Besnik Osmani: Residents living in the border area will have the opportunity that through IMC to develop and improve living conditions shall have more prosperity in the future, so in this way they would not be removed from the border zones.
Skopje, 29 January 2015
Besnik Osmani: Residents living in the border area will have the opportunity that through IMC to develop and improve living conditions shall have more prosperity in the future, so in this way they would not be removed from the border zones.
Within the promotion of first grant projects, contracted under the cross-border cooperation program financed by the EU, between the Republic of Macedonia and Kosovo, was organized the ceremony of presentation of the beneficiaries of grants for cross-border cooperation program.
Secretary General in the Ministry of Local Government, Mr. Besnik Osmani said Border Cooperation Program aims to promote sustainable development in the field of cross-border cooperation, through the support of joint activities and cross-border cooperation projects that will affect in the economic as well as in social situation of the people, improvement of joint management, valorization of human resources, natural and cultural as well as strengthening the image and cohesion in the region.
The General Secretary, Osmani said that border region between countries is rich with diverse resources that present a potential capacity that can be developed, which can have a huge impact on the purpose and fulfillment of expectations of IMC. "Residents who live in the border area will have opportunity through IMC to develop and improve living conditions, will have more prosperity in the future and in this way they will not be removed from the border zones "- emphasized Mr. Osmani.
In the inauguration ceremony of the first grant contracts under the CBC program with Kosovo, spoke Head of Delegation of the European Union, H.E. Mr Aivo ORAV, the Minister of Local Self-Government in Macedonia, Mr. Lirim Osmani, while are participating mayors of municipalities of Gjilan/Gnjiljane, Mr. Lutfi Haziri, the mayor of municipality of Dragash, Mr. Selim Jenuzi as well as the mayor of municipality of Vitia/ Vitinna, Mr.Sokol Haliti.
Beneficiaries of grants for cross-border cooperation program are a total of six projects awarded and contracted, which come from institutions and organizations, which are focused in different fields, while beneficiaries of projects from Kosova are municipalities of Gjilan/Gnjiljane, Vitia/Vitinna and Dragash.
The first call for project proposals for grants, under the Cross-Border Cooperation Program, funded under the Instrument for Pre-Accession, was made on 15 November 2013.
The overall financial allocations of the awarded projects that will be implemented on both border sides is around 2.160.000 EUR.
The selected grants, will implement project activities according to components: Sustainable economic, social and environmental development, the social cohesion as well as people-to-people initiatives.
The program will continue with an introductory training that will be held by the Delegation of the EU and both Governments’ Operating Structures for all beneficiaries, to support them in successful implementation of projects.