The establishment of the Joint Technical Secretariat (JTS) for Cross-border Cooperation programmes Montenegro-Kosovo and Montenegro-Albania 2014-2020 based in Podgorica proved to be a significant support to the implementation of these bilateral programmes, it was stated at the working meeting of the Minister of European Affairs Aleksandar Andrija Pejović and his associates with the Head of the JTS Sanja Todorović and her team.

The interlocutors agreed that numerous activities of the JTS, which included information events, trainings and partner search forums significantly strengthened the capacities of beneficiaries and potential applicants, thus contributing to more efficient attraction of available funds and preparation of better quality projects.

Minister Pejović expressed his satisfaction with the support of the successful implementation of two bilateral programmess, in which beneficiaries already have available funds in the amount of approximately 5 million euros within the first calls for proposal. “The joint work of the Ministry of European Affairs, the Ministry of Finance and the JTS has enabled these programs to be the most advanced in the region” said Minister Pejović. He expressed expectation that in the forthcoming period there will be more quality projects in the area of employment, environmental protection and tourism promotion, which can contribute to the further development of the program area.

The Head of the JTS, Sanja Todorović, reminded that this body was established in January 2016 and is the first such Secretariat for bilateral programmes in the region. Since Montenegro is entrusted to indirectly manage EU funds within these two cross-border cooperation programmes, the Secretariat’s function imposes more responsible action in terms of more intensive cooperation with project beneficiaries from three countries, in order to further advance the process of realization of the envisaged activities.