Improving the playingfeeld for businesses

The European Union Local Development Programme EU PRO Plus, which is implemented in cooperation with the Ministry of European Integration, has published a Public Call for Economic Infrastructure Projects. The EU allocated 4.8 million Euros for this activity in order to improve the conditions for investments in production, services and tourism and create new jobs in the regions of Šumadija and Western Serbia and Southern and Eastern Serbia.

The 99 local self-governments included in the EU PRO Plus programme are eligible to apply with the projects related to the construction or reconstruction, as well as infrastructure equipment of industrial zones, science and technology parks, business incubators, tourist zones, as well as projects for the development of technical documentation in support of economic infrastructure.

"The Government of Serbia has been continuously investing efforts in creating conditions for economic growth and achieving balanced development of the country, while this EU support will contribute to strengthening the competitiveness of local self-governments and local economy. With the EU grants cities and municipalities now have the opportunity to improve economic infrastructure in industrial zones, their tourist infrastructure and thus create conditions for new investments and new jobs," said Jadranka Joksimović, Minister of European Integration. As she added, in this way, local self-governments build their capacity, prepare project documentation and then use European funds for improving the quality of life of the people in their communities. 

"The European Union provides support for the economic development of Serbia and with special focus given to the less developed parts of the country, where it is important to create a favorable business environment for investments and the possibility of employment. By offering new opportunities and jobs to people, especially youth will be encouraged to stay living and working in the places where they were born and revive the economic perspectives of these beautiful parts of Serbia," said the Head of the Delegation of the European Union in Serbia, Ambassador Emanuele Giaufret.

Within the total budget of the Call, the amount of 3.4 million Euros is allocated for development of industrial zones, science and technology parks, innovation centres or business incubators, while one million Euros are allocated to support the development of sustainable tourism. Local self-governments will also be able to apply for support for the development of technical documentation for the purpose of developing economic infrastructure, that is, for the development of projects for building permits, project execution designs and feasibility studies, for which the EU allocated 400,000 Euros. The local self-governments themselves, in proportion to the level of development, should provide funds for co-financing in the amount of 10 percent of the total value of the project of the municipalities belonging to the fourth category, or 15, 20 or 30 percent for a self-government belonging to the third, second and first category, respectively. 

The Public Call will be conducted in two phases, with the first phase implying the submission of the concept of the project proposal, while in the second phase only applicants whose concept was positively evaluated in the first phase should submit a complete application.

More information about this call as well as application documentation is available on the EU PRO Plus programme website, Public call for business infrastructure projects. The deadline for submitting the concept (first phase) is extended until 31 October 2022.