€5.4 million from EU funds contracted for 12 cross-border cooperation projects between Montenegro and Kosovo

Individual grants range from €327,280.00 to €599,770.66, while the total value of individual projects ranges from €386,280.10 to €716,973.40. The projects are expected to last between 24 and 30 months. Support is focused on two important areas for the development of the cross-border region: employment for young people and vulnerable groups, and sustainable tourism development. Through joint partner activities, the projects will contribute to improving skills and employment opportunities, strengthening cooperation among local communities, and better promoting cultural and natural heritage. All 12 projects will be implemented through partnerships between institutions and organizations from Montenegro and Kosovo, encouraging the exchange of knowledge and experience, joint action, and the development of initiatives that respond to the needs of the population. This approach connects the development potential of the cross-border region with citizens’ concrete needs, focusing on the sustainable use of local resources and creating new opportunities for communities on both sides of the border. The lead beneficiaries from Montenegro are the NGO Juventas, the Bijelo Polje Nursing Home, the NGO CAZAS, Caritas of the Archdiocese of Bar, the Polimlje Museum in Berane, the Regional Development Agency for Bjelasica, Komovi and Prokletije, the Municipality of Plav, and the Bar Tourist Organization. The lead beneficiaries from Kosovo are Save the Children Kosovo/a, TOKA, the Kosovo Development Center, and the Kosovo Foundation for Cultural Heritage without Borders. With the contracting of the entire available allocation, the contracting process under the first call has been completed, creating the conditions for the implementation of all 12 projects and the achievement of the planned results on the ground. European support, together with contributions from the project partners, represents an investment in the development potential of the cross-border region, improved employment opportunities, sustainable tourism, and the preservation of cultural and natural heritage, with the aim of delivering long-term benefits for citizens and local communities.