Minister of European Integration Jadranka Joksimović has awarded in Sofia today contracts for programmes of cross-border cooperation between Serbia and Bulgaria, emphasising that Serbia’s regional development, in addition to introducing mandatory standards and social progress, is one of the main topics of European integration.
In Sofia, Joksimović has met with Bulgarian Minister of Regional Development and Public Works Petya Avramova and has awarded contracts for the Second Call of the INTERREG – IPA Programme within cross border cooperation between Serbia and Bulgaria 2014-2020.
The total value of the Programme with national co-financing is EUR 34.1 million, of which EUR 28.9 million comes from the EU Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance (IPA II). These funds will be used to finance joint projects of Serbian and Bulgarian partners that strengthen economic cooperation in the border programme area through sustainable use of natural and cultural resources.
In Serbia, projects will be implemented in Niš, Leskovac, Soko Banja, Merošina, Trgovište, Boljevac, Negotin, Bela Palanka and Lebane. The projects will be related to the following priority cooperation areas: sustainable tourism, youth and environmental protection.
Joksimović has said that Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov and Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić confirmed at the yesterday’s meeting their mutual commitment to strengthening all forms of cooperation between the two countries, while she and the Bulgarian Minister have shown today how Serbia and Bulgaria also cooperate in the use of EU funds, to the benefit of citizens.
Minister Joksimović has said that Serbia has seven cross-border projects with seven neighbouring countries, adding that it is a fact that the programme with Bulgaria is one of the best, with the largest number of realised projects.
“I hope that today's event is another confirmation that we will continue successful cooperation in the upcoming period, from 2021 to 2027, where we will strive to jointly prioritise and find strategically important projects for our two countries and, above all, for underdeveloped areas”, said Joksimović.
She has stated that the two ministries are intensively communicating in order to find projects that are strategically important for both countries and their citizens, adding that she believes that the projects awarded today, which have proven as the most successful in a huge competition, will bring concrete benefits to districts in Serbia and Bulgaria and to the citizens.
The Minister has said that Serbia is very interested in benefiting from Bulgaria’s experiences, which, despite problems at the beginning, learnt to use EU funds and today stands as a country that, as a member state, maybe does it best.
“We are interested in learning both from the mistakes and from the good things that have been done in the meantime, so as to fully prepare for Serbia’s EU membership, which is our goal and which we, without specifying the year, expect in the future”, said Joksimović, adding that Serbia should primarily be ready for a balanced regional development through the use of EU funds.
She has emphasised that all who were awarded projects have a reliable partner in the Ministry of European Integration, adding that she believes that those projects will also encourage others to participate in the cooperation programme.
Joksimović has explained that Serbia has an established network of 16 regional development projects that, in the upcoming period, will take on the role of assistance to local self-governments and stakeholders in preparing good projects that will be competitive and that will be able to draw funds.
She has further stressed that it would be good for representatives of the two countries’ municipalities to meet and stay in contact, in order to cooperate and have greater chances to attract funds from the European funds, owing to good projects.
Joksimović has underlined that Bulgaria has demonstrated sincere support to Serbia’s European path, but also that Serbia has demonstrated responsibility and maturity.
“We are showing that we are a serious candidate for membership and that our commitment to the European path is clear, despite the political problems that exist in the EU and on our path. Serbia’s regional development and regional agenda is the main topic of European integration, in addition to introducing mandatory standards and social progress, and we as a society must work on this”, said Joksimović.
She has stressed her belief that Bulgaria will be a good neighbour to Serbia, and vice versa, adding that interpersonal and bilateral relations will be improved in order to do as much as possible for the citizens and the two countries.
Joksimović has invited Minister of Regional Development and Public Works Petya Avramova to come to Serbia, where they together could visit some of the good projects on both sides.
In Serbia, projects will be implemented in Niš, Leskovac, Soko Banja, Merošina, Trgovište, Boljevac, Negotin, Bela Palanka and Lebane. The project will be related to the following priority cooperation areas: sustainable tourism, youth and environmental protection.
The Minister wished the beneficiaries from Serbia success in the realisation of their projects, conveying that strict monitoring will be conducted regarding the use of funds for project implementation.
Source: Tanjug
