The purpose of this project, which is worth 1.5 million Euro, is to help create the institutional, strategic and legislative setup required for the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management to implement rural development policy in line with the demands of the instrument for pre accession (IPARD).

“By implementing this project we will be enabled to use the fifth component of the IPA programme - IPARD – which will become available once we establish Montenegro as a candidate country,” Montenegro’s Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management Mr. Milutin Simovic said at the project presentation.

He added that the project is further proof of the continuation of generous EU support to the agriculture sector in Montenegro.

Head of Operations of the EU Delegation to Montenegro Nicola Bertolini stated that through this project, the Ministry of Agriculture will prepare for the decentralised management of EU assistance through capacity building of relevant administrative departments and institutions, as well as by establishing internal controls and audits.

“In view of Montenegro’s agenda of becoming an EU candidate country and in order to be able to fully benefit from the available funds, a legal framework and operational institutions must be prepared and established,” Mr. Bertolini said.

He added that the process implies that Montenegro’s administration must strengthen the capacities of institutions tasked with managing IPARD funds, continue its commitment to the implementation of existing legislation and comply with the adoption of EU standards and acquis.