EU PROGRES

The second public call for funding local infrastructure projects in 25 municipalities in South and South-West Serbia, advertised by the European Partnership with Municipalities Programme – PROGRES, was closed on 1 August.

Sixteen local infrastructure project proposals were prepared and submitted by municipalities during the call.

The European Union and the Government of Switzerland have earmarked half a million Euros to fund projects selected as the best ones among the ones submitted within this call. The value of an individual project may not exceed 100,000 Euros and the successful municipalities will have to contribute to their implementation with at least 10 percent of the project value.

The funds will be used to support communal infrastructure projects such as the water supply, sewage and heating systems, social infrastructure projects, which can, inter alia, aim to improve the conditions in schools and kindergartens. The submitted economic infrastructure projects, aimed at attracting investors and opening new jobs, as well as environmental projects, shall also be evaluated.

Provision of financial support to local infrastructure projects will be linked to the review and, where necessary, improvement of the relevant local policies and practices in accordance with one or more good governance principles. For instance, the replacement of the water pumps will be accompanied by the review of the water management policies and practices.

PROGRES will evaluate the project proposals on the basis of administrative, programme and technical criteria by end October and select the ones that will be awarded the grants. The implementation of the projects is expected to begin during next construction season, in the spring of 2012.

The European Union and the Government of Switzerland have already extended support to the implementation of fourteen local infrastructure projects submitted within the first call for applications.