International Conference on “The Use of Techniques and Auxiliary Tools for Occupational Safety and Health in Agriculture” Held

As part of the SAGRI project – Occupational Health and Safety in Agriculture, funded through the Interreg IPA South Adriatic Program, a three-day international conference dedicated to improving occupational health and safety (OHS) in agriculture was held in Podgorica from March 25 to 27, 2025. This event is part of a broader effort to create safer and more dignified working conditions in the agricultural sector across the region. The event gathered over 30 participants from Montenegro, Albania, and Italy — representatives from institutions, inspections, agricultural companies, academia, OHS experts, and international organizations. The conference was opened by Milena Aković, Marketing Director of ICT Cortex, in the presence of representatives from the Ministry of European Affairs and the Ministry of Finance of Montenegro. In their opening remarks, the importance of cross-sectoral and regional cooperation was emphasized, especially in the context of growing challenges in food safety, climate change, and agricultural modernization. On behalf of the Ministry of Finance, whose Directorate for First Level Control is responsible for verifying the eligibility of program expenses, the Head of the FLC Directorate, Kana Tomašević, addressed the participants. She spoke about the importance of participation and the benefits projects bring to Montenegrin institutions. She stressed that cross-border cooperation programs contribute to the economic, social, and territorial development of border areas, as well as the capacity building of local authorities and stakeholders to use structural and investment funds within territorial cooperation as an important component of cohesion policy. These programs help the population in border regions promote sustainable economic and social development through joint efforts in solving common problems, ensuring efficient and secure borders, and promoting joint actions involving local participants from border areas. “The new financial perspective we have entered is based on lessons learned from previous IPA 2007-2013 and IPA 2014-2020 perspectives, aiming to ensure the uninterrupted implementation of defined goals and priorities aligned with the EU enlargement strategy and Montenegro’s strategic objective regarding future EU membership.” Besides clearly bringing significant benefits to our citizens, Tomašević emphasized that the implementation of Interreg projects brings us closer to European values and standards and improves the capacities of Montenegrin institutions and beneficiaries. She also noted that Montenegro, although the smallest country in the region, has implemented a significant number of cross-border projects in the previous period, which confirms the proper use of available funds and opportunities these programs provide. In conclusion, she highlighted the Ministry of Finance’s readiness to remain a reliable partner and support all beneficiaries in implementing their projects during this financial perspective. On behalf of the Ministry of European Affairs, Slađana Pešić, National Contact Point for Interreg IPA CBC Italy-Albania-Montenegro, addressed the conference. “The SAGRI project aims to improve working conditions for farmers and agricultural workers through the adoption of occupational safety and health guidelines. This is essential not only for the welfare of workers but also for the sustainability and productivity of the entire sector. Through joint efforts, we can create safer work environments and ensure a healthier future for all those employed in agriculture, in accordance with relevant EU directives. The South Adriatic Program is one of the leaders among European territorial cooperation programs in terms of capitalization processes, providing beneficiaries with the opportunity to transfer results achieved in previous projects into new geographical, social, and economic contexts. We are especially pleased that through this call, focused on smaller-scale projects, we managed to support new beneficiaries such as ICT Cortex, which brings valuable expertise in digital transformation and innovation. The role of ICT Cortex in this project is particularly important given that the organization recently conducted research and assessment of the agricultural sector and its potential in Montenegro. This program also offers numerous opportunities for strengthening cooperation among institutions and organizations from the Italian regions of Puglia and Molise, Albania, and Montenegro. In the recently completed standard call, 43 projects with a total value of 41 million euros were approved, involving 49 Montenegrin partners with a budget of over 11 million euros.” Ms. Pešić also announced numerous new opportunities for cross-border and transnational projects in the coming period and noted that the second call for projects under the Interreg IPA program Croatia – Bosnia and Herzegovina – Montenegro, with a total value of about 30 million euros, was announced on March 6 and will be open until June 6. She invited interested organizations and institutions to familiarize themselves with the call content and to join the informational sessions organized by the Ministry of European Affairs, in cooperation with colleagues from partner countries, on April 2 in Podgorica and April 3 in Budva. During the opening panel, participants had the opportunity to gain a detailed understanding of the current legislative framework in the field of occupational health and safety (OHS). Representatives from the Ministry of Labor, Employment and Social Dialogue, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management of Montenegro, the Occupational Health and Safety Inspectorate, and the Occupational Safety Association of Montenegro presented national regulations, institutional responsibilities, and challenges in their implementation, while partners from Albania and Italy shared experiences and examples of good practice from their countries. A significant segment of the conference was the contribution of Michele Dinelli, a representative of the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (EU-OSHA), who pointed out key steps that candidate countries need to take to achieve compliance with Directives 2009/104/EC and 2009/128/EC, as well as with ILO Convention 184. His suggestions provide important guidance for fulfilling obligations that are decisive criteria for closing Chapter 11 – Agriculture and Rural Development, and Chapter 19 – Social Policy and Employment, in the process of European Union accession. The conference provided a comprehensive overview of the state of OHS in agricultural companies from the three partner countries. Special focus was placed on digital tools and technical solutions that can improve safety in the field. Participants, through group work, analyzed regulatory compliance, identified existing risks, and developed risk assessment models. These findings will form the basis of a joint document containing recommendations and guidelines