Cross-border cooperation is a framework for accelerated economic integration aimed at reducing existing differences, increasing the level of development of cross-border regions, as well as improving comprehensive cultural, social and scientific cooperation between local and regional communities.
The specific goals of cross-border cooperation are:
- Development of tourism as a key sector of the cross-border economy.
- Promote cross-border cooperation in trade as well as access to new markets.
- Re-establish cross-border links between business and trade support organizations to jointly promote collaborative initiatives.
- Maintain the good quality of the environment of the border regions, as an economic resource, by cooperating in environmental protection and exploitation initiatives.
- Strengthen economic and sports ties between people in order to strengthen inter-ethnic, educational, cultural and sports ties and equally benefit from areas of common interest.
- Ensuring equal opportunities for all.
- Respecting the special needs of vulnerable groups, persons with disabilities and/or national minorities.
- Protection of the environment, both natural and man-made, with the aim of sustainable development.
- Building partnerships and working together.
227 projects were contracted in eight cross-border and transnational cooperation programmes in which Montenegro participated (Albania-Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina-Montenegro, Croatia-Montenegro, Serbia-Montenegro, Montenegro-Kosovo, IPA Adriatic Program, South-East Europe and Mediterranean Program program), with a total value of 37.82 million euros (20 million euros within the bilateral and 17.83 million euros within the program with EU member states). Montenegro implemented the largest number of bilateral cross-border projects with countries that benefited from IPA funds (136 projects out of a total of 321 implemented projects in the region).