The EU PRO development program issued a public call to support projects that should contribute to the competitiveness and sustainability of small and medium-sized enterprises and entrepreneurs in the region of Sumadija and Western Serbia and South and East Serbia.

The European Union (EU) will provide a total of 600,000 euros to finance the projects that will support companies in improving production processes and the quality of products and services, but also in the certification and introduction of relevant standards and concrete activities aimed at conquering new markets.

Regional development agencies, business incubators, science and technology parks, clusters, business associations, chambers of commerce, as well as research and higher education institutions from the territory covered by the EU PRO program have the right to participate in the call, which is open until July 10, 2019.

“Since one of the key priorities of the Government of the Republic of Serbia is to promote sustainable regional development, the EU PRO program will provide support to business  organizations in order to improve the competitiveness and productivity of small and medium-sized enterprises in less developed parts of Serbia, "said Jadranka Joksimovic, the Minister for European Integration of the Government of the Republic of Serbia.

In this way, the European Union supports the improvement of competitiveness and the strengthening of Serbian companies in order to integrate them into a demanding European market that provides great business opportunities, but that also requires high standards and a willingness to compete with the competition.

Within the call, individual projects of organizations can receive support in the amount of 10,000 to 30,000 euros, while partner projects of two or more organizations can be supported with a maximum amount of 50,000 euros. According to the terms of the call, profit organizations need to financially contribute ten percent of the value of the project.

“The EU PRO Program also encourages business support organizations to develop and propose activities in their project proposals that will have a wider social impact on communities, providing examples to support vulnerable groups or through environmental action activities, "said Olivera Kostic, the EU PRO Program Manager. 

The EU PRO development program will be holding info sessions on the public call for business support organizations from May 29 to June 19, 2019.

THE SCHEDULE OF HOLDING INFO SESSIONS IN SOUTH SERBIA

• Vranje
  Wednesday, at 11 am on May 29, Hotel “Ponte Bianco”, Branislava Nusica 2
• Nis
  Wednesday, at 11 am on June 19, Hotel New City, Vozda Karadjordja 12
• On-line info session   
  Friday,  June 21

Local self-governments covered by the program include the municipalities of Presevo, Bujanovac and Medvedja, too.    

Further information on the call, the selection criteria, the way of applying, as well as on the location and time of holding info sessions is available on the EU PRO’s website:  https://www.eupro.org.rs/ktext/public-call-for-proposals-for-business-support-organisations

Source: www.eupro.org.rs  and Coordination Body