It is a European Union programme called URBAKT, for which local governments from Serbia can submit project proposals until 31 March. Project applications prepared by networks of cities and municipalities are submitted to the Programme Secretariat in electronic format via the URBAKT programme website.
For 20 years, the URBAKT programme has been supporting cities and municipalities across Europe to solve communal problems through the exchange of knowledge and experience and thus contribute to their own development.
So far, more than 1,000 European cities have benefited from the support of this programme, and they have created around 150 networks within which they cooperate. As of this year, the European Union, on the initiative of the Ministry of European Integration, ensured the participation of Serbia in this programme.
On this occasion, Minister Tanja Miscevic stated that it is very good news for Serbia that it is the first among the countries of the Western Balkans to get the opportunity to participate in the URBAKT programme, which will enable our cities to come up with the best solutions for improving the quality of life of their citizens together with cities across Europe.
The Ministry of European Integration coordinates the participation of our country in ten programmes of European territorial cooperation, including now URBAKT, and provides support to all institutions from Serbia that are interested in applying for projects.
From 2004 to 2020, for these purposes, the European Union gave more than €400 million for the financing of more than 1,600 projects on the territory of Serbia, in which more than 1,000 partners participated - be it local self-governments, public enterprises , non-governmental organisations, museums, hospitals, schools.
Together, Serbia, its neighbours and the EU have influenced the improvement of the living conditions of hundreds of thousands of people with these projects, according to the statement.