The Government of Montenegro adopted the Third Semi-Annual Report under the Reform and Growth Facility, prepared by the Ministry of European Affairs in cooperation with the Ministry of Finance and other competent institutions. The reports are prepared to monitor the implementation of Montenegro’s Reform Agenda for the period 2024–2027, which represents the key operational mechanism of the European Union’s Growth Plan for the Western Balkans.
“Montenegro has fulfilled more than half of the measures envisaged by the Reform Agenda and expects that, in recognition of the results achieved, our country will be approved for a further €55 million from the Growth Plan, approximately,” the Ministry of European Affairs announced.
As stated, this represents a strong incentive for implementing reforms and a clear signal of the European Union’s confidence in the reforms carried out by Montenegro.
Within the framework of the Reform Agenda, visible progress has been achieved – of a total of 45 reform steps, 24 have been fully completed, while 21 have been assessed as partially completed. Once the Third Semi-Annual Report has been submitted, it will undergo evaluation by the European Commission. If the European Commission confirms the submitted assessment, Montenegro will be approved for an additional €59 million for the achieved steps, proportionally reduced by 7%, which is the amount allocated to Montenegro as pre-financing in May 2025. This would represent a significant financial and reform breakthrough within the Growth Plan.
The Ministry of European Affairs emphasises that the results achieved indicate progress in fulfilling the planned obligations, but also point to the need to further intensify activities in the coming period on reforms whose deadlines are approaching, with enhanced oversight, stronger technical coordination between departments, and close cooperation with the European Commission.
The Ministry of European Affairs particularly highlights the departments that have made significant progress in implementing planned activities since the start of the implementation of the Reform Agenda. These include the Ministry of Energy and Mining, which has fulfilled 9 out of 10 reform steps; the Ministry of Education, Science and Innovation, which has fully implemented all five planned steps; and the Ministry of Human and Minority Rights, which has fulfilled all obligations within its remit.
By fulfilling more than half of the planned measures, Montenegro confirms its commitment to the key reform objectives in the areas covered by the Reform Agenda – improving the business environment and developing the private sector, digital and energy, i.e. green, transition, human capital development, as well as the rule of law and fundamental rights – thereby creating the conditions for the release of subsequent tranches of financial support from the Reforms and Growth Facility.
Article Source: Ministry of European Affairs