J. Joksimović: The beginning of IPA III 2021–2027 programming

May 18 2020 | Belgrade

J. Joksimović: The beginning of IPA III 2021–2027 programming

Minister of European Integration, National IPA Coordinator and Coordinator of Donor and Development Assistance Jadranka Joksimović has sent an official notification to responsible ministries and institutions, marking the beginning of the development of IPA Programme for 2021 and 2022 that will be financed from the new EU Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance for the period 2021–2027 (IPA III).

The Ministry of European Integration (MEI), as an institution in charge of coordinating IPA programming, will, in cooperation with responsible institutions, identify a preliminary list of project priorities that, by the end of June, will be proposed to the European Commission (EC) for financing from the IPA budget for 2021 and 2022, stated Joksimović.

Joksimović has emphasised that, according to the EC proposal, the European Union should ensure EUR 14.5 billion in grants for the Western Balkans and Turkey from this instrument by 2027. The grants will be used to finance projects that contribute to the implementation of political, economic and institutional reforms and progress in the European integration process.
According to her, through projects in the area of public administration reforms, rule of law, competitiveness, agriculture, education, employment, healthcare, energy, transport and environmental protection, the Republic of Serbia will be actively preparing, on one hand, for additional strengthening of capacities at the local level and for much larger resources from EU structural funds that will be available to Serbia when it becomes an EU member.

On the other hand, the projects that will be selected and implemented in the following years will significantly contribute to balancing Serbia’s regional development, encourage local economic development, create new jobs, and promote a sustainable socio-economic policy through new ways and economic areas, based on knowledge, environmental protection, digitisation, and smart growth, stated the Minister.

“All this has shown that Serbia, as a country in the accession process, has even so far demonstrated significant capacities for the implementation of projects financed from EU grants, as well as for participating in numerous EU common sector policies. European integration is not only a strategic priority, but also a part of the national development strategy, while the EU is our continuous and systemic partner,” said Joksimović.

Source: Tanjug