To deliver on the newly adopted strategic priorities within our 2022–2026 Strategic Direction, we were happy to look into our joint successes and achievements with the Montenegrin public institutions and assess opportunities for future cooperation.

During the visit to Montenegro CEF Director Jana Repanšek and Senior Program Officer Aleksandra Tekijaški had a very constructive discussion with the Governor Radoje Žugić (member of the CEF Governing Board and its Chair in 2019-2020) and Ana Šćepanović, Head of Human Resource Department at the Central Bank of Montenegro and CEF Coordinator. They talked about CEF learning and knowledge sharing opportunities, including possible staff exchange. They will all continue to contribute to a stable and sound banking system in Montenegro. The meeting was also a good opportunity to extend invitation to Governor Žugić to attend the Annual Meeting of the CEF Governing Board which will be organized on June 8, back-to-back with the policy dialogue Strong Institutions to Deliver on Their Mandate. 

While in Montenegro, Ms. Repanšek and Ms. Tekijaški also met with colleagues at the Montenegrin Ministry of Finance and Social Welfare: Acting Director General of EU affairs and international cooperation, Mr. Šućo Orahovac; CHU Head, Mladen Vlahovic; Novica Vuković, Acting Head of Treasury; Marija Uljarević, Senior Advisor; and Luka Đuričković of the Budget Department. Discussions focused on the Montenegrin membership at the CEF and the benefits and opportunities this membership brings. They also discussed achievements in participation in the Public Accountants Certification Training (PACT), Training of Internal Auditors in the Public Sector (TIAPS), and Strengthening Line Ministries’ Capacities to Assess Fiscal Implications of Structural Reforms” (FISR) and available learning and knowledge sharing opportunities for the staff at the Ministry. 

The CEF representatives also met with the Ms. Jovana Nišavić, Director and her Deputy, Ms. Jandranka Djurković and training advisor Ms. Tijana Vakirević, Independent Advisor of the Human Resources Management Authority (HRMA). They discussed development of the localized training for internal auditors in Montenegro, and opportunities for advanced cooperation of the two institutions. 

As part of the visit, we were also happy to reconnect with representatives from the Delegation of the European Union to Montenegro, and the Embassy of Slovenia in Montenegro.

The meetings took place on February 21-23, 2022.