Tim za socijalno uključivanje i smanjenje siromaštva

EU Delegation Head of Sector II Operations  Steffen Hudolin is visiting Bojnik, Lebane, Prokuplje, Vranje and Bujanovac on 29 and 30 September, where he will tour the projects financially supported by the European Union and the Government of Switzerland through European PROGRES programme which contribute to bossting local economies and job creation as well as the development of social inclusion and good governance.

Hudolin: Flood protecton at the top of EU priorities

During the first day of his visit to South Serbia Steffen Hudolin saw in Bojnik works on anti-erosion protection on the Pusta Reka river basin. The works include the constructon of anti-erosion barriers on the territories of the municipalities Bojnik, Lebane and Prokuplje and are funded by the European Union and Swiss Government, through the European PROGRES development programme with EUR200,000.

As he pointed out, the EU was supporting Serbia not only in flood rehabilitation and recovery, but also by investing considerable funds in prevention measures.

“Flood protection is among EU priorities in relation to Serbia’s development. By building anti-erosion barriers the local population and their property are protected from floods, also contributing to the unhindered development of this part of the country,” said Steffen Hudolin.

The project is implemented in cooperation with the Niš Water Supply Centre Morava, encompassing the construction of six barriers at critical points in Bojnik municipality, five on the territory of Prokuplje, as well as barriers on two locations in the Lebane municipality.

“The construction of anti-erosion barriers has already proven to be an efficient protection system against floods in West Serbia, in case of the river Raška and its tributaries, because they saved Novi Pazar from floods in 2014 and 2016. Investing in preventive flood protection measures is cost-effective and reduces the costs of damage recovery,” said Graeme Tyndall, European PROGRES Manager.

“Due to heavy rainfall during spring and autumn, the river has often flooded, threatening the population and flooding agricultural land. The barriers under construction will serve as an efficient defence from floods, erosion and landslides,” said President of Bojnik municipality, Nebojša Nenadović.

Entrepreneurship tackling social issues

During his visit to Lebane, EU Delegation Head of Sector II Operations, Steffen Hudolin, visited Radanska Ruža, the first social enterprise in Jablanički District, set up thorugh the support from of the European Union and Swiss Government through European PROGRES. The project was implemented jointly by the Women’s Association Ruža and Lebane Municipality, whereas the donors provided nearly EUR20,000 for the renovation and equipping the facilities whose beneficiaries are now the women from the most vulnerable social groups.

Hudolin pointed out that the projects such as the one gave the best example of the best European values – inclusion of vulnerable groups and partnership among the NGO sector, local self-governments and the international community.

“Social inclusion is one of the basic principles promoted by the European Union, and this project represents inclusion as per European standards as the vulnerable groups are being included in work flows, allowing us to better understand the obstacles that can stand in the way to inclusion and learn how to overcome them. We are proud to see this type of European Union support contributing to local communities,” added Hudolin.

“It is particularly important that we have attained the true aim of social entrepreneurship – not only profit, but also addressing important social issues, such as in this case unemployment among vulnerable groups,” said European PROGRES Manager Graeme Tyndall.

The number of women from Lebane who have permanent employment in Ruža increased from five to 13, and another 20 are temporarily engaged, generating income for themselves and their families.

“We have developed a good model for a social enterprise, and what is ahead of us in the coming period is to fight for the Law on Social Enterprises, in order to help their development and survival on the market,” said Predrag Stosic, the Director of Radanska Ruža enterprise.

“With the new support from the European Union and the Swiss Government to the tune of EUR15,000, we plan to develop organic production in five households by conducting training and purchasing equipment, but also to ensure stable placement of our products, such as ajvar or rosehip jam,” said Association Ruža President, Slobodanka Pavlovic.

Standards of good agricutultural practice

EU Delegation Head of Operations II Steffen Hudolin ended the first day of his visit to South Serbia with a tour of the company for purchase, processing and distribution of forest and agricultural products, Strela Klajic. The company, through the support provided by the European Union and the Swiss Government to the South Serbia Regional Fruit Cluster, in the amount of EUR30,000, improved energy efficiency in the production process. Also, through European PROGRES, they will introduce the GLOBAL GAP good agricultural practice standard, which will enable Strela to expand to new markets, while ensuring consumers’s trust in the safety of products.

On 30 September, the second day of the visit, EU Delegation Head of Sector II Operations, Steffen Hudolin, will visit Vranje and Bujanovac.

The European Union and the Government of Switzerland will support the activities of the European PROGRESS programme, which contributes to the sustainable development of the South and South West Serbia, with a total of EUR24.46 million. Approved projects will be aimed at strengthening local administration, creating a favourable environment for the development of infrastructure and economy as well as improving the implementation of social inclusion and employment policy. The programme is implemented by the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS).

The municipalities included in the programme are as follows: Novi Pazar, Ivanjica, Nova Varos, Priboj, Prijepolje, Raska, Sjenica and Tutin in South West Serbia, as well as Prokuplje, Blace, Zitoradja, Kursumlija, Leskovac, Bojnik, Vlasotince, Lebane, Medvedja, Crna Trava, Vranje, Bosilegrad, Bujanovac, Vladicin Han, Presevo, Surdulica, Trgoviste, Brus, Aleksinac, Gadzin Han, Doljevac, Merosina, Svrljig, Babusnica, Bela Palanka and Knjazevac in South East Serbia.

Source: europa.rs