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The Government of the Republic of Serbia

In the service of citizens

Municipalities in southern Serbia to receive €1.4m for new development projects

Belgrade, 28 July 2011

Minister without Portfolio and head of the Office for Sustainable development of Underdeveloped Areas Sulejman Ugljanin and manager of the European Partnership with Municipalities Programme – PROGRES Graeme Tyndall today signed a Memorandum of Understanding.

Graeme Tyndall and Sulejman Ugljanin

Ugljanin told a press conference that this document defines joint activities of the Office for Sustainable Development of Underdeveloped Areas and the UN Office of Project Services in drafting project and technical documentation for infrastructure projects in 19 Serbian municipalities.

Our joint activities will be primarily aimed at drafting documentation for projects in economy, environmental protection and social infrastructure, as well as at the implementation of development projects of local and regional importance, the Minister observed.

Sulejman Ugljanin

He underlined that by signing the Memorandum of Understanding, the Office for Sustainable Development of Underdeveloped Areas has entered a partnership with the EU, the Swiss government and the UN Office of Project Services in their efforts to achieve a three-year “Programme to Develop Municipalities in Southern and South-western Serbia – PROGRES.”

He noted that there are 48 underdeveloped municipalities in Serbia struggling with poverty, unemployment, inadequate infrastructure and social services, as well as the problem of population migration to larger towns.

Graeme Tyndall

Tyndall said that this document marks the beginning of long-term cooperation with the Office for Sustainable Development of Underdeveloped Areas.

He stated that at yesterday’s meeting, PROGRES board of managers approved several projects concerning municipal development in Serbia, as well as an investment of €1.4 million by the EU and the Swiss government for development projects in 25 municipalities in southern and south-western Serbia.

The largest portion of funds, €480,000 to be exact, will be invested in the construction of utility infrastructure in the green zone in Leskovac, he specified.

The EU and the Swiss government will also endorse the construction and equipping of a centre for agricultural development of Pester with €220,000, thus improving conditions for production, storage and distribution of famous Pester products, Tyndall underlined.

Adriano Martins

Deputy Head of the EU Delegation o Serbia Adriano Martins recalled that since 2000, the EU has invested around €2.3 billion in the economic development of all regions in Serbia.

He also announced the EU will continue endorsing Serbia’s economic development because competitiveness of the Serbian economy is an important precondition for its EU integration.

Director of the Swiss Development and Cooperation Agency Beatrice Meyer specified that the Swiss government has financially backed Serbia through donations totalling around €250 million.

Switzerland extends financial aid to PROGRES, but that is not all; it also provides experts who share their knowledge and experience, Meyer concluded.