Better Local Economies for More Jobs

Good economic infrastructure leads to more resilient local communities and new jobs. This is one of the messages after awarding of new grants for local development in 20 municipalities and ceremony that was organised in Kraljevo.

These projects, financed through EU Pro Plus Programme with over EUR 5 million of EU grant, are an example of Empowering Serbian municipalities and EU Assistance on the local level. These 20 projects are anticipated to establish essential infrastructure conditions, enabling the realisation of 300 million Euros in new investments and the generation of 3,000 employment opportunities within a five-year timeframe.

Additionally, they will enhance the tourism potential in five municipalities, aligning with national and local strategies to diversify offerings, attract more tourists, and bolster the local economy, thereby making a visible change for the better life of citizens.

EU Ambassador to Serbia Emanuele Giaufret and Minister for EU Integration Tanja Miščević attended the ceremony.

“Our joint efforts and investments drive economic development, focusing on improving business infrastructure. These 20 projects will deliver tangible results for the economy and citizens in the future, through new investments and job creation. We support local self-governing units in improving the business and investment climate, enhancing competitiveness at the local level. I am particularly pleased to have visited the project underway in Mataruška Banja, as it exemplifies how EU support contributes to tourism development, increased economic activity, and improved quality of life for people,” stated Ambassador Giaufret.

“Today, 20 certificates were handed out for projects financed by the European Union through the EU PRO Plus programme, which are increasing from call to call, of higher quality and more and more responsive to the needs of all citizens. These are business infrastructure improvement projects with a total value of over EUR 8 Million, of which the EU invested more than 5 Million, and local governments are participating with a significant amount of almost EUR 3 million. All these projects will have direct benefits for about ten thousand citizens of these 20 municipalities, by contributing to a better business environment, new investments and a better, more satisfied and safer life in Serbia,” said Minister for European Integration Tanja Miščević.

As the minister emphasised, the process of European integration is a strategic goal of our country, because through this process, our legal system and the way the state and society function are changing. “And as we saw today in Mataruška Banja,” said Miščević, “it also brings the most concrete benefits to the environment in which we live.”

Minister Miščević told local governments to strategically prepare projects, taking into account the overall development plan of Serbia.

“When you decide on project proposals, thorough work on the preparation of project documentation is important so that the technical implementation goes according to plan. We are here to help you in that work,” said the minister, once again expressing her gratitude to the European Union and the EU member states for the development support they provide to Serbia.

Before the event, Ambassador Giaufret, Minister Miščević and Kraljevo Mayor Predrag Terzić visited Mataruška Banja, one of the places where EU funds will be used to improve local tourism offer and to renovate a central park.

“This is another valuable donation from the European Union to Kraljevo, with which we will realise a project of importance for tourism and economic activity of the city, a better life for the residents of Mataruška Banja, but also the creation of new jobs for our fellow citizens,” said Mayor Terzić.

Apart from Mataruška Banja, alocated funds will be used for infrastructure equipment, the development of sustainable tourism, or to develop technical documentation for improvement of economic infrastructure, i.e. for the preparation of projects for building permits, project execution designs and feasibility studies.