“These projects were submitted by the municipalities themselves, which were guided by what they considered their priority and what would improve the quality of life of their residents,” Ksenija Milenković emphasised.
Given that infrastructure is prerequisite for social and economic development, these projects will have direct positive impact on the lives of people living in the 14 municipalities in the European PROGRES’ Area of Responsibility. The water supply systems in Blace, Leskovac and Prijepolje will be upgraded; the sewage network in Merošina constructed; the waste management capacity in Bujanovac strengthened through the purchase of transfer station equipment; the energy efficiency in Priboj improved through the reconstruction of the public lighting system; new green markets in Babušnica and Sjenica constructed; “Naše dete” kindergarten in Novi Pazar reconstructed; part of a local road to the Vlasina Lake in Surdulica built, while new bridges in Trgovište and Svrljig will be constructed.
The Babušnica green market and the Priboj public lighting projects, worth nearly 500,00 Euros, were developed on the basis of technical documentation prepared with financial support the EU and Swiss Government allocated via European PROGRES.
The approved projects focusing on economic infrastructure are important in a number of ways as they contribute to improving the overall business environment conducive to economic development and thus, in the long term, help improve the living standards of the population.
One of the projects, in the Vranje Free Zone, is a positive example of long-term strategic development. In cooperation with the EU and the Swiss Government, the local authorities have over the past decade gradually and successfully developed the industrial zone, in which major investors, such as “Geox” and “Ditre Italia”, built their facilities during the previous stages of the project[1].
The reconstruction of the Bunuševac road will be completed with the construction of two roundabouts and the accompanying hydro-technical installations in the new stage, supported by 300,000 Euros through CFCU and 200,000 Euros by the city authorities.
“The implementation of this stage of the project will put in place the conditions for the further upgrading of the infrastructure in the Bunuševac Zone and attract new investors, which will lead to the opening of new jobs,” says Vranje Mayor Slobodan Milenković.
European PROGRES Manager Graeme Tyndall is of the view that the development of infrastructure is of crucial relevance to the improvement of the local self-governments. “Whether we are talking of schools, roads, hospitals or industrial zones, there can be no quality services without adequate infrastructure. The EU and the Swiss Government have recognised and intensively supported those aspects of national reforms through European PROGRES,” Tyndall concluded.
[1] European PROGRES News Bulletin No. 2, September 2015, available at: http://www.europeanprogres.org/newsltr/avgust2015/index_en.html
