The European Commission has paid into the Montenegrin state budget the final instalment of the total of €40.5 million EU budget support for Montenegro, which is intended primarily for protecting micro and small businesses and vulnerable social groups from the disruptive effects of the COVID-19 crisis.
The payment of the last tranche of the non-repayable assistance, worth €12 million, was approved after the European Commission established that Montenegro had met a number of key conditions, including that the EU funds were used to support as many small businesses as possible, in particular to help them pay their workers’ salaries, and to continue funding social allowances for underprivileged children, elderly, disabled people and families in need.
The EU Delegation to Montenegro marked the payment of the final tranche of the EU budget support for Montenegro with a symbolic donation of computers for distant learning and New Year’s presents to children without parental care at the Children’s Home in Bijela.
Presenting the donation, Deputy Head of the EU Delegation to Montenegro Riccardo Serri stated: “Today’s donation of computers to Montenegro’s only institution for children without parental care symbolises the support that the EU citizens have extended to their fellow Europeans in Montenegro in times of need, especially the most vulnerable ones. We are proud that, at the peak of the COVID-19 crisis, through budget support, we have contributed to subsidize almost 150,000 salaries of Montenegrin citizens, help nearly 300 small companies to become more resilient in times of crisis and ensure welfare support for thousands of children, single parents, elderly and disabled.”
Biljana Vucetic, coordinator of the Directorate for Social and Child Protection in the Ministry of Finance and Social Welfare, said that the donation of the EU Delegation to the Children’s Home in Bijela is a symbol of continuous support and assistance to the most endangered categories, including children, people with disabilities and the elderly.
“Such actions guarantee the existence of a high degree of EU solidarity with Montenegro as a candidate country. They also indicate that Montenegro is determined to implement activities related to improving the quality of life of all its citizens. I would like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude to the European partners.” said Vucetic.
The EU budget support is part of the €53 million in non-repayable assistance, which the European Union granted to Montenegro for the procurement of urgent medical equipment and for assisting socially underprivileged individuals, entrepreneurs, companies, the health sector and other sectors that have been the most seriously affected by the COVID-19 crisis. It complements the €60 million in highly favourable loans, that the EU made available to Montenegro, as part of the Macro Financial Assistance, earlier this year.