Bosnia and Montenegro cross-border cooperation program launched

The BiH and Montenegro cross-border cooperation program was the main objective of the IPA 2 funds, supported by BiH and Montenegro's economic, cultural, natural and human resources. The Directorate for European integration of BiH, with the support of the delegation of the European Union in BiH, presented the results of the period from 2014 to 2020. In 56 BiH municipalities, 21 projects were implemented and 14 in Montenegro.

Tourism and environmental protection, including stronger resistance to natural and man-made disasters, were funded with 8 million and 400 thousands Euros by cross-border cooperation projects of BiH and Montenegro. Among the 3 projects implemented by the European Union, there was one whose applicant, with 70 percent financial assistance from the European Union, ensured a better life for people with disabilities through the agricultural sector.

Mirenko Vujinovi, the coordinator of the project, said that 20 people with disabilities received equipment and 10 beehives, as well as training for production and sales, 12 families have so many beehives that they have income to survive, which is important to us because we are dealing with families of people with disabilities. BiH and Montenegro submitted a program document to the European Commission last year, which adopted it. The procedure for signing financial agreements is beginning, but we have already started activities within that program, Mr. Alma Kurtali - Zahiragi, an expert advisor in the Directorate for European Integration of Bosnia and Herzegovina, said in a statement.

The cooperation of local communities and their citizens, authorities and organizations, as well as the central authorities, are a good example of harmonization with the European Union, which should also be followed by the central authorities, considering the obligations our country has after obtaining candidate status.

The new situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina necessitates even greater engagement of all levels of government, all institutions. It seeks to speed up the process of harmonization with the European Union, and this program is a successful example of how to speed up that process and how to use these funds, said Stefano Ellero, head of cooperation in the EU delegation to Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The first public call to submit project proposals to the IPA 3 program will be open until July 25. The EU has provided 2 million and 160 thousands Euros for the implementation of the tourism sector.