At today’s first joint meeting of the two committees, on the topic of using the IPA funds, hearing of the following was held: Chief Negotiator with the EU and the national coordinator for the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance to Montenegro Mr Aleksandar Andrija Pejović, Chief Auditor of the Audit Authority Mr Mile Barjaktarović, Secretary General of the Union of Municipalities Mr Refik Bojadžić and coordinator of the of the Network of municipal projects, manager Mr Darko Mrvaljević

The meeting was marked by a three-hour discussion, during which various opinions were expressed as well as positions and principles of agreeing and implementing projects within the IPA programme. They also talked about the lack of fiscal capacity of the local self-governments and challenges of pre-financing and co-financing, and the system of responsibility in the case of the inefficient use of means.

In addition, it was pointed out to percentage usage of the IPA funds allocated to Montenegro in the period 2007-2013, and the participants also discussed the indicative allocation that we expect in the period to come. Chairs of the meeting – Chairperson of the Committee on Economy, Finance and Budget Mr Aleksandar Damjanović and Chairperson of the Committee on European Integration Mr Slaven Radunović pointed out to importance of today’s discussion, and with regard to held consultative hearing, these two working bodies of the Parliament announced the establishment of proposals for assessments and positions. The meeting was attended by Mr Emil Atanasovski, manager of the programme for the Western Balkans of the Westminster Palace for Democracy, who presented the results of conducted regional project, which, inter alia, addressed the oversight role of the Parliament in the field of implementing the IPA programme.