Serbian Deputy Prime Minister Bozidar Djelic said today that €200 million has been provided for local administrations so far and that Serbia aims to qualify for all components from the EU budget by 2011.

Opening the “Programming International Assistance and EU Funds for Local Development” conference, Djelic said that this assistance is crucial for our citizens.

Our aim is to reform and promote the economic system so that we can qualify for all components from the EU budget by 2011, said Djelic.

The conference is also attended by Head of the European Commission Delegation in Serbia Vincent Degert and representatives of the Finance Ministry and the Permanent Conference of Cities and Municipalities.

Degert said that visa liberalisation, implementation of the Interim Trade Agreement and the filing of candidacy for membership in the Union are not only the result of political agreement, but also the fact that they will affect the everyday lives of Serbian citizens.

The Union has been providing financial assistance to Serbia in the amount of approximately €200 million each year, he said noting that in the past five years nearly €200 million has been invested in projects of local governments.

The Head of Delegation of the European Commission said that the EU cooperates with the Serbian government on the implementation of three tasks, namely supporting reforms and creation of a legal framework in line with EU standards, strengthening local capacities and financing investments for building infrastructure.

Be active, propose projects that we will be able to finance, Degert told representatives of local governments.

After introductory speeches, several workshops will be held on the designing of an efficient planning and management system at a local level, an efficient and modern administration, improvement of financial management and the financial capacities of local self-governments and the development of local infrastructure.

The purpose of the conference is to establish a list of development priorities in local communities, which will be financed with the first component of the IPA 2011 programme and international donations.