Minister of European Integration Jadranka Joksimović has spoken with the regional director of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) responsible for the Western Balkans, Zsuzsanna Hargitai, on Serbia’s development through the European integration process.
There is a need, and mutual desire, to enable greater access to favourable loans the Bank allocates for the development of small and medium-sized enterprises through coordinated approach to EU funds (IPA 2018) and EBRD funds, for the sake of the economic development of local areas, as well as infrastructure, energy efficiency, environment etc.
Underlining that the amount of EC grants for Serbia should be greater than it has been so far, Joksimović agrees with the need for an efficient model of combining IPA grants and EBRD loans.
In addition, the necessity for further cooperation on the realisation of energy efficiency projects has also been emphasised.
The Minister of European Integration has, in that sense, stressed the importance of those projects, while her initiative has been recognised and supported by international financial institutions and the EC.
Joksimović has informed Zsuzsanna Hargitai on the fact that the Ministry of European Integration and the Development Agency of Serbia have signed a Memorandum of Cooperation, which relates to the coordination of activities and finding financial source for projects at the local level, through the network of regional development agencies. The Minister has explained that this will contribute to better identification of the needs of small and medium-sized enterprises at the local level.
Zsuzsanna Hargitai has stated that a significant amount EBRD funds intended for regional initiatives is being allocated for the needs of Serbia, which, as she has stressed, proves a more serious capacity of Serbian institutions compared to the region.
Source: Government of the Republic of Serbia
Photo: Tanjug
