For 12 years now, the European Union has been running Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs, a cross-border exchange programme that gives new or aspiring entrepreneurs an opportunity to stay abroad and learn from their experienced colleagues. Entrepreneurs from Montenegro are also eligible to apply and they can do so online via the programme website at www.erasmus-entrepreneurs.eu. Interested candidates may submit their applications at any time, as the call is open all year round.
The programme was presented in more detail during the Info Day, which we organised at the EU Info Centre together with the Agency for Local Democracy, Ministry of Economic Development and Union of Young Entrepreneurs. Speaking about the programme, EU Ambassador to Montenegro Oana Cristina Popa pointed out that Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs supports new businesses in crucial phases of their lifecycle and helps them to grow.
“I am here to strongly encourage all new and established entrepreneurs from Montenegro to be creative, think outside the box, spend a few months in another environment or host someone from abroad. I promise you – this can only bring you invaluable experience and improve your business. The best time to start preparing was yesterday. The second best time is today,” said Ambassador Popa.
Montenegro has been a member of the programme since 2015 and so far our entrepreneurs have mostly stayed in Sweden, Germany and Spain. At the national level, the Ministry of Economic Development is in charge of the programme.
“The aim of the programme is to support European entrepreneurs to gain experience, learn, network and stay with experienced entrepreneurs in an EU member state or another participating country for a certain period of time. In this way, they are given the chance to strengthen their entrepreneurial spirit, acquire relevant skills, establish contacts and thus extend their business activities beyond their home country. In other words, the programme enables participants to develop their international outlook and competitiveness,” said Ljiljana Belada of the Ministry of Economic Development.
The Agency for Local Democracy is the local contact point for this programme in Montenegro. This NGO says that the programme covers living costs through monthly financial assistance ranging between €500 and €1,100, depending on the host country, while it also provides support in finding a partner. The stay abroad may last between one and six months.
“There are no age restrictions for the programme. It is important that the business idea is new, or more precisely, that applicants have started their business within the last 3 years. I believe that this programme can help us keep young people in Montenegro, as it enables them to gain experience abroad and return to the country to transfer their skills and upgrade them,” said Kerim Međedović of this NGO during the Info Day.
The Union of Young Entrepreneurs says that this is a great opportunity for their members and points out that they also need to recognise that themselves.
“We have been in contact with people who are currently abroad on placement. They are very satisfied. They have the chance to gain new experience, know-how and skills, but also new contacts, with whom they can later develop new business ideas, and perhaps make use of some potentials that have not been sufficiently recognised in Montenegro so far,” said Uroš Bulatović of the Union of Young Entrepreneurs.
Since its launch in 2009, Erasmus of Young Entrepreneurs has facilitated more than 10,000 exchanges. In addition to Montenegro, the programme currently involves 44 participating countries: 27 EU member states, as well as Albania, Armenia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, North Macedonia, Iceland, Kosovo, Moldova, Serbia, Turkey, UK and Ukraine.