Two public calls for proposals have been published within the European PROGRES development programme with a view to improving the competitiveness of the local economies. The successful applicants will receive grants for the certification and re-certification of international quality standards and assistance in registering protected designations of origin (PDOs) and protected geographical indications (PGIs). The European Union and Swiss Government have earmarked a total of 177,000 Euro for supporting at least 33 projects. The Calls will be open until 23 October 2015.
All micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, as well as agricultural cooperatives are entitled to take part in the international quality standards Call. Civic associations, institutions, and natural and legal persons producing goods bearing the name of the geographical area in which they are produced in the territory of the 34 local self-governments within the Programme’s Area of Responsibility(AoR) are eligible to take part in the PDO/PGI Call.
“Every local self-government must bear in mind its own specific features in the process of developing its competitiveness and define locally adequate strategies and activities accordingly. This Programme activity is thus supporting the champions of local competitiveness – micro, small and medium-sized enterprises,” said Olivera Kostić, the Manager of the Competitiveness Sector within the European PROGRES Programme.
The Programme will provide technical assistance in the introduction of international quality standards in at least 30 small and medium-sized enterprises or agricultural cooperatives and in registering PDOs or PGIs of at least three new agricultural products in the Programme AoR.
The applications will be assessed against their relevance and expected outcomes. European PROGRES will not extend aid in funding but will use the approved money to fund technical assistance in the certification or re-certification of quality standards and the protection of geographical indications. The standards certification and recertification projects will have to be implemented within 15 months, while the PDO and PGI projects will have to be completed within 18 months.
European PROGRES will hold five info sessions in South East and South West Serbia from 15 to 25 September 2015. to familiarise the potential applicants with the Call requirements. These sessions will be held in Vranje (15 September), Leskovac (16 September), Novi Pazar (17 September), Prijepolje (18 September) and Aleksinac (25 September).
More information on the Calls, the applications and additional information about the info sessions are available on European PROGRES’ website: http://www.europeanprogres.org/konkursi/en/.
