The European Union and the Swiss Government, via European PROGRES, will provide funding for the implementation of 57 projects aimed at improving the competitiveness of local self-governments in South East and South West Serbia, the European PROGRES Steering Committee decided at its meeting in Bela Palanka.
As Steering Committee Chairman, Assistant Director of Serbian European Integration Office Branko Budimir emphasised, European PROGRES has tried to respond to the local self-governments’ needs in cooperation with its development partners, the Delegation of the European Union (DEU) and the Swiss Government: “Together, we have succeeded in providing a value added and an impetus in the implementation of the Programme goal – the economic and social development of South East and South West Serbia.”
The approved support entails the funding of projects for the introduction or re-certification of international quality standards by 22 micro, small and medium-sized enterprises amounting to 78,000 Euros. The introduction of international food quality and safety standards, such as ISO 9001, HALAL, HACCP, ISO 22000 et al, creates potential for business and export growth and improvement of the quality of goods and services in 34 local self-governments covered by the Programme.
The Programme will also extend 80,000 Euros worth of support to 32 agricultural cooperatives and associations with a view to raising their capacities. The funding will be used for organising their training and a study visit to an EU country and subsequently providing the most successful production groups with the opportunity to develop and submit project proposals enabling them to introduce innovations and expand their market reach.
The European Union and the Swiss Government have secured 44,000 Euros for branding four agricultural products through the registration of their protected geographic origin, in order to boost their recognisability, improve their marketing and promote the areas where they are produced.
The Steering Committee endorsed the criteria for the public call for local infrastructural projects, for the implementation of which the European Union and the Swiss Government will designate 1.5 million EUR. The Committee also approved the criteria for the funding of projects aimed at opening new jobs through support to micro and small enterprises and self-employment of young people, partner projects to be implemented by civil society organisations and local self-governments, projects improving gender equality at the local level and the implementation of measures contributing to the social inclusion of Roma men and women.
The DEU Project Manager Ana Stanković praised the transparent and committed efforts European PROGRES has been investing in the selection of projects but simultaneously appealed to local self-governments on behalf of the DEU to ensure that the election activities do not slow down the implementation of projects helping improve the quality of life of the citizens.
