CONSULTATIONS ON CROSS-BORDER PROGRAM OF COOPERATION BETWEEN SERBIA AND MACEDONIA

22. July 2016.

Leskovac – As part of the new Cross-Border Cooperation Program “Serbia-Macedonia 2016-2020”, the Office for European Integration of the Republic of Serbia, in cooperation with the Ministry of Local Self-Government of the Republic of Macedonia, organized one-day consultations at the Regional Chamber of Commerce in Leskovac.

The five-year program, the budget of which is 3.6 million euros, includes all the municipalities of the Jablanica and Pcinj districts.

“The aim of the Leskovac workshop was to reach an agreement and to set priorities, as Serbia and Macedonia should submit the program to the European Commission for adoption by mid-August, while the first calls for proposals are expected by the end of next year. It is too soon to talk now about the amounts that are to be approved for each project. That will be known by the middle of next year. For the time being, we are trying to come to an agreement on what will be funded, "said Sanda Simic, Assistant Director of the Office for European Integration.

The reaching of an agreement on establishing project priorities is in progress, while it is expected that the projects will support employment, tourism, environmental protection, social inclusion, etc.

This is the ninth cross-border cooperation program implemented by the Office for European Integration. The program is funded by the Institute for Pre-Accession Assistance.

Source: Jugpress and Coordination Body