Single Market Academy (SMA) Officially Launched in Podgorica

The launch of the Single Market Academy marks a new phase in the European integration of the region: strengthening institutions, developing professional competencies, and building the trust needed to access the European Union Single Market. As one of the priority initiatives under the EU Growth Plan for the Western Balkans, the Academy will help transform reform commitments into practical knowledge, concrete institutional capacity, and sustainable mechanisms of cooperation between the countries of the region and the European Union.

This was highlighted in Podgorica, where, in cooperation with the Government of Montenegro, the Single Market Academy (SMA) — a regional platform providing expert support to Western Balkan institutions in aligning with EU Single Market rules and practices — was officially launched.

The ceremony was opened by the Prime Minister of Montenegro, Mr. Milojko Spajić, and attended by Deputy Prime Ministers and Ministers of the Government of Montenegro, representatives of the European Commission, the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany, institutions from across the region, and international experts.

“We must understand that the process of full integration does not end on paper — it does not even end with EU membership itself It must live in every layer of society — in every institution, every procedure, every production process, and in every company that aims to operate according to the rules of the European Union Single Market, ” said Prime Minister Milojko Spajić, emphasizing that the role of the Academy is to equip domestic professionals to work to the same standards as their counterparts in EU member states.

As of tomorrow, “through cooperation that strengthens trust, Montenegro will no longer only be ahead — it will help lead the process of uniting the Western Balkans with the European Union,” said the Prime Minister during the official opening ceremony of the Single Market Academy”, he added during the opening ceremony.

Copyright: GIZ

The EU Ambassador to Montenegro, H.E. Johann Sattler, emphasized: “Today’s launch is more than the start of a project; it marks the beginning of a new partnership built on shared standards, shared learning, and a shared European vision. The Single Market Academy embodies what the EU–Western Balkans relationship should be: grounded in education, practical in approach, and focused on results that citizens and businesses can feel in their daily lives. Montenegro has well deserved to host this project, and I encourage all Western Balkan countries to make the most of this Academy and the opportunity to access the Single Market.”

Copyright: GIZ

The Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to Montenegro, H.E. Peter Felten, noted that the Single Market Academy represents precisely what Germany strives to promote and support in the Western Balkans: Closer cooperation and stronger integration within the region in a way that serves the people in the region; in a way that boosts the economic development in the countries of the region by promoting a Common Regional Market;  and in a way that, at the same time, supports the countries of the Western Balkans in preparing for the EU Single Market, and for EU accession, ” he stated.

The Academy was symbolically launched by Ms. Maida Gorčević, Minister of European Affairs of Montenegro, and Dr. Tanja Bošković, Project Manager at GIZ EU4Trade.

“Today, I can proudly say that we have done everything to turn that dream into reality - into a project that will serve the entire region while proudly bearing Montenegro’s mark. Because when we speak about the Single Market Academy, we are not just talking about a project - it is an instrument that links reforms to results and creates a shared framework of trust, a bridge between our region and the European Union,” said Minister Gorčević..

“For Montenegro, this bridge carries a special meaning. It leads directly toward our future membership in the European Union. That is why we see this Academy not merely as an initiative - but as a tool that transforms political will into real capacities, and the European perspective into the everyday practice of our institutions. Today, we recognize the deeper value of the Growth Plan which has formulated this Academy - a value that cannot be measured solely in the hundreds of millions of euros dedicated to reforms. Its true worth lies in the convergence, bringing our economies, our institutions, and our people closer to the standards, principles, and opportunities that we aspire to as future members of the European Union” she stated.

Dr. Tanja Bošković emphasized that the Academy “is not just a program, but a shared space for learning, trust, and progress.” 

“We are ready. The partners are here. The path is open. Now — we build the bridge,” she concluded. 

During the event, a ceremonial declaration of cooperation was signed within the EU4Trade program, reaffirming the joint commitment of the European Commission, the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany, and GIZ to supporting Western Balkan countries in strengthening institutional capacity and preparing for the EU Single Market through the establishment of the Single Market Academy.

The SMA is established under the EU4Trade project, co-financed by the European Union and the Government of Germany, and implemented by GIZ.