The equipment intended for the Directorate for Protection and Rescue of the Ministry of Interior of Montenegro, municipal protection and rescue services from Niksic, Pljevlja, Zabljak and Savnik, voluntary fire brigades and primary schools, totaling about 73,000 euros, has been procured. The equipment included  minivan vehicle, aluminum and rubber boats, engines and trailers, pumps, backpacks, firefighting suits and footwear, rescue equipment from heights and depths, sets of diving equipment, fire extinguishers .

Presentation event for the equipment procured within the project “Let’s be prepared” was held in Nikšić on 28 December 2022. The project ended on 31 January 2022. It was implemented by FORS Montenegro in partnership with the Ministry of Interior of the Republic of Serbia as part of the IPA cross-border cooperation programme Serbia – Montenegro 2014-2020.

The Deputy Chief Negotiator and National IPA Coordinator, Bojan Vujović pointed out that thanks to the project, the capacities of institutions and services from Montenegro and Serbia dealing with protection and rescue, fire and flood prevention and mitigation  of their consequences have been strengthened, as well as disaster risk.

“This project is just one of many examples showing the importance of cross-border cooperation, which is the most visible expression of joint efforts that European countries are undertaking in order to overcome numerous challenges that exceed their individual strengths” Vujovic said.

He reminded that the cross-border cooperation pProgramme Serbia-Montenegro has been implemented since 2008, through which 52 projects, worth a total of 10.16 million euros, have been contracted within five public calls for project proposals, which contribute to strengthening the socio-economic development of the programme area. In the final part of the event, the equipment was presented and prizes were awarded to students within the art and literary competition.

“This project strengthens ties and solidarity in the region, and that is the most important value,” said Mélanie Bride, Program Manager for cross-border cooperation at the Delegation of the European Union to Montenegro.

 

Source: IPA II CBC programme Serbia – Montenegro programme website