Protecting EU Financial Interests: National conference held in Podgorica
As part of the Twinning light project “Further enhancing the functioning of the Montenegrin AFCOS system with the aim of efficient protection of EU financial interests”, a National Conference dedicated to the protection of the European Union’s financial interests was held on 6 June 2025 in Podgorica.
The event was jointly organized by the Ministry of Finance of Montenegro and the Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Croatia, with the aim of strengthening administrative capacities and improving institutional cooperation by giving an overview of the conducted project activities and its outcomes, and exchanging knowledge and experience related to the protection of EU financial interests.
The conference brought together around 30 participants from institutions involved in the Montenegrin AFCOS system – representatives of the irregularity reporting system, representatives of the AFCOS network bodies, representatives of relevant European institutions; European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) and European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO), together with representatives of the Delegation of the European Union to Montenegro (DEU).
The conference was officially opened with introductory speeches by Ms Agata Stasiak, Head of the Finance, Contracts and Audit Section at the DEU; Ms Radmila Ivanović, Head of the Directorate for Inspection and Protection of EU Financial Interests at the Ministry of Finance of Montenegro; and H.E. Mr Veselko Grubišić, Ambassador of the Republic of Croatia to Montenegro. They all emphasized the importance of continued efforts to combat irregularities and fraud in the use of EU funds, particularly in the context of closing Negotiating Chapter 32 by the end of 2025. Furthermore, the need for continuous capacity building, development of legal, institutional and strategic framework, and raising public awareness was strongly highlighted as an important factor to ensure transparency and effectiveness in EU funds management.
During the working session, Croatian, Latvian and Montenegrin legal framework established for the protection of EU financial interests, including the experiences and challenges in the development of National Anti-Fraud Strategy (NAFS) and cooperation with relevant authorities was presented.
Ms Mirjana Jurić, Project Leader from the Member State and Head of the Sector for Coordination of the Irregularities and Fraud Prevention System in the use of EU Funds (AFCOS Unit, Croatia), gave a detailed overview of the Croatian legal framework, institutional responsibilities, and inter-institutional cooperation whereas Ms Inese Levana, short-term expert in the TWL project and representative of the Latvian Ministry of Finance, presented Latvia’s experience since the establishment of AFCOS in 2002, including key challenges, solutions, cooperation with OLAF, and the development of the NAFS.
Concluding the session, Ms Nataša Kovačević, Project Leader from the Beneficiary Country and Head of Department for Protection of the EU’s Financial Interests at the Ministry of Finance of Montenegro, presented the institutional framework of the Montenegrin AFCOS system, its achieved results, ongoing activities, and future plans, with a particular focus on the challenges in aligning national legislation with the EU acquis and the importance of protecting pre-accession funds.
The conference was further enriched by online contributions from high-level EU officials. Mr Johannes Noack, Head of the Unit for Inter-institutional and International Relations and Communication at OLAF, highlighted the significant amount of funds recovered through anti-fraud measures and underlined that although Montenegro is not yet an EU Member State, it already greatly benefits from the pre-accession funds — which is a solid foundation for future. Mr Tomislav Kamber, European Delegated Prosecutor at EPPO, presented the structure, competencies, and operational role of EPPO in fighting fraud, including its cooperation with Member states and candidate countries.
Participants also got an opportunity to see a promotional video created for Europe Day, aimed at raising public awareness about importance of responsible spending of EU funds and reporting on irregularities to the relevant authorities.
The final part of the conference focused on presenting the project’s results, emphasizing achieved objectives and recommendations for the future. It also demonstrated a high level of interest and commitment among all stakeholders to further strengthen both national and international cooperation in the field of protection of EU financial interests.
