Pristina, 29 March 2024
The Republic of Kosovo and Montenegro today signed the bilateral agreement for the Cross-Border Cooperation Program IPA III, for 2021-2027.
The agreement was signed by the first Deputy Prime Minister for European Integration, Development and Dialogue of the Republic of Kosovo, Besnik Bislimi and the Minister for European Affairs of Montenegro, Maida Gorcevic.
In his speech, Deputy Prime Minister Bislimi emphasized that through this agreement, our countries will receive support from the EU for cross-border cooperation in the amount of 8.4 million EUR.
“The purpose of this program is to promote good neighborliness, encourage integration towards the European Union, as well as the social, economic, and territorial development of the border area, something that we as a Government promote, continuously when it comes to cooperation with neighboring countries,” expressed the Deputy Prime Minister.
He added that in achieving these objectives, the focus and selected thematic priorities will be on employment, labor force mobility, social and cultural inclusion, tourism and cultural and natural heritage, and the promotion of local and regional governance.
In conclusion, reiterating that this agreement contributes to the good cooperation between our two countries, the Deputy Prime Minister emphasized that it strengthens the common values that we share in the path towards the European Union, but also the effect on increasing convergence in the context of the EU integration process.
Before the signing ceremony, the parties also held a bilateral meeting.
Below, the full speech of Deputy Prime Minister Bislimi:
Dear Minister Gorcevic,
Honourable ambassadors of Kosovo in Montenegro and of Montenegro in Kosovo,
Honorable media representatives,
Honorable attendees,
I have the special pleasure to welcome Minister Gorcevic to Kosovo and to hold this media conference together as an additional affirmation of further deepening of the cooperation between our two countries.
This collaboration will significantly advance by ensuring the full implementation of the Bilateral Agreement between the Republic of Kosovo and Montenegro for the Cross-Border Cooperation Program IPA III for the years 2021-2027, an agreement we just signed.
The agreement enables Kosovo and Montenegro to receive support from the EU for cross-border cooperation in the amount of 8.4 million EUR. The purpose of this program is to promote good neighborliness, encourage integration towards the European Union, as well as the social, economic, and territorial development of the border area, something that we as a Government promote, continuously when it comes to cooperation with neighboring countries.
Upon achieving this goal, the focus and selected thematic priorities will be:
1. Employment, and labor force mobility, social and cultural inclusion, in a proportion of 40% of the fund;
2. Tourism and cultural and natural heritage, with around 50% of the fund;
3. Promotion of local and regional governance, with around 10% of allocated funds.
In these priorities, benefits from the fund will be routed through projects that are implemented in the Kosovo-Montenegro border areas. In order to achieve the full implementation of the program with as few difficulties as possible and according to plan, the agreement also provides technical assistance, which central and local authorities, relevant organizations, and citizens in general can use either for capacity building or for support.
Also, in order to ensure the successful and joint implementation of this program, the establishment of a Joint Task Force with the main office in the territory of Montenegro (Podgorica) and a satellite office in Kosovo (Prishtina) is planned. The Joint Task Force will oversee the day-to-day management of the program and will report to the Operational Structures and the Joint Monitoring Committee.
I wish to conclude by reiterating that this agreement contributes to the good cooperation between our two countries. It strengthens the values we share in our common path towards the European Union. And at the local level, experiences like these among others offer the possibility of exchanging practices and raising capacities, which to a certain extent also influence the increase of convergence within the EU integration process.
Thank you for your attention.
Minister Gorcevic, thank you for your visit and now I wish to pass the floor to you.
Last modified: April 5, 2024
