In an interview with Frontline, the Deputy Prime Minister for European Affairs, Bojan Maricik, spoke about the use of IPA funds, the priorities in the European integration process and the planned activities in the forthcoming period.

"Priority is better and more successful use of IPA funds and other bilateral foreign aid. We have a good score so far, but we think we can do better and more visibly for the citizens. Because these are really important projects that make a difference in everyday life, but also in the transformation of entire policies," said Deputy Prime Minister Maricik.

He pointed out that he does not consider that the IPA funds are underused, pointing out that he has data that indicate that from the second IPA framework, the framework that was valid until now, started from 2013/2014 to 2021 or 2020, almost 90% of the assistance has been contracted, of which about 60% have already been paid and implemented.

"We can always do more and we can use those funds better. That is why, now in the third IPA framework, mature projects are financed. The sectors that are supported remain, but they are also programmed year by year and the Government has a serious impact on what would be financed, it gives us the opportunity to finance projects that do not require years of preparation or documentation but a maximum of one year in order to be sufficiently mature, to be able to implement or start implementing them within a maximum of one year of programming," said Maricik, adding that funds are available, they only need to be implemented properly, well and quickly, and that the focus is on strengthening the capacities for programming and use of IPA funds for even greater benefits for the citizens.