Official opening of the Twinning Light project „Enhancing and Strengthening the Administrative Capacities of the Audit Authority for the Audit of the IPARD III Programme and Preparation for Future Certification Activities within the EAGF and EAFRD Funds“ was held on 6 November at the Hilton hotel in Podgorica.
The project, funded by the European Union, is implemented by the Agency for the Audit of the Implementation of European Union Programmes (ARPA) for the needs of the Audit Authority of Montenegro. Project experts from Croatia and Austria work closely with auditors of the Audit Authority of Montenegro in order to achieve the planned project objectives and results.
At the official opening, 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.
O the importance of the project activities and the expected results, Ms. Ksenija Barjaktarović, Chief Auditor of the Audit Authority of Montenegro and Leader of the Beneficiary Country Project, spoke, while the implemented activities and the results achieved so far were presented by Mr. Neven Šprlje, Director of the Agency for the Audit of the Implementation of European Union Programmes and Leader of the Member State Project.
The event was attended by 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.
The overall objective of the project is to contribute to Montenegro’s preparation for responsible financial management of the IPARD III programme, and, after accession to the European Union and for the implementation of activities under the EAGF and the 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.
Project duration: 8 months (activities started in September 2025)
Project budget: EUR 200,000
