Enhancing digital infrastructure: Continued cooperation with EBRD and EU

Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Policy and Minister of Economic Development Nik Gjeloshaj, together with Minister of Public Works Majda Adžović, held a meeting today with Remon Zakaria, EBRD Head of Montenegro, Bernard Brunet, Head of Cooperation at the EU Delegation to Montenegro, as well as his colleague Davide Meinero.

The meeting reviewed progress in the implementation of the Broadband Infrastructure Development project, which aims to build adequate infrastructure for fast and secure internet access for all households, businesses, educational and healthcare institutions, in support of the digital transformation of society and the economy, with a particular focus on rural areas.

The broadband infrastructure development project represents a strategic investment that supports the country’s digital transformation, aligns with the objectives of the EU Digital Decade in the field of connectivity, and constitutes a prerequisite for securing EU grant approval under the Western Balkans Investment Framework (WBIF), as well as access to funding within the Reform Agenda. Representatives of the EU and the EBRD were informed that a team is being established to coordinate and monitor the implementation of the project, which is a prerequisite for moving into the key phase of preparing tender documentation. The importance of conducting this process with the highest level of efficiency was emphasised.

Given that the forthcoming tasks in project implementation require significant technical and administrative input from the Ministry, the possibility of closer cooperation between the Ministry, the EBRD, and the EU Delegation was agreed, as well as coordination with the Ministry of Public Works.

It was concluded that Montenegro will establish a Project Implementation Unit for the execution of this important project, which will work closely with the EU and the EBRD. This will create the conditions for successfully achieving Montenegro’s objectives in the field of broadband connectivity.