Head of the EU Delegation to Serbia Michael Davenport signed an agreement on a new development programme – European PROGRES aimed at improving life conditions in Novi Pazar and 33 municipalities more. The EU will invest EUR19,6 million in the programme.
The European PROGRES is co-financed with the Government of Switzerland (EUR4,86 million), whereas Serbian Government has yet to provide an additional share of funding for projects through its ministries and local governments.
Along with the Ambassador Davenport, the agreement was signed by Director of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation in Serbia (SDC) Isabel Perich, Regional Director of UNOPS Bruce Mccarron and Minister in charge with European integration Jadranka Joksimović.
Through local governance strengthening, infrastructure and economy development, social inclusion and employment policy in the next three and a half years this programme should contribute to sustainable development of underdeveloped areas.
„Together with our partners, Serbian and Swiss governments, we will make additional efforts to ensure prosperity, notably in the field of economy,” Davenport said.
“We will focus particularly on projects that would attract investments and create new jobs. At the same time, infrastructure development, preparation of technical and planning documentation, as well as support to vulnerable groups continue,” the Ambassador added.
According to him, the new European PROGRES will be considerably more demanding compared to the previous programme.
“Now there are nine more municipalities, therefore the competition gets stronger. Also, the criteria for acquiring assistance will be higher. We encourage you to think about it and establish a cooperation when it comes to joint major projects. European Union provides extensive support because we want to see economically strong and stable Serbia”, Davenport said.
Department for contracting and financingof EU funded projects (CFCU) will ensure the implementation of top priority infrastructure projects allocated with seven million euros.
Serbian European integration office (SEIO) will provide strategic guidelines for implementation, while the programme will be carried out by United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) and the Government of the Republic of Serbia.
Apart from Novi Pazar the programme includes another 33 municipalities in southeastern and southwestern Serbia: Sjenica, Tutin, Priboj, Prijepolje, Nova Varoš, Raška and Ivanjica in the South West, as well as Prokuplje, Blace, Žitorađa, Kuršumlija, Leskovac, Bojnik, Vlasotince, Lebane, Medveđa, Crna Trava, Vranje, Bosilegrad, Bujanovac, Vladičin Han, Preševo, Surdulica, Trgovište, Brus, Aleksinac, Gadžin Han, Doljevac, Merošina, Svrljig, Babušnica, Bela Palanka and Knjaževac in the South East of Serbia.
The first such a programme – European partnership with municipalities (EU PROGRES) – was carried out from 2010 to 2014 and funded by the EU with EUR14,1 million, alongside with the investment of Swiss Government worth EUR2,9 million and Serbian Government co-financing which amounted to EUR3,6 million. It included 25 municipalities in southern and southwestern Serbia and was reviewed as one of the most successful EU-funded projects in Serbia.
Through its 255 projects, EU PROGRES enabled the employment of 300 people, attracted investments worth at least EUR30 million, and raised the possibility of creating 3,000 additional jobs in the next five years.
More details on the project are available here.
Read joint statement here.
