Government of the Republic of Serbia
The European Union has allocated EUR 284million for cross-border and transnational projects in which Serbia can participate for the budget period 2014-2020. The Fourth Regional Forum where countries of Wester Balkans were able to discuss how these funds can be used efficiently was held in Belgrade on 23 February. Schools, playgrounds, improving tourism, flood prevention are some of the main projects that will be funded from the Cross-border Cooperation Programme.
The European Integration Office stated that for the budget period 2014-2020 Serbia had the most funds available for cooperation with Romania – EUR 74.9 million, and added that these funds are divided between the participating countries, and in order to use them they need to develop projects. The budget for the cooperation with Hungary is EUR 65.1 million, with Croatia EUR 34.2 million, Bulgaria EUR 28.9 million, Bosnia and Herzegovina EUR 14 million, Montenegro EUR 8.4 million, and with the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia more than EUR 4 million. Apart from this, Serbia will participate in transnational cooperation programmes, Adriatic-Ionian programme EUR 15.7 million, and Danube programme EUR 19.8 million.
Minister without Portfolio in Charge of European Integration, Jadranka Joksimović stated at the meeting that this type of cooperation brought concrete benefits to citizens, and thus increased citizens’ support for the European integration, but also it contributed to building relationships in the region. Joksimović added that in order for the funds to be more efficiently spent the capacity of the state administration and the local self-government had to be strengthened.
The European Integration Office told reporters that in the previous seven-year budget period for cross-border and transnational cooperation the allocation was around EUR 180 million, out of which Serbia used around EUR 80 million. The funds for this budget period are still being used.
Written by S.V., taken from www.euractiv.rs
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