Keepin touch

Whether you have a question, comment, suggestion or any problem in the purview of the government, send us your message and we will try to respond as soon as possible. If your problem is not in our purview, we will forward your message to the relevant institution.

The Government of the Republic of Serbia

In the service of citizens

Strategy for improvement of living conditions of Serbs in Kosovo presented

Belgrade, 18 December 2006

Head of the Economic team for Kosovo-Metohija and southern Serbia Nenad Popovic said today that the Strategy for the long-term economic development of Serbian communities in Kosovo-Metohija aims to improve living conditions of the population and stop them from leaving the province.

Nenad Popovic at today's press conference

Author: Tanjug

Speaking at a press conference held after the plenary meeting of the Economic team at which the Strategy was presented, Popovic said that this Strategy is focused on the development of infrastructure, education, employment and measures for encouraging investments.

He said that the main strategic goals are intensive economic integration with the economy in other parts of Serbia and with neighbouring countries, improvement of living standards of the population and reduction of poverty of Serbian communities in Kosovo-Metohija, and stopping Serbs from leaving the province.

According to Popovic, a precondition for the functioning of the economy and decent life of people is securing electricity stability and the resolution of the acute problem of electricity shortages with the donation from the Serbian government, construction of new and reconstruction of the existing roads, as well as the recognition of Telekom Srbija's licence and return of confiscated property.

The head of the Economic team said that incentives worth €70 million will be set aside from the state budget and the National Investment Plan next year for the realisation of the Strategy in Kosovo-Metohija.

Popovic announced that as of January 2007 a wide range of activities will begin with the aim of presenting the Strategy to all interested groups, from local communities to international financial and other organisations.

He also pointed out that the economic team drafted an action plan for the implementation of the strategy and stressed that if economic activities are to begin it is necessary to have institutional support through a wide network of offices of the National Employment Service.

Popovic stressed that according to the Strategy, the Trepca mining and processing company should be one of those that are to carry out the economic development of Kosovo-Metohija.

The head of the economic team also recalled that the Strategy for the long-term economic development of Serbian communities in Kosovo is the first document on long-term development of this region in the past 15 years. He stated that renowned experts from Serbia and abroad were engaged in its drafting, as well as that the Irish and Swedish experiences were referred to.

He added that the strategy was harmonised with the Serbian National Development Strategy from 2006 to 2012 and the Strategy for Serbia's EU Accession.

Popovic said that the Strategy for the long-term economic development of Southern Serbia was also presented at the economic team's plenary meeting adding that it is aimed at stimulating a favourable business climate, improving administrative capacities of local self-governments and improving the efficiency of local resource valorisation aiming to attract foreign capital to this region.