The European Union and the Government of Switzerland will provide, through the development programme the European Progress, more than 2.5 million euros for new projects aimed at improving lives of citizens in 34 municipalities in South Eastern and South Western Serbia, it was decided today at the second Annual meeting of the Managing board of the European PROGRES in Vranje.
The approved support includes, among other projects, financing of 14 local infrastructure projects worth 1.5 million euros and 17 micro and small enterprises of 253.880 evra. The European PROGRES will also support 22 young people to launch their businesses with the equipment purchase worth 183.307 euros.
“The European Union and the Swiss government continue to support the development of local infrastructure which will contribute to improving people’s quality of life as well as general business environment which is a precondition to attracting investments”, said Graeme Tyndall, the European PROGRES manager. By supporting enterprises and self-employment of youth, the European PROGRES has been contributing to a higher concurrence level of local economy, creation of new job posts and stimulus to enterpreneuring spirit.
Proposals of activities for implementing measures from the Strategy for social inclusion of Roma on the local level were also supported at the meeting and 150,000 euros were set for them.
Members of the Managing Board also agreed to the proposal of a project of support to local self-governments in applying electronic system for issuing contruction permits, worth 71.000 euros, which the European PROGRES would realise in cooperation with the National Alliance for Local Econimic Development (NALED). The criteria for the public call for implementation of expert trainings in local self-governments were also approved. Both initiatives are aimed at improving concurrence of municipalities that are involved in the programme.
“We have made important decisions today, many projects have been presented to us and what is important now is to encourage all local self-governments to engage in preparations of quality projects in accordance with the population’s needs and development’s priorities,” said Ana Stanković, project manager with the Delegation of the European Union in Serbia.
During the past two years, the European PROGRES has supported 214 projects – 66 of them are already finished – and among accomplished results, the upgrade of tax payers database in 16 local tax administration offices was singled out as a move that should increase income to municipal budget for 13 percent, as wel as a preparation for 20 major projects which create preconditions for construction and help municipalities secure donations. Social inclusion of vulnerable groups in municipalities included in the programme has significantly been improved with 19 partner projects of civic society and municipalities which have, among else, secured full time jobs for 31 women, while 23 persons with disabilities have been temporarily engaged.
The most significant single project was the end of works on construction and equipment of a building for higher education planned for a bilingual department of the Economy Faculty Subotica in Bujanovac, which has now been attended by almost 400 students.
“The programme is now being implemented and in order to successfuly realise all activities during next year, the last year for implementation, it is necessary to have active participation by all of our partners, primarily local self-governments. It is important all activities to be continued with the same dynamics in all municipalities, no matter whether there was a change of local authorities after April elections,” said Graeme Tyndall,the European PROGRES manager.
Vranje mayor Slobodan Milenković thanked for the support given to the town by the European Union and the government of Switzerland, stressing the importance of the assistance to preparations for plans of detailed regulations for the industrial zone, which helped attract foreign investors like Geox and Ditre Italia.
“Local self-government in Vranje will continue to actively participate in a realisation of development projects financed by the European Union and the Government of Switzerland and the priority is, definitely, finalisation of construction of the General hospital’s surgical bloc, because this project is important for the whole of Pčinj district,” Milenković concluded.
The activities of the European PROGRES, a programme contributing to sustainable development in South and South Western Serbia are supported by the European Union and the Swiss government with a total of 24.46 million euros. The programme is aimed at strengthening local administration, creating more affordable environment for infrastructure development and economy, as well as improving implementation of policies related to social inclusion. The activities on the ground are being conducted by the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS).
Municipalities included in the programme are Novi Pazar, Ivanjica, Nova Varoš, Priboj, Prijepolje, Raška, Sjenica and Tutin in South Western Serbia, 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 the country.
