Job for more than 150 people by the end of March 2014 - Local trade in the south and southwest of Serbia profits EUR 7,5 mil through EU Progress program

In south and southwest Serbia, in the past three years, due toprojects funded by the European Union and the Government of Switzerland, 60 citizens got jobs with open end contracts and by March 2014, between150 and 200 people should get the job.

In that period, local commerce of this part of Serbia profited EUR 7,5 mil based on these projects, it was said on Wednesday (July, 17, 2013) in Bujanovac at the meeting of the Management Board of EU Progress program, through which EU and the Swiss government fund projects.

EU progress programme objective is to support development of 25municipalities of south and southwest Serbia, the announcement reminded.

For the implementation of the programme, EU will set aside EUR 14,1 mil EUR, Swiss Government EUR 2,5 mil while the SerbianGovernment participates with EUR 1,5 mil.

- After EU progress completion, next programe is in preparation. Therefore, local communities and other partners should participate and provide quality information through analysis of competitiveness of municipalities, non-aligned supply and demand offer - representative of EU, Andrew Heddy said.

He pointed out that "additional efforts should be invested to complete these projects within EU progress successfully estimating that these results will be the best recommendation for the following programme - EU Progress said.

The meeting also included topic on improvement of life in the south and southwest Serbia so that " 25.000 citizens have access to better health protection".

It was mentioned also that "14.770 direct users in Sjenica, Lebane, Trgoviste felt benefits of water supplying project and that 6.600 students and employees now have better teaching conditions".

The announcement says that due to these projects, "1200 Roma people obtained access to education, employment and health protection".

Members of the Management Board approved a financial support of EUR 405.820 for the project of promotion of gender equality based on the initiative of the Swiss agency for cooperation in Serbia.

A total of USD 40.000 were approved for the analysis of non- complying supply and demand at the labour market while the detailed regulation plan development for Ribnice zone in Vranje, a project totaling EUR 20.088 was approved.

Project of procurement of computer program for monitoring of public property of local self-governances, totaling EUR 62.000 EUR will be approved.

Project totaling EUR 67.935 was approved for expert training in industry of textile, clothes, footwear in Novi Pazar, Paska, and Tutin and Sjenica.

Basically, projects supporting social inclusion of the most vulnerable social groups (EUR 27.700 ), the Regional center for Mentally Disabled People in Novi Pazar (EUR 51.145 ) and procurement of equipment for maternity hospital in Presevo.

Members of the Management Board of EU progress delivered to the Bujanovac municipality representative, Nagip Arifi, the main project for multi-purpose recycling center and the following infrastructure in Bujanovac which is an important prerequisite for the beginning of construction.