The EU PRO Development Programme will also work to strengthen social inclusion and cohesion, as well as improve the work of 99 local self-governments in the Šumadija region in central Serbia, and in municipalities in the western, southern and eastern areas of the country.

“This programme will support local self-governments in improving the knowledge and skills needed to implement future initiatives financed by donors, especially the European Union (EU),” said Graeme Tyndall, UNOPS Serbia Manager.

“This is a partnership – all of the municipalities will work to prepare good projects, as well as promote and increase the visibility of European Union funds received by local self-governments,” said Jadranka Joksimović, Serbia’s Minister of European Integration.

The three-year, 25 million Euro programme will contribute to attracting investments, creating jobs and increasing the competitiveness of small and medium enterprises.

“EU PRO will have a leading role locally to support micro- and small enterprises, which are the backbone of the economy – not just in Serbia, but in Europe as a whole,” said EU Ambassador to Serbia Sem Fabrizi.

Financed by the EU, the EU PRO programme will be implemented by UNOPS in cooperation with the Government of Serbia. It builds on the work of the European PROGRES and EU PROGRES programmes (funded by the EU and the Governments of Serbia and Switzerland). Both programmes were  implemented by UNOPS in partnership with the Government of Serbia.