The official closing of the Twinning Light project “Enhancement and Strengthening of the Administrative Capacities of the Audit Authority for Auditing the IPARD III Programme and Preparation for Future Certification Activities within the EAGF and EAFRD Funds” was held on 27 April 2026 at the Hilton hotel in Podgorica.
The project, funded by the European Union, was implemented by the Agency for the Audit of the Implementation System of the European Union Programmes (ARPA) for the needs of the Audit Authority of Montenegro. Project experts from Croatia and Austria worked closely with the auditors of the Audit Authority of Montenegro in order to achieve the planned goals and project results.
At the official closing ceremony, those present were addressed by Ms. Agata Stasiak, Head of the Contracts and Finance Sector of the Delegation of the European Union to Montenegro, and Mr. Veselko Grubišić, Ambassador of the Republic of Croatia to Montenegro. Ms. Ksenija Barjaktarović, Chief Auditor of the Audit Authority of Montenegro and Leader of the beneficiary country project, spoke about the importance of the project activities and the achieved results, while the implemented project activities were presented by Mr. Neven Šprlje, Director of the Agency for the Audit of the Implementation System of the European Union Programmes and Leader of the member state project.
Representatives of the Delegation of the European Union, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management, the Ministry of European Affairs, representatives of the agricultural sector, ARPA experts, and employees of the Audit Authority were in attendance at the event.
The overall objective of the project was to contribute to Montenegro’s preparation for sound financial management of the IPARD III programme, and, after accession to the European Union, for carrying out activities within EAGF and EAFRD funds, in accordance with the requirements of the European Union. In this way, the project contributes to fulfilling obligations arising from the negotiation chapters 11 – Agriculture and Rural Development, 22 – Regional Policy and Coordination of Structural Instruments and 32 – Financial Control.
