EU to support 37 local projects with EUR 4.5 million, energy efficiency measures included

The European Union, through the EU PRO development programme, will finance with the amount of EUR 4.5 million the implementation of local infrastructure projects in 37 municipalities with the aim of improving the quality of life of the population. The projects include energy efficiency measures as well as upgrades of water supply, the sewerage network, and public lighting.

A total of 46 project proposals were submitted for the Public Call, which was open from April 26 to June 29, 2018, whereas one of the necessary conditions for applying was the construction permit and the financial share of a minimum 15% of the project value, the EU Delegation to Serbia said on its website.

Municipalities in the region of Šumadija and Western Serbia and the region of Southern and Eastern Serbia will contribute EUR 1.6 million, with the estimated overall budget of all of the 37 projects amounting to EUR 6.1 million.

The projects, approved by the Programme Steering Committee on the basis of administrative, programme, and technical evaluation of the proposals, will primarily improve the conditions in sport and cultural facilities, schools and kindergartens, and health care and social protection institutions, while also improving the utility infrastructure, which will particularly contribute to better living conditions of the vulnerable groups.

As a result, learning and working conditions in schools and kindergartens will be improved in Leskovac, Merošina, Prokuplje, Sjenica, and Smederevo, while special focus will be on energy efficiency and safety of the facilities. Energy efficiency measures include the reconstruction of heating systems, replacement of joinery, and thermal insulation of facades.

The utility infrastructure, i.e. water supply systems, sewage networks and public lighting will be improved in 10 Programme municipalities as follows: Aleksinac, Boljevac, Bosilegrad, Bujanovac, Doljevac, Kučevo, Kuršumlija, Raška, Trgovište, and Valjevo, while the Social Work Center in Žabari and the Health Center in Žagubica will be reconstructed with the support of the European Union.

The population, particularly children and youth, of Bela Palanka, Babušnica, Batočina, Čajetina, Dimitrovgrad, Golubac, Kragujevac, Kraljevo, Knjaževac, Ljubovija, Priboj, Prijepolje, Požega, Rekovac, Surdulica, Svilajnac, Šabac, Užice, Velika Plana, and Vladičin Han, will obtain adequate conditions for playing sports after the reconstruction or construction of sport and cultural facilities, while the cultural options at the local level will be improved.