EU PROGRES

Steering Committee of the European Partnership with Municipalities Programme approved at its first annual meeting an investment of the European Union and the Government of Switzerland, worth 1.4 million euros, in new development projects in 25 municipalities of the South and Southeast Serbia.

The largest portion of the money, which amounts to €480,000, will be invested in the construction of local infrastructure in Leskovac’s Green Zone. Thanks to the investments made by the city of Leskovac, the Ministry of Environment, Mining and Spatial Planning and other partners, a prerequisite will be provided for new investments that will facilitate more jobs and improve conditions for marketing the regional agricultural produce.   

The European Union and the Government of Switzerland will also endorse the construction and equipping of a Centre for Agricultural  Development of Pešter with € 220.000, thus improving conditions for production, storage and distribution of famos Pešter products.

PROGRES is also going to purchase the equipment for improving the operation of nine municipal service centers and  town planning directorates in Novi Pazar, Leskovac and Vranje, and facilitate the preparation of 12 town planning schemes and technical documentation for 20 local infrastructural projects.

At  today's meeting, representatives of PROGRES presented and the Steering Committee adopted the Annual Report. Ognjen Mirić, Deputy Director of the Office for European Integrations  of the Republic of Serbia and Chairman of the Steering Committee, said: “The results achieved by the the European Partnership with Municipalities Programme in the first year are impressive. After the today’s meeting and the Steering Committee’s approval, the total value of project funds is around € 7 million. However, there are some problems with the delayed implementation of approved projects and all of us will have to make a real effort to solve them.”  

The most important results of PROGRES achieved in this year include approval of funding for 21 municipal infrastructural projects, the value of which is € 1.8 million. After the implementation of these projects, citizens will have better access to health care services, better conditions for education, effective district heating and rich cultural events in their communities. 

Another important decision is the approval of grant money for implementation of 40 projects, which were developed in partnership with civil society organizations and local self-governments, aimed at facilitating positive change in the local community. Most projects seek to improve the position of young people and marginalized social groups.

PROGRES has also supported the preparation of 12 town planning schemes, which are envisaged by the Law on Planning and Construction, and are the key precondition for new investments.

Graham Tyndall, PROGRES Manager said: “PROGRES essencially aims to support municipalities to establish the mechanisms and adopt knowledge and practices that will enable them to efficiently plan and acheive long-term social and economic development by making the best legal use of their human, institutional and other resources; create a business friendly environment; provide financial resources for implementation of important development projects through donor support, primarily through pre-accession EU assisstance.“

In an effort to bring about an important change, PROGRES has directed its activities toward supporting local governments raise their capacity for compliance with basic principles of good governance, including accountability, transparency, participatory approach, respect to human rights and efficiency. Another significant initiatives related to this topic are: project on strengthening the Gender Equality Council, project on Citizens’ Advisory Services for provision of free legal assistance to socially vulnerable citizens of Novi Pazar, and a citizens’ satisfaction survey.

The meeting was attended by representatives of the Serbian ministries, municipalities participating in PROGRES, representatives of development agencies and projects, civil society, donors – representatives of the European Union and the Government of Switzerland, while the United Nations Office for Project Services – UNOPS, as executive partner, served as secretary.

After the meeting, participants attended the opening of the Third International Folklore Festival “Bosilegradsko Kraište is Singing and DAncing“, organized with the support of PROGRES.

The European Union supports the European Partnership with Municipalities Programme – PROGRES, with € 14.1 million, the Government of Switzerland with € 2.5 million, while the share of the Government of the Republic of Serbia is € 1.5 million. PROGRES is implemented in 25 municipalities of the South and South West Serbia. Its objective is to facilitate social and economic development of 25 municipalities of the South and South West Serbia.