06/28/2021
Closing conference of the Exchange 5 Programme
Closing conference of the Exchange 5 Programme will be organised on Tuesday, 6 July 2021, beginning at 13:00 hours in Belgrade, at the Mona Plaza Hotel, “Donji Dorćol“ hall on the first floor, at the following address: Cara Uroša 62- 64. The Programme is funded by the European Union (EU) from IPA 2015 allocation, and implemented by the Ministry of Public Administration and Local Self-Government (MPALSG) in cooperation with the Ministry of Finance/ Department for Contracting and Financing of EU- funded Programmes and Standing Conference of Towns and Municipalities- Association of Local authorities in Serbia (SCTM) as implementing partner.
The Exchange 5 Programme is a part of the ongoing reforms implemented by the Republic of Serbia with the support of the European Union in improving governance in local self- government (LSG) and the level of service delivery in towns and municipalities aiming at fostering local development. The topics addressed under the Exchange 5 Programme comprising two (2) components directly serve local reform processes include: support in efficient property management (component 1) and support in strategic planning and programme budgeting (component 2).
The Programme has been implemented since April 2017 via different support modalities. Within component one, grant scheme was delivered to award grants for 18 projects in the property management domain covering 48 local self- government units (LSGU) with local partners. In this area, expert support packages were implemented with additional 20 LSGs selected based on the open call. Under Programme component two, 12 selected LSGs have received support in improving programme and capital budgeting processes and their linking with the development planning frameworks. The Programme provided ongoing advisory support to all LSGs in Serbia, LSG capacity building through accredited trainings and instructive seminars, modelling of local acts and coordination with the competent line institutions. The total approved Programme Budget amounted to EUR 4.75 million: EUR 4.45 million from the EU contribution (EUR 3 million was the grant scheme fund for implementation of local projects in the area of property management, and EUR 1.45 million was a direct grant to support the implementation of both Programme components), while the amount of EUR 0.3 million EUR was the co-financing by LSGs within the grant scheme.
Local self- governments play an important role in the European integration process, both in regard to implementation of standards and values proclaimed in the European acquis, and in regard to preparation and implementation of EU- funded projects. This important role of the local self- government is reflected in informing citizens about what they could expect in the EU integration process and after the EU accession. The closing conference of the Exchange 5 Programme will therefore be an important opportunity for promotion of the said reform areas, results achieved within the Programme, and of the EU financial assistance granted to Serbia.
Direct support beneficiaries will be delivered thank you certificates for their participation in the Exchange 5 Programme. Draft conference agenda may be found below.
Representatives of towns and municipalities unable to attend the conference at the Mona Plaza Hotel, same as other interested parties, may join the conference via:
- Zoom application, registration link: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_gF6SoY9cT-WtdHU9EdiLjA
- SCTM Youtube channel: https://youtu.be/krLmln_ZI_E
- SCTM Facebook account: https://www.facebook.com/events/927320394515549/?ref=newsfeed
Contact person for confirmation of attendance and additional information is Željko Krnetić, Exchange 5 communication coordinator (064/870-3352, zeljko.krnetic@skgo.org).
