At the presentation of the European Union Exchange 5 programme, aimed at public property registration and property management, Minister of Public Administration and Local Self-Government Branko Ruzic encouraged towns and municipalities across Serbia to apply for funding allocated through the programme as of 20 October.
Exchange 5 is focused on improving the efficiency at the local level, cost reduction, increasing transparency in public property management and improving the business environment.
Minister Ruzic said that nearly 85 per cent of local self-governments in Serbia lacked a clear picture of their property, adding that there is a critical need to put the property inventory in order.
Minister Ruzic said that it was important for local self-governments to take advantage of opportunities aimed at economic development offered by the EU so as to gain access to a wide range of projects aimed at improving the standard of living. The total value of the Exchange 5 programme amounts to EUR3.3 million, EUR3 million of which have been donated by the EU, whereas EUR300,000 have been secured through co-financing.
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A representative of the EU Delegation to Serbia Steffen Hudolin said that “the EU has so far invested more than EUR3 billion in various projects in Serbia, with particular attention being paid to local self-governments through programmes such as Exchange.”
He said that the programme was aimed at enhancing capacity of LSGs, adding that some EUR30 million had been donated for the four previous stages of the programme.
“EU support is important, but not sufficient. The Ministry of Finance should monitor the situation and introduce incentives and coordinate institutions enforcing the Law on Public Property. Showing political will at the local level is also of tremendous importance,” Hudolin said, adding that when it comes to implementation of the programme, the EU has transferred a part of its competences to Serbian institutions.
Secretary General of the Standing Conference of Towns and Municipalities Djordje Stanicic said that it was important for municipalities to apply for funding together as it gave smaller local self-governments an opportunity to take part in the programme.
Under the programme, municipalities are building their capacity for the future and should now identify their property and the way they will manage it because, without proper management, they will not be able to attract investment, he said.
Stanicic stressed that the programme was about putting the property to good use, adding that towns and municipalities should exercise their rights under the Law on Public Property.
