To boost social and economic development of the municipalities in the south east and south west of the country, the European Union and the Government of Switzerland, through the European PROGRES development programme, have provided one and a half million Euros for the financing of 14 local infrastructure projects in programme municipalities.
Project implementation is managed by the municipalities themselves, while the role of the European PROGRES is advisory and concerns monitoring the implementation.
Thus, in the Prijepolje Municipality, a local team has been formed to develop an action plan and tender documentation as a first step towards complete adaptation of the gymnasium in the local Economics and Trade School, which has been out of use for the last thirty years. This project, for which donors set aside a total of 94,000 Euros, will help the development and promotion of sports primarily among young people both in local schools and in sports clubs.
The preparations for the implementation of the approved projects have also started in other local self-governments. In Ivanjica and Sjenica, parts of the water supply network will be reconstructed with the support of European PROGRES by replacing asbestos pipes, and better working conditions in primary schools in Bela Palanka, Kuršumlija and Surdulica will be achieved by increasing energy efficiency.
In Brus, the construction of the Home for Children with Disabilities will significantly contribute to a better quality of life of 30 children and their families, while the new Hemodialysis Centre in the Municipality of Lebane will simplify the treatment of 30 kidney patients from Lebane, Medveđa, and Bojnik, who will no longer have to travel to receive treatment. In addition, the building of the Bosilegrad Cultural Centre, housing the Library and the Social Welfare Centre, will be reconstructed. By building a dog shelter, an example of good inter-municipal cooperation, Vlasotince and Bojnik will resolve the problem of abandoned dogs and high costs municipalities pay for damages to the inhabitants bitten by dogs.
The European Union and the Government of Switzerland have also provided support to economic infrastructure projects, so European PROGRES will continue support to the development of the Vranje Free Zone, initiated during the previous programme, EU PROGRES, by funding the development of important planning documentation, while in the Priboj industrial zone the head office building will be reconstructed.
“Infrastructure is a prerequisite of all factors directly affecting development, and better living conditions will, over long term, provide the inhabitants of currently less developed towns with possibilities to stay and work there, and also to return from the cities and contribute to the development of their municipalities,” said the European PROGRES manager, Graeme Tyndall.
