In March 2023, the "Individual Measure to Strengthen Integrated Border Management Capacities in Montenegro" project was launched. Funded by (EU) and implemented by (IOM Montenegro), the project will improve Montenegro's border management and migration policies to meet EU standards. Benefiting the Ministry of the Interior (MoI), this initiative supports Montenegro in fulfilling the requirements of negotiation chapter 24 - Justice, Freedom, and Security, in its EU accession process.

Last year, a series of preparatory activities were conducted, including establishing a team and a coordination mechanism to ensure effective implementation. In the ICT component, the project updated the Implementation Plan in cooperation with the MoI, aligning it with EU standards and the Frontex Master Plan for Montenegro. This includes setting up an IT system for identifying and registering mixed migration flows, which will connect to the EURODAC system upon Montenegro's EU entry. IOM representatives also assessed sites for new electronic border surveillance systems.

A significant focus in the first year was on infrastructure. A tender was held to select contractor and supervisor for the construction of an administrative building for the Border Police Sector, where the future National Coordination Center (NCC) will be located.  Preparatory work has started, and construction is expected to begin soon. Plans are also in place to adapt the maritime logistics base at the Sveti Nikola site on the Bojana River, improving working conditions and enhancing maritime border surveillance.

Alongside these efforts, capacity building for MoI representatives has been prioritized, with workshop and a study visit to Croatia already conducted. More training events are planned for the project's second year. IOM, in cooperation with the beneficiary and all other relevant parties, is committed to timely implementing all activities, significantly improving border management and migration policies in line with EU standards.

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For more information, please contact Edina Osmanović, tel: +382 68 865 005, email: eosmanovic@iom.int