Upon successful cooperation and completion of the IPA Cross-Border Cooperation Programme Albania-Montenegro 2007-2013, the IPA Cross-Border Cooperation Programme Montenegro-Albania 2014-2020 was established as the new cross-border programme under IPA II.

The global objective of the programme is to promote/strengthen good neighbourly relations and socioeconomic development of the border regions, through valorising its touristic potentials, an environmentally sustainable and socially inclusive economic development, with respect for its common cultural and natural heritage. This will be achieved through joint projects that fall within the following programme thematic priorities (TP):

• TP1: Encouraging tourism and cultural and natural heritage;
• TP2: Protecting the environment, promoting climate change adaptation and mitigation, risk prevention and management;
• TP3: Promoting employment, labour mobility and social and cultural inclusion across the border;

Programme specific objectives within the programme are:

– The competitiveness of the tourism sector is enhanced by the economic valorisation of the cultural and natural heritage;
– The protection of environmental resources in lake and alpine areas is furthered;
– Employability and social inclusion is fostered;
– The effective, efficient, transparent and timely implementation of the programme and awareness raising is ensured.

The programme area for the IPA Cross-Border Programme between Montenegro and Albania covers a territory of 11,970 km2 with a total population of about 749,257 inhabitants. The territory in Montenegro accounts for 52.1 % as against 47.9 % in Albania. The borderline is 244 km of which 38 km are water border. There are three operational border-crossing points between Albania and Montenegro along this borderline. The programme area in Montenegro covers municipalities: Andrijevica, Berane, Plav, Gusinje, Petnjica and Rožaje; Podgorica, the capital of Montenegro and Cetinje, Danilovgrad, Budva, Bar and Ulcinj. The programme area in Albania includes the regions of Shkodra and Lezha and the district of Tropoja (Tropoja district has 1 Municipality of Bajram Curri, and 7 Communes – Bujan, Bytyc, Fierze, Lekbibaj, Llugaj, Margegaj and Tropoja). Overall, the programming area has 23 municipalities and a total of 1,144 settlements – towns and villages.