The EU Ambassador to Montenegro, Ms Oana Cristina Popa, and Chief Negotiator, Ms Zorka Kordić, signed today the financial agreement ensuring funds for Montenegro’s health system in the fight against Covid-19. This grant agreement worth €9.5 million aims to support the health system after the current health crisis finishes and strengthen its resilience to similar future threats.
It encompasses investment in the infrastructure, equipment and human resources of the Montenegrin health system.
Ms Popa stressed that this agreement would ensure long-term benefits for the Montenegrin health system and contribute to quality health services for citizens.
“This health crisis – no matter how challenging – will pass one day, but clinics and laboratories stay. We want to continue with improvements of the Montenegrin health system, bringing it closer to European standards. It’s what Montenegro deserves and what’s at the core of European integration: to improve the quality of life of citizens,” the EU Ambassador noted.
Ms Kordić noted that Montenegro’s European perspective was reinforced by a structured, targeted and valuable support to the health system, underlining that the EU was among first to recognize the need for assistance in this area, as well as in a long-term coping with economic and social consequences of the pandemic.
“Along with the EU, we’re developing a sustainable health system: out of a total of €15.5 million included in the IPA 2018 Financial Agreement, 7 activities, whose implementation will raise the quality of services to the European level and ensure satisfaction of our citizens with health services, will be funded,” she told.
Health Minister, Ms Jelena Borovinić Bojović, emphasized that the pandemic once again warned that we’re only safe if we’re all safe.
