Annual Action Programme for Montenegro for 2020

The Financial Agreement for the Annual Action Programme for Montenegro for 2020 was signed on 28 August 2020. The total value of the programme is 31.5 million EUR, of which 29.1 million EUR is the EU’s contribution to the programme, while Montenegro’s co-financing obligation is 2.4 million EUR. Support is focused on four sectors: 

1.    Within the sector Rule of Law and Fundamental Rights, the EU Rule of Law Programme (EURoL III) will be financed in the amount of 2.5 million EUR, with no national co-financing obligation.

2.    Within the sector Competitiveness and Innovation, Agriculture and Rural Development, the EU action for strengthening competitiveness and innovative capacities of the private sector in Montenegro will be financed with 4.35 million EUR, of which 4 million EUR are EU grants, and Montenegro’s co-financing is 0.35 million EUR.

3.    Within the sector Education, Employment and Social Policies, funds are allocated for the EU action for smart and inclusive growth – employment and social inclusion 2020 in the amount of 14.6 million EUR, of which 13.5 million EUR are EU grants, while national co-financing is 1.1 million EUR.

4.    An amount of 6.9 million EUR is allocated through direct budget support for the implementation of the action Support to Montenegro in overcoming the crisis caused by the COVID-19 virus.

Activities within the sector Competitiveness and Innovation are aimed at improving the competitiveness of the private sector and industry, with a focus on the development of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs); support for women and youth entrepreneurship; increasing the level of innovation in the private sector with a focus on SMEs; and improving administrative capacities and alignment with the EU acquis in the area of competitiveness and innovation.

Within the sector Education, Employment and Social Policy, support was provided for increasing employment among the long-term unemployed, with particular attention given to vulnerable groups. Capacities for implementing the sectoral approach will also be strengthened, and the mismatch between educational profiles and labour market needs will be reduced.

Support for the sector Rule of Law and Fundamental Rights was intended for the third phase of the project EU Support to the Rule of Law in Montenegro (EUROL III). The proposed implementation modality is grants to EU Member States, meaning support to institutions in this sector, mainly in the form of advisory missions from EU Member States.