EUROPEAN PROGRESS PROGRAM LEAVES SERBIA, NEW PROGRAMS FOR 99 MUNICIPALITIES AND CITIES ANNOUNCED

13. February 2018.

Presevo, Bujanovac, Medvedja - Following three and a half years’ long operation and financial assistance of 24.46 million dinars provided to the local self-governments in the southern, eastern and western Serbia, the European Progress development program will cease operating, but the organization assured that a new assistance program for 99 municipalities in that part of Serbia would be launched.

"Over the past three and a half years, the European Union and the Government of Switzerland, through the European Progress development program, supported the implementation of over 250 projects in 34 local self-governments in the southeastern and southwestern parts of Serbia. The program ends on March 31, while its results are already visible and we may say that the program has contributed to the strengthening of local governance, increased competitiveness of the local economy, improved social and business infrastructure, as well as social inclusion, with the aim of making it possible for the people in this part of Serbia to live better, "it was said in the statement issued by the European Progress.

It is pointed out that a lot of effort and work was put into building local capacity, both for preparation and project management in local self-governments, but also among agricultural producer groups, clusters, small and micro enterprises, civil society and the media.

The program was conducted by the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) in Serbia, while a portion of the EU funds from the total budget, more precisely seven million euros, were agreed and committed to infrastructure projects through the Ministry of Finance or the Ministry’s Department for Contracting and Financing Program from EU funds (CFCU).

Total funding for the program in the amount of 24.46 million euros was provided by the European Union (19.6 million euros) and the Government of Switzerland (4.86 million euros), while the program was implemented in partnership with the Government of the Republic of Serbia, which, through local self-governments, participated in the program with nearly 800,000 euros.

As the European Progress’ donors, the EU and the Government of Switzerland, announced, support for the sustainable development of local self-governments would be continued in the following period:

“The new program will cover 99 municipalities and cities and will be implemented with the support of the EU. It will focus on improving competitiveness, supporting small and medium-sized enterprises, infrastructure development, and inclusion of vulnerable groups of the population, while the Swiss Government will focus its support on local self-governments, on the promotion of good governance, which will have the opportunity to improve transparency and efficiency through grants and technical support, and in particular to introduce e-government services. Another goal of the program will be the improvement of social services and the status of women,” it was said in the statement issued by representative of the European Progress program, who will soon visit all the local self-governments where funds were invested.

Source: Jugmedia and Coordination Body