Priboj – Michael Davenport, the Head of the EU Delegation to Serbia, who participated in the tenth meeting of the Managing Board of the European Progress development program, said that Brussels would continue to support a balanced regional and local development in Serbia.

Mr. Davenport pointed out that it was necessary for all the partners, especially the municipalities and cities, to put efforts into implementing all the launched projects, so that the life of the residents of 34 municipalities in the southeastern and southwestern parts of Serbia could improve.

He said that the EU was satisfied with the outcome of 86 projects that had been completed until then, among which he emphasized the support provided to women's entrepreneurship and partnership projects of civil society organizations and municipalities, which enabled the creation of over 60 jobs and the economic empowerment of several  dozens of families. He underscored that important projects were focused on youth employment and women, but also on the strengthening of small and medium-sized enterprises in that part of Serbia, so that they could become more successful and create new jobs.  

"We expect that the EU, through this program, will contribute to the creation of more than a thousand jobs over the next few years," the Head of the EU Delegation to Serbia said.

He underlined that it was important for the municipalities to continue implementing the reforms, developing the projects and establishing the best teams for the implementation of those projects, and that the EU, the Swiss government and the UNOPS would be willing to provide assistance.

During the meeting, the Managing Board of "Progress" approved financial support for the seven projects run by agricultural associations and cooperatives, the total value of which is 208,000 euros, which are aimed at improving agricultural productivity and empowering rural households.

Also approved was the funding of 18 projects of support to the local mechanisms for gender equality in the amount of 52,500 euros, the implementation of which should contribute to improving the position of women and their economic empowerment. It was stressed that gender equality was one of the basic values ​​of the European Union and that women, as well as their families and local communities, were economically empowered through that initiative. 

Source: Radio and Television of Serbia and Coordination Body