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As part of the SAGRI project – Health and Safety at Work in Agriculture, funded through the Interreg IPA South Adriatic Program, a three-day international conference was held in Podgorica from March 25–27, 2025. The conference focused on improving occupational health and safety (OHS) in agriculture as part of a broader effort to create safer and more dignified working conditions in the agricultural sector across the region.
The event brought together over 30 participants from Montenegro, Albania, and Italy, including representatives of institutions, inspection bodies, agricultural companies, the academic community, 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. The opening remarks emphasized the importance of cross-sector and regional cooperation, particularly in the context of growing challenges related to food safety, climate change, and the modernization of agriculture.
On behalf of the Ministry of Finance, whose First Level Control Directorate 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 of such projects for Montenegrin institutions. She highlighted that cross-border cooperation programs contribute to the economic, social, and territorial development of border areas while also strengthening the capacities of local authorities and stakeholders for utilizing structural and investment funds within the framework of territorial cooperation as a key component of cohesion policy. These programs are designed to support local populations in border areas by promoting sustainable economic and social development, fostering joint efforts to address common challenges, ensuring efficient and secure borders, and encouraging collaborative actions involving local stakeholders from border regions.
“The new financial perspective we have entered is based on lessons learned from the previous IPA 2007-2013 and IPA 2014-2020 frameworks, with the aim of ensuring the continued and smooth implementation of defined goals and priorities, which align with the EU enlargement strategy and Montenegro’s strategic objective of future EU membership.”
In addition to bringing significant benefits to our citizens, Tomašević emphasized that the implementation of Interreg projects further brings us closer to European values and standards while enhancing the capacities of Montenegrin institutions and beneficiaries. She also noted that, despite being the smallest country in the region, Montenegro has successfully implemented a significant number of cross-border projects in recent years, demonstrating that we are effectively utilizing the available funds and opportunities provided by these programs.
Finally, she emphasized the readiness of the Ministry of Finance to remain a reliable partner and provide support to all beneficiaries in the implementation of their projects during this financial perspective.
Representing the Ministry of European Affairs, Slađana Pešić, the National Contact Point for Interreg IPA CBC Italy-Albania-Montenegro, addressed the participants.
“The SAGRI project aims to improve working conditions for farmers and agricultural workers by adopting occupational health and safety guidelines. This is essential not only for the well-being of workers but also for the sustainability and productivity of the entire sector. Through joint efforts, we can create a safer work environment and ensure a healthier future for all those working in agriculture, in line with relevant European Union directives.
The South Adriatic Program is one of the leading programs in European territorial cooperation in terms of capitalization, as it allows beneficiaries to transfer results achieved in previous projects to new geographical, social, and economic contexts. We are particularly pleased that, through this call focused on smaller-scale projects, we have been able 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 this organization has recently conducted research and assessment of the agricultural sector and its potential in Montenegro.
This program also offers numerous other opportunities to strengthen cooperation between institutions and organizations from the Italian regions of Puglia and Molise, Albania, and Montenegro. As part of the recently completed standard call, 43 projects with a total value of €41 million have been approved, with 49 Montenegrin partners participating, managing a budget of over €11 million.”
Ms. Pešić also announced numerous new opportunities for cross-border and transnational projects in the upcoming period. She highlighted that the second call for projects within the Interreg IPA program Croatia – Bosnia and Herzegovina – Montenegro, with a total value of approximately €30 million, was launched on March 6 and will remain open until June 6. She invited interested organizations and institutions to familiarize themselves with the call details and participate in the information sessions organized by the Ministry of European Affairs in cooperation with partners from neighboring countries, scheduled for April 2 in Podgorica and April 3 in Budva.
During the introductory 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 Inspection, and the Occupational Safety Association of Montenegro presented national regulations, institutional responsibilities, and challenges in their implementation. Meanwhile, partners from Albania and Italy shared their experiences and examples of best practices from their respective countries.
A significant contribution to the conference was made by Michele Dinelli, a representative of the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (EU-OSHA). He highlighted key steps that candidate countries need to take to comply with Directives 2009/104/EC and 2009/128/EC, as well as with International Labour Organization Convention 184. His recommendations serve as important guidelines for meeting the obligations that represent critical benchmarks for closing Chapter 11 – Agriculture and Rural Development, and Chapter 19 – Social Policy and Employment, in the EU accession process.
The conference provided a comprehensive insight into 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. Through group work, participants 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 for improving OHS in agriculture.
As part of the conference, the Analysis of the State of Occupational Health and Safety in Agriculture in Montenegro was presented, along with accompanying Risk Prevention Guidelines. This document was developed based on field visits and interviews with ten agricultural companies, as well as an assessment of the regulatory framework and practices in the country. It represents an important step towards a systemic approach to improving OHS, with recommendations aligned with EU directives and international standards.
The discussions also raised important systemic issues, such as the lack of specialized inspectors, the absence of an Institute for Occupational Medicine in Montenegro, and insufficient cooperation between the labor and agriculture sectors. Despite these challenges, company representatives demonstrated a high level of willingness for change, emphasizing the need for employee education, stricter control over pesticide use, digital injury records, and specialized training for seasonal workers.
As part of the conference, a field visit was organized to the company “13. Jul – Plantaže”, where participants were able to observe the implementation of OHS measures in a large vineyard and winery complex. This visit facilitated the exchange of experiences and provided insight into best practices already present in the sector.
The conference concluded with a joint session where key takeaways and the next steps of the SAGRI project were presented. A special emphasis will be placed on the development of guidelines for improving OHS in agriculture, based on the collected data and experiences from Montenegro, Albania, and Italy.
