This first awareness seminar on IPA cross-border programmes with neighbouring Western Balkan countries that Montenegro participates in (Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Albania and Croatia) was organized in the premises of Human Resources Management Department of the Podgorica Municipality on December 25^th 2007.

This seminar was organized by the CBIB project in close cooperation with and support form the Secretariat of European Integration of Montenegro and Municipality of Podgorica. Around 50 different institutions (Municipalities, NGOs, Associations etc.) were invited and in total 43 persons participated. The event was well covered by the local media (TV, newspapers and radio).

Objectives:

The objective of this awareness seminar was not only to familiarize the potential applicants with IPA CBC, cross-border programmes and the concept of the cross-border projects but also to introduce them to the possibilities, opportunities and benefits from the implementation of these programmes for them and their region.

Mr. Srdja Raicevic, Main Administrator of the Podgorica Municipality, officially opened the seminar and Ms. Ivana Glisevic, Advisor in SEI was the moderator during the seminar.

Three presentations were made:

• Introduction to IPA and IPA Component II, presented by Mrs. Ratka Sekulovic, Assistant to the Head of the Secretariat for European integrations of Montenegro;
• Regional project Cross Border Institutional Building – CBIB and its activities in the Western Balkan region, presented by Ms. Marija Stevanovic from CBIB central office in Belgrade;
• What is a cross-border project (type of projects, type of partners, budget and eligible costs, call for proposal) presented by Ms. Maja Stojanovic from CBIB central office in Belgrade;

The presentations were followed by questions and answers.

Conclusions and Lessons Learned:

The seminar was considered to be a highly informative and successful event that achieved its objective. All the questions raised were answered. The participants showed great interest in the presented topics and raised many questions regarding the IPA cross-border programmes, project preparation and future trainings and seminars. Organization of the seminar, hospitality of the host institutions and clear contents of presentations contributed to raising awareness of the potential applicants in this region.