Sofronijević signs contacts worth 15 million euros with representatives of 21 local governments
The Minister of Construction, Transport and Infrastructure, Aleksandra Sofronijević, today signed contracts worth more than 15 million euros with representatives of 21 local governments, for the allocation of non-repayable funds under the Local Infrastructure and Institutional Development Project (LIID).
The municipalities involved are Kuršumlija, Lajkovac, Lapovo, Majdanpek, Bačka Palanka, Bač, Bela Palanka, Blace, Kragujevac, Lebane, Osečina, Pećinci, Pirot, Trstenik, Mionica, Negotin, Paraćin, Užice, Žagubica, Gornji Milanovac, and Kosjerić. The funds will be used for various projects aimed at improving the quality of life of their citizens.
“All of this is being done so that old local roads and streets are renewed and new ones built, parks restored, pedestrian and bicycle paths constructed, energy efficiency improved, and traffic safety increased. So that all the ideas that local governments have presented as necessary for a better life of citizens can be implemented,” Sofronijević emphasized.
She added that these projects represent the best examples of everything the Government and the Ministry strive for in building Serbia.
Sofronijević pointed out that the Government of Serbia, within the LIID project, together with the World Bank and the French Development Agency, has secured non-repayable funds totaling 265 million euros for 145 local government units in Serbia.
So far, contracts have already been signed with 25 municipalities and cities, while 39 projects are currently being implemented.
“In 145 municipalities, citizens will live better – they will have better roads and streets, better lighting, and local authorities will function more effectively. And this is not because elections are coming in those municipalities, but because the system works,” Sofronijević stressed.
She underlined that Serbia continues to function and work despite pressures and obstructions in the past six months, because institutions operate 365 days a year for the benefit of citizens and the future of Serbia.
“We are all together on the task of building Serbia, with only one goal – for our citizens to live better, for our children to have a better future in Serbia, in every municipality, in every city, and in every village,” Sofronijević stated.
The President of the Municipality of Trstenik, Milena Turk, expressed great gratitude to the Ministry of Construction, Transport and Infrastructure not only for the allocated funds but above all for the understanding shown for the projects that local governments nominated as vital.
“On our own, we would not have been able to secure such a large amount of funds and solve our problems. That is why we are very grateful for the understanding and support, concrete and unequivocal, because it enables us to respond to citizens’ needs and to be efficient as a local government,” Turk said, adding that infrastructure is imperative for all local governments, as it is a precondition for young people to remain in smaller communities.
In addition to the municipalities and cities with which contracts have already been signed, another 78 local government units have submitted applications, that is, nominated projects which are currently under evaluation.
So far, 24 municipalities have not applied, and Sofronijević called on them to submit their applications and projects – to use this opportunity for the benefit of their citizens and to obtain what has already been secured for 46 municipalities and cities.
