EU PROGRES

European Partnership with Municipalities - PROGRES, a development programme funded by the European Union and the Government of Switzerland, marked its first anniversary by a series of activities to present the results it has achieved to the public.

During the central event, which rallied the representatives of the local self-governments and civil society, Programme Manager Graeme Tyndall said: “The European Union and the Government of Switzerland have earmarked around 1.6 million Euros via PROGRES over the past year to support projects aimed at improving the lives of the people living in South West Serbia. Our partners, primarily the municipalities, now need to focus on the implementation of the approved projects in accordance with good governance principles: accountably, transparently and efficiently, by involving the citizens and taking their interests into account.”

During its first year of work, PROGRES has, inter alia, supported the implementation of twenty projects, designed by the civil society and local self-governments together, and primarily endeavouring to improve the status of youths and vulnerable social groups. Some envisage the provision of free legal aid to the residents of Novi Pazar and the neighbouring municipalities and support the work on advancing gender equality.

PROGRES has approved funds for implementing seven municipal infrastructural projects and provided support for the design of technical documentation for the priority local projects. Furthermore, it has provided assistance in the design of nine urban plans, which are prerequisite for infrastructural development.

Speaking about PROGRES’ work, Zibija Šarenkapić, the Director of the NGO DamaD, said: „PROGRES initiated exactly what we had hoped international organisations and programmes would - to hear and respond to community needs. That is a quality we did not have before. This Programme is helping local self-governments and the civil society to apply European procedures, it is helping us acquire the knowledge we need to work in keeping with European Union standards.” 

PROGRES officials awarded two grant contracts during the ceremony: one to replace the Novi Pazar High School heating boilers and the other to help agricultural development on Pešter. The European Union will earmark 313,170 and the partner municipalities 82,000 Euros for the implementation of these two projects.

At the end of the event, PROGRES staff presented their own donation of 27,300 dinars to support the Spajalica Fund, which will award scholarships to the best Novi Pazar college students.   

In the afternoon, the residents of Novi Pazar strolling in the city pedestrian area had the opportunity to obtain more information about the Programme at the PROGRES info stand and take part in a small competition and win prizes. 

The celebration of Programme’s first anniversary concluded with the Pazar Sofra, a cultural event which was this year supported by PROGRES. The guests enjoyed the delicacies of the Novi Pazar cuisine as two choirs, Đulistan and Rašanke, performed their eclectic repertoires.

The Programme of European Partnership with Municipalities – PROGRES, financially supported by the European Union (14.1 million Euros), the Government of Switzerland (2.5 million Euros) and the Government of the Republic of Serbia (1.5 million Euros), is implemented in 25 South and South West Serbian municipalities and aims at supporting their social and economic development.