LocationsStrengthened Capacities for Better Regulations
April 9, 2026
Podgorica, 8 April 2026 – Sixty civil servants from national and local institutions have completed a training programme on the advanced application of Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA), further strengthening capacities for better policymaking and more efficient public financial management in Montenegro.
The training programme was organized by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Montenegro in cooperation with the Ministry of Finance of Montenegro, with the support of the Ministry of Finance of the Slovak Republic, through the project “Strengthening Public Financial Management in Montenegro.”
The awarding of certificates marked the successful completion of the training-of-trainers programme, representing an important step towards establishing a sustainable system for more consistent application of regulatory impact assessment across public administration.
Regulatory impact assessment contributes to better planning and decision-making by enabling the fiscal, economic, social and environmental effects of regulations to be considered before they are adopted. This strengthens efficiency and accountability in policy and public finance planning, which is important for further economic development and a better quality of life for all citizens.
UNDP Resident Representative in Montenegro, Ekaterina Paniklova, said that this programme represents a forward-looking investment in the knowledge and skills of civil servants, while also strengthening the human capacities that underpin high-quality policymaking in Montenegro:
“Through this training, the country is building a network of trainers who will help ensure that regulatory impact assessment is applied consistently across institutions. This contributes to more-informed decision making, more efficient use of public resources, and public systems that are more transparent, inclusive and responsive to people’s needs. This is at the heart of UNDP’s approach and the 2030 Agenda – ensuring that institutional reforms deliver tangible benefits and leave no one behind,” said UNDP Resident Representative.
UNDP Resident Representative in Montenegro, Ekaterina Paniklova
Minister of Finance, Novica Vuković emphasized the importance of investing in institutional capacities:
“Our goal is not only better regulation, but the development of a modern state based on knowledge, transparency and accountability to citizens. These certificates do not only mark the completion of an important training programme, but also represent a step towards stronger institutions, better policies, and a state that makes decisions based on knowledge, responsibility and a clear vision for development,” said Vuković.
Minister of Finance, Novica Vuković
Ambassador of the Slovak Republic, Eva Ponomarenkova, highlighted the importance of the achieved partnership:
“The cooperation between the Ministry of Finance of Slovakia and the Ministry of Finance of Montenegro has been excellent. It is particularly significant in the areas of macroeconomic analysis and fiscal planning, financial management at the local level, modernization of public accounting, and smart financial solutions. The sharing of experiences, such as the study visit of the Ministry of Finance of Montenegro to Slovakia, has been especially valuable for strengthening institutional capacities and advancing reforms,” said Ponomarenkova.
Ambassador of the Slovak Republic, Eva Ponomarenkova
Cooperation between the Ministry of Finance and UNDP in Montenegro in the area of public finance reform has been ongoing since 2017 and represents an important framework for supporting stronger fiscal planning, more responsible management of public resources, and better policy design.
With the support of the Ministry of Finance of the Slovak Republic, this cooperation has delivered significant results in public sector accounting, programme budgeting, macro-fiscal planning, tax reforms and regulatory impact assessment, further strengthening institutional capacities for more effective implementation of EU reforms and the sustainable development of Montenegro.
