Strong accomplishments in strengthening Serbian local governments - 10-06-10

After three years, the Municipal Support Programme, North East Serbia (MSPNE) has come to an end (http://www.mspne-serbia.org/). This EU-funded project of approx. € 7mln was implemented by VNG International, in consortium with GTZ, ICON Institute, Halifax, DCG Consulting and MEPCO.

A few accomplishments have been:
• 17 municipalities from Banat and Branicevo-Podunavlje region embraced by the Municipal Planning process;
• 29 Local Municipal Tax Administration units were established and successfully collected 15 million Euros in 2009;
• 1 new Regional Development Agency was established in Branicevo-Podunavlje;
• 30  projects of non-investment character developed to the mature stage and applied for funding in both regions in the total amount of € 6.754.888;
• € 13.5 million were contracted by the EU Delegation for four infrastructure projects in the following municipalities: Zrenjanin, Pozarevac, Petrovac and Vrsac;
• 1400 new jobs will be created in Vrsac Technology Park and Zrenjanin industrial zone in next 2 years;
• MSPNE supported the development of the network of trainers of the Standing Conference of Town and Municipalities (SCTM) Training centre.

The success of the project was celebrated at its final conference in Belgrade on May 20th 2010 (http://www.mspne-serbia.org/finalconference/), and reiterated in the speeches of the Serbian Deputy Prime Minister for European Integration and Minister of Science and Technology (Mr. Bozidar Djelic), the Serbian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Regional Development (Mr. Mladjan Dinkic), the Head of the Delegation of the European Union to the Republic of Serbia (Mr. Vincent Degert), and the Secretary General of Standing Conference of Towns and Municipalities (Mr. Djordje Stanicic).