Request

Aciresa: ui. Stanka Dragojev5a 2, “ F’a”e 81000 Podgorica, Crna Gora

lviii Ii LI y ‘-“ tel: +38220 242 835 Directorate for management of the fax: +382 20 224 450

EU pre-accession funds structures www.mif.gov.me

12, 11, 2Z No: 08-908/24- 69-

__________________

His Excellency, Mr Jurgen Ligi

Minister of Finance

Republic of Estonia

Address: Suur-Ameerika 1, Tallinn 10122, RepublicofEstonia

Subject: Request for a study visit on EU funds management

Your Excellency,

1 have the honour to contact you on a matter of great importance to Montenegros journey towards European Union integration. Namely, we are addressing to you a request for a study visit to your organisation by the Montenegrin representatives from the Directorate for management of the EU pre-accession funds structures, in charge of management verifications of the functioning of the management and control system and drawing up and submitting payment applications to the EC for pre-accession programmes managed by the Montenegrin Authorities under indirect management regime. We would very much appreciate your kind consideration for a 3-days study visit by a delegation which will be leaded by the State Secretary of the Ministry of Finance, in her capacity of National Authoring Officer.

Montenegrin administration has been preparing for the management of programmes financed by EU Cohesion policy instruments. In scope of Negotiation Chapter 22 -

Regional Policy and Coordination of Structural lnstruments, the Montenegrin authorities have been working on their future plans for the development of the system for the management of EU Funds after accession. In this regard, the experience obtained during impiementation of Programmes within IPA 1(2007-2013) and within the ongoing IPA II Programmes (2014-2020) and IPA III Programmes (2021-2027) is very relevant. Programmes to certain extent include elements similar to those that apply for the management and impiementation of Structural Funds, specificaHy the new legal framework that is currently implementing as part of IPA III financial perspective.

Although the time horizon for the accession is stiil not confirmed, relevant decisions should be taken today to allow enough time for setting up relevant institutional framework and the system for the management of EU Structural Funds. Planning itself and the actual impiementation that follows have always much place to improve. In particular this has a potential when Iearning from the experience of the countries with Iong tradition in this field.

In the context of the above, we would like to check the possibilities for a study visit to your organization, as weII as to receive proposal for other institutions to be meet during study visit, especially those in performing tasks and responsibilities in role of Certifying AuthoritylAccounting body, Managing Authority(ies), Intermediate body(ies), Audit Authority, etc. We believe that through such visit, we could familiarise ourselves with

the system in your country and the modalities of impiementation of Structural and Cohesion funds. It would be impor(ant to hear how the relevant organisations have been operating in the context of the management of EU funds and what Iessons can be learned from their experience by Montenegro.

The idea is that during 3-day study visit to your country as the Member State our colleagues would meet with representatives of the CAISB, MA, IB; AA and eventually, any other institution that you might recommend. It needs to be emphasised that practical aspects of the impiementation of EU funds are in the main interest of the Montenegrin group, with max 9 representatives.

Based on your availability and readiness, study visit could be organized during period between 17th and 28th February 2025.

We are looking forward to hearing from you about your views regarding our request and eventual conditions, should there be any, in relation to it.

For your information, the study visit will be organised in scope of our framework contract “Support to DMS — Management structure” (contract number: 300075930).

We would very much appreciate to receive your expression of interest at your earliest convenience, preferably not later than end ot November 2024.

The director general of the Directorate for management of the EU pre-accession funds structures, Mr Damjanovk and Head of Division for national fund and managing of accounts, Ms. Jovanovk might get directly involved in communication at the operational level at the later stage (contact e-mails: veIibor.damjanovicmif.qov.me and zana.jovanoviccmif.qov.me).

Thank you kindly and in advance for your reply and cooperation.

Sincerely,

MINISTER OF FINANCE

Novica Vukoviö