As part 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 framework of EAGF and EAFRD”, representatives of the Audit Authority of Montenegro visited Austria for a study visit, in the period from 19 to 25 April 2026, with the aim of acquiring practical knowledge and experience in auditing IPARD programmes, as well as preparing for the accreditation of new measures within this important agriculture and rural development support instrument.
During the visit, the focus was on topics of particular importance for the work of the Audit Authority, such as: the application of the IACS (Integrated Administration and Control System) system, which must be established before accession to the European Union, and experience related to the accreditation of the Paying Agency, which was the subject of initial system and certification audits in accordance with the EU rules for accreditation of the management of funds of the Common Agricultural Policy. Particular emphasis was also placed on the application of international standards in the area of agriculture, the so-called SMR (Statutory Management Requirements) and GAEC (Good Agricultural and Environmental Conditions), which Montenegro will also have to apply after accession to the EU. In addition to comprehensive trainings at the offices of Austria’s Certification Body, representatives of the Audit Authority also had the opportunity to attend a control during which the measurement of area using specialized GPS equipment was demonstrated.
In addition, one auditor had the opportunity to be part of the internship programme within the above-mentioned project in the period from 12 to 25 April, where they had the opportunity, besides training in the aforementioned areas, to attend daily auditing activities, as well as technical meetings with auditors from DG AGRI, an internal meeting between the Competent Body, the Head of the Certification Body and the CB auditor, meetings with representatives of the Legal sector of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Regions and Water Management, the Managing Authority and the Paying Agency, as well as a meeting of the Expert Group for the implementation of the Regulation on Strategic Plans of the CAP (GREXЕ).
