Following a recent meeting with representatives of the Dutch Ministry of Finance during the Belgian-Dutch Constituency of the World Bank and IMF, Montenegro’s Finance Minister Novica Vuković met with the Dutch Ambassador to Montenegro, H.E. Martijn Elgersma, to discuss strengthening bilateral cooperation in public finance, economic reforms, and EU integration.
Discussions focused on enhancing technical cooperation and exchanging experiences in tax and customs policy, combating the grey economy, improving budget transparency, public sector statistics, and digitalizing public administration.
Minister Vuković expressed gratitude for the Netherlands’ continued support, both bilaterally and through EU mechanisms, particularly in helping Montenegro close Chapter 5 on Public Procurement. He emphasized the value of sharing best practices from EU countries with strong public finance systems like the Netherlands and thanked them for supporting the creation of a Public Finance Academy in Montenegro.
Ambassador Elgersma reaffirmed the Netherlands’ commitment to deeper cooperation through expert support and joint projects. He noted Montenegro’s strategic importance as a potential next EU member and a leader in the Western Balkans integration process, and confirmed the Netherlands’ support for upcoming reforms.
The meeting also touched on encouraging Dutch investment in Montenegro, with more discussions expected at the major investment conference scheduled for October.