The Ministry of European Affairs, in cooperation with the Ministry of Economic Development and the Ministry of Regional Development and Cooperation with NGOs, through the EU4ME project, organized a panel and workshop focused on Chapter 20 – Entrepreneurship and Industrial Policy, which Montenegro temporarily closed at the end of last year. The event, titled “ENTREPRENEURSHIP. PROJECTS. PERSPECTIVE: Single Market Programme and Enterprise Europe Network,” aimed to present entrepreneurs with concrete opportunities to enhance their businesses through European Union support.
In her opening address, Renata Milutinović, Acting Director General of the Directorate for Industry and Handicraft Development at the Ministry of Economic Development, emphasized that implementing policies from this chapter creates the conditions to strengthen the competitiveness of domestic companies, facilitate access to the European market, and develop a modern, innovative, and sustainable economy.
“Our companies will experience numerous benefits through activities aimed at continuously improving the business environment and removing the obstacles that entrepreneurs face every day,” said Milutinović.
Montenegro is the first country in the region to sign the Agreement on Participation in the EU Single Market Programme. Currently, two projects are being implemented within this program: the Enterprise Europe Network (EEN) and Cross-RE-Tour.
“The European Commission has approved the continuation of the Enterprise Europe Network project for the Montenegrin consortium, ensuring that activities will continue over the next three-year period,” highlighted Mirsada Bošnjak, State Secretary of the Ministry of Regional Development and Cooperation with NGOs.
Maja Jokanović, head of the negotiating working group for Chapter 20 from the Ministry of Economic Development, spoke about the benefits of closing the chapter. “The intention is that through joint efforts, we utilize all available funds to the greatest extent possible, thereby strengthening the competitiveness of our micro, small, and medium enterprises and better preparing them for market competition within the European Union and beyond,” she explained.
The Enterprise Europe Network is the world’s largest support network for innovative small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with international potential. The Chamber of Economy, the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Montenegro, and the Business Start Center Bar, together with the Ministry of Regional Development and Cooperation with NGOs, implement the project activities. The network helps entrepreneurs access information necessary for business cooperation and improvement, while providing support in understanding EU legislation, rules, and procedures.
“Whoever contacts us, we will direct them to the correct address responsible for the specific area they are interested in,” said Ivana Tomašević, Director of the Business Start Center Bar.
The Chamber of Economy focuses on internationalization and connecting businesses. “Within the network, there is a database for business cooperation. Companies can create profiles and express interest in partnerships. Currently, the database includes about 5,400 SMEs from the EU, including our own, seeking business partners,” explained Tanja Radusinović, Director of the Projects Sector at the Chamber of Economy of Montenegro.
Žarko Miranović from Radio DRS, a beneficiary of the EEN project, stated that the project funds allowed them to acquire new equipment through a simple process. “We acquired radio receivers that provided better coverage, a 30–40% reduction in electricity consumption, and lower operational costs. I call on the media to use these funds for modernization,” said Miranović.
The Cross-RE-Tour project supports innovations in circular, green, and digital business within the tourism sector. “The project is designed to support businesses—whether startups or established enterprises—that want to introduce innovations in green and digital areas,” explained Jelena Krivčević, Director of the Regional Development Agency (RDA) for Bjelasica, Komovi, and Prokletije.
After the panel, a workshop for entrepreneurs titled “EU Funds for Entrepreneurs” was held, where representatives from the Ministry of European Affairs presented the EmBRACE project and the Danube Region Programme.
The event was organized as part of the “28do28” campaign, aimed at presenting the concrete benefits of closing negotiating chapters to citizens in a clear and accessible way.
Published in: Eu4me.me
