | € 180,000 |
Total | € 970,530 |
Delivery in previous fiscal years
December 2014 | USD 403,100 |
December 2013 |
USD 377,235 |
December 2012 |
USD 12,000 |