EU PROGRES

Head of the European Delegation Ambassador Vincent Degert today presented to the presidents of the municipalities of Prokuplje, Blace, Kuršumlija and Žitorađa the contracts on grants awarded via the European Partnership with Municipalities Programme – PROGRES for the implementation of seven infrastructural projects worth 646,000 Euros in all. These contracts envisage: the reconstruction of the outpatient health unit in Barbatovac and the reconstruction of the sanitary block in the Blace primary school, the construction of the central laboratory and completion of the work on the sports hall in Kuršumlija, the reconstruction of the parking lot of the Outpatient Health Clinic and regulation of the Straževačka River in Prokuplje, and the construction of the sports stadium grandstands in Žitorađa. The European Union and the Government of Switzerland will earmark 570,000 Euros, while the municipalities will contribute an additional 76,000 Euros for the implementation of these projects. The work is expected to begin in early August and all seven projects will be completed within the following year.

“Major challenges and numerous opportunities lie ahead of us. All levels of government need to do more in the field of strategic development planning. The European Union is the largest donor to the Republic of Serbia and invests 200 million Euros in it every year. This is understandable because Serbia is in Europe,” EU Ambassador Vincent Degert said at today’s meeting in Prokuplje.  

European Partnership with Municipalities Programme PROGRES Manager Graeme Tyndall said that today’s meeting was mostly about infrastructure, which was just one of the areas the Programme focused on. “There are many other opportunities for development projects. It is up to us to help improve the planning, good governance and the promotion of these areas. And it is up to the municipalities to spearhead overall development,” Tyndall said.

During his visit to Prokuplje, Ambassador Degert met with the presidents of the Toplica District municipalities and attended the training the Workers’ University has organised for adult Roma trainees to boost their skills and knowledge that will help them find jobs. The training of 15 Roma trainees is funded by the European Union and the Government of Switzerland via PROGRES.  Ambassador Degert also strolled down the main city seat and visited the St. Prokopije Church.

PROGRES is implemented in 25 South and South West Serbian municipalities with the aim of helping the partner municipalities improve their infrastructure, the quality of the services they offer citizens and businesses, upgrade their work in accordance with the principles of good governance, and promote their development potentials. The European Union will earmark 14.1 million Euros, the Government of Switzerland 2.5 million Euros and the Government of the Republic of Serbia will contribute 1.5 million Euros for PROGRES, which is implemented by the United Nations Office for Project Services – UNOPS.