J. Joksimović: EUR 21.6 million from WBIF for project preparation

August 18 2020 | Belgrade

J. Joksimović: EUR 21.6 million from WBIF for project preparation

Minister of European Integration, Jadranka Joksimović had sent a project proposal for technical assistance within the Western Balkans Investment Framework in the amount of EUR 21.6 million, as announced from her cabinet.

As mentioned, the proposed projects relate to the areas of transport, energy, environment and social infrastructure.

“What makes this even more significant is the fact that for some of these projects we have applied for funds from IPA III 2021 and 2022, hence it is also very important that we can apply for grants from the Western Balkans Investment Framework as regards the preparation of the documentation”, said Joksimović, who is also National IPA Coordinator.

She added that in the past couple of weeks, there had been active engagement in the preparation of the application for obtaining technical assistance, that would, as she said, ensure grants for preparation of the lacking documentation and preparation of the infrastructural projects and their investment realisation.

“We have carefully examined strategic priorities in these areas and opted for those which, when realised, would ensure the development of capital infrastructure and contribute to the realisation of key development investments in various parts of Serbia and its connectivity with neighbouring markets”, said Joksimović. 

In her words, all project preparation proposals in the area of energy and transport are in accordance with the Connectivity Agenda, which significantly contributes to the socio-economic development and strengthening of economic cooperation in the region.

She emphasised that in the area of transport the proposals relate to the preparation of projects which have significant strategic importance for the Republic of Serbia and which refer to the reconstruction and modernisation of the railway sections Stalać-Kraljevo-Rudnica and Doljevac-Merdare, as well as continuation of construction of Niš-Merdare highway, section Pločnik-Merdare. 

“Reconstruction of the referred railways and construction of highway will significantly contribute to the development of Moravica, Raška, Rasina, Toplica and Niš district and overall regional development of the Republic of Serbia. Niš-Merdare highway, as part of the basic indicative trans-European transport network, will have the same rating on the EU maps as Corridor X which was constructed by Serbia”, said Joksimović. 

In the area of energy, the proposed projects’ preparation will improve the existing procedure of connecting to the network of renewable energy resources (wind, biomass, solar power), additionally fortify the stability of electric power systems and enable better cooperation with other operational centres for transmission systems in Europe. 

In the area of environment, the preparation of the project “Construction of wastewater treatment plant in Batajnica” was proposed, which is of great importance for the City of Belgrade, since it would also include municipalities Surčin and Zemun, as well as smaller neighbouring settlements. 

This project will have an impact on the quality of environment standards for over 113,000 people and it is expected that the constriction of this plant will commence by the end of 2021. 

In the area of social infrastructure, the proposal for preparation of the documentation refers to the project contributing to the strengthening of university education capacities. The project envisages the reconstruction of the existing and construction of new buildings within the scope of the faculties and institutes in Belgrade, Novi Sad, Niš, Kragujevac and Čačak.

In December 2020, the Management Board of the Western Balkans Investment Framework will pass a final decision as to which project proposals would be receiving support.

Source: Tanjug