The Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance (IPA) is the financial support to potential candidate and candidate countries for membership to the European Union aiming to assist them in implementing reforms in their societies, legal systems and economies.

The support through IPA I financial perspective (2007-2013) is implemented through five components:

1. Transition Assistance and institution Building
2. Cross-Border and Regional Cooperation,
3. Regional Development,
4. Human Resources Development,
5. Rural Development.

The support through IPA II financial perspective (2014-2020) is given to the defined sectors. It means that there are no components in this financial perspective, but instead the focus is put on the sectors closely linked to the Enlargement Strategy, namely:

1. Democracy and governance;
2. Rule of law and fundamental rights;
3. Environment and Climate Action;
4. Transport;
5. Competitiveness and Innovation;
6. Education, employment, and social policies;
7. Agriculture and rural development;
8. Regional cooperation and territorial cooperation.

The Operational Programme (OP) is a document or detailed plan in which the country defines how it will spend the money allocated through the available EU funds in a given programming period. In other words, the comprehensive strategic goals in a certain field or sector are being transformed in priorities and measures or actions and activities of the Operational Programme, which are to be implemented later on through projects.

The Operational Identification Sheet (OIS) represents the last step in the programming process which follows immediately after the development of the Operational Programme. These sheets are the documents that bring measures or activities defined in the Operational Programme at the practical level. This is why they are often referred to as “mini projects” on the basis of which tender and project documents are developed in the next stage.

• Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare – as the Body responsible for Operational Programme and as the bodies responsible for priorities and measures in the fields of employment, social inclusion and technical assistance. 
• Ministry of Education – as the Body responsible for priority and measure in the education field.
• Ministry of Science – as the Body responsible for priority and measure in the field of science and research.
• Ministry of Finance – as Implementing Body.

In line with the IPA Implementing Regulation, the Sectoral Monitoring Committee (SMC) represents the official body which supervises the management and implementation of a programme and it is established for a certain field or sector.

As regards the IPA Component IV, the Sectoral Monitoring Committee has been established immediately upon the signing of the Financing Agreement or more precisely in December 2014 when the 1st official meeting of the Committee was held. The Committee meetings, which are organised at least twice a year, are co-chaired by the Head of Operating Structure (from the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare) and the representative of the European Commission’s Directorate General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion (DG EMPL). The Committee Members are the representatives of the ministries constituting the Operating Structure, NIPAC and representatives of the NIPAC Office, National Authorising Officer (NAO) and representatives of the National Fund Division, representatives of social partners, non-governmental organisations, universities, whereas the representatives of the EU Delegation to Montenegro and the Audit Authority have the role of observers in the Committee. 

The direct beneficiaries of the Operational Programme “Human Resources Development” 2012-2013 or IPA Component IV are non-for-profit institutions such as the relevant ministries and state administration bodies (agencies, for example), municipalities, non-governmental organisations, associations, universities, schools, science and research institutions, etc. However, the final beneficiaries of the funds are the unemployed, employers, pupils and teachers, persons with disabilities, thus, the Montenegrin citizens.