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The Government of the Republic of Serbia

In the service of citizens

Neighbourhood programme launched

Belgrade, 18 January 2005

Serbian Minister of International Economic Relations Milan Parivodic today announced the start to a European Union programme for support to inter-regional cooperation called "Neighbourhood Programme".

Author: Tanjug

Parivodic told a press conference that the aim of the programme, which is carried out through the European Agency for Reconstruction (EAR), is to balance the development of countries belonging to the EU to their neighbouring countries.

According to Parivodic, four neighbourhood programmes for the 2004-2006 period have been approved for Serbia-Montenegro, with cooperation extending to Hungary, Bulgaria, Romania and Italy.

The Neighbourhood Programme’s funds, financed through the EU, will be directly allocated to individuals and legal entities whose projects win at public competitions to be held throughout the course of the year.

The programmes involving Serbia-Montenegro working with Hungary and Bulgaria will cost €2 million each, the same set aside for the Adriatic Neighbourhood Programme, which is the cooperation programme with Italy. Parivodic added that cross-border projects with Romania will be financed with €2.2 million.

According to the minister, the programmes that can apply for competition include the fields of economy, tourism, education, technological development, environmental protection, and social and cultural advancement.

The EAR Programme Manager said that the annual allocation for these programmes is €15 million, of which Serbia receives €3 million. However, as other countries are receiving more, an additional €7 million will be allocated to Serbia.

The Programme Manager said that the funds are not limited and that they can be increased if enough quality programmes can be formed.

All information necessary for the preparation of projects that will compete for assistance under the Neighbourhood Programme can be obtained at the Serbian Ministry of International Economic Relations.