Opening ceremony regarding the first Call for proposals within the Cross-border Programme Serbia – Montenegro

Opening ceremony regarding the first call for proposals within the Cross-border Programme Serbia - Montenegro was held on Wednesday, 08 July 2009, in Vrnjačka Banja. The event had a purpose of informing the most important stakeholders and general public about launching the First Call for Proposals for the Programme. The event was opened by Mr. Srđan Majstorović, Deputy Director the EU Integration Office, Government of Republic of Serbia. In his introductory speech, he pointed out that this is the first Cross-border Programme between two countries and their first common challenge in this area. Ratka Sekulović, Head of sector for cross-border cooperation of the Ministry for European Integration, Montenegro, introduced attendants with the status of European integration process in Montenegro, and announced receiving EU Questionnaire by Government of Montenegro this month. The first call for proposals was launched on 25th June 2009 and the deadline for submitting project proposals is 23th September 2009, said Sanda Simić, Head of Department for Cross-border Programmes, the Ministry of Finance, Serbia. She announced that the series of information sessions will be organized by JTS and Operating Structures in the Programme area, during July 2009, where the discussions will focus on the technical details provided in the Guidelines for applicants. Around 50 participants, among which were mayors of towns and municipalities from the programme area, other representatives of local authorities, development agencies, Non governmental organizations, International organizations and other partners were introduced to the cross border programmes in two countries, in presentation made by Mirjana Nožić, Head of Unit for IPA-IPA Cross-border Programmes, Ministry of Finance, Serbia. She also spoke about experience Serbia had in similar programmes during the last 5 years. Jaroslava Božanić, Coordinator of the Programme, Ministry of Finance, Serbia, talked about the Cross-border programme Serbia - Montenegro, in general. She explained that proposals may be submitted by public organizations/non-profit entities, non-governmental organizations, associations or foundations, operators in the public sector or local/regional authorities from Serbia and Montenegro, by EU and pre-accession countries. Projects will be implemented in the eligible area in Serbia and Montenegro, and must meet the criteria defined in the Guidelines for applicants and demonstrate a clear commitment to the concept of cross-border cooperation. Denis Slatina, Head of Joint Technical Secretariat for the Programme, talking about details on the First Call for Proposals, said that the amounts awarded to the projects must fall between a minimum amount of 15,000 euros and a maximum of 200,000 euros, the European Union`s contribution being maximum 85% of the eligible expenditure. Grant beneficiaries must provide own co-financing of minimum 15% of the total project value. Conclusion of the event is that 1.980.000 EUR IPA 2007+IPA 2008 that is available for the First Call for Proposals to improve cooperation between non-profit organisations in the programme area in Serbia and Montenegro will serve not only to promote european integration process in the region, improve local and regional socio-economic development with emphasis on development of tourism, small and medium enterprizes and environmental protection but also to build capacities for consumption of EU's structural funds in the future. The Opening Ceremony was organized by Joint Technical Secretariat for Cross-border Programme Serbia – Montenegro with support of Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Serbia and Ministry for European Integration of Government of Montenegro. Presentations, Vrnjačka Banja newsroom/photo-gallery/event/morfeo5#0""Photos, Vrnjačka Banja