Grants Awarded Under the First Call of the Serbia–Montenegro Cross-Border Cooperation Program 2021–2027

The event brought together representatives of the European Union, government institutions, local governments, civil society organizations, and grant beneficiaries from both countries, marking an important step in strengthening cross-border cooperation and sustainable development in the program area. During the ceremony, seven new cross-border projects were presented, with a total EU contribution of 2.89 million euros, while the total value of the projects amounts to 3.58 million euros, to be financed from the 2022 program allocation. Supported projects focus on improving healthcare services and access to health protection, disease prevention and early detection, healthcare in rural communities, social inclusion of persons with disabilities, as well as the protection and promotion of cultural heritage and tourism in the Lima valley. Grants were awarded by Nemanja Starović, Minister of European Integration of the Republic of Serbia, Miloš Marković, General Director of the Directorate for European Territorial Cooperation at the Ministry of European Affairs of Montenegro, and Andreas von Bekerat, Head of the European Union Delegation to the Republic of Serbia. He emphasized that European territorial cooperation is one of the practical dimensions of the European integration process, as it allows citizens and local communities to see tangible benefits of European cooperation through projects and joint solutions. Speaking about the future period, he highlighted the need for programs to be simpler, more flexible, and strategically oriented, with a greater focus on the real needs of border areas, long-term results, and the use of experiences and partnerships developed through existing programs.