Norway supported the socio-economic development of Serbia with more than eight million euros

Through various projects, 218 people got jobs, 385 unemployed people improved their employment skills, 162 micro and small enterprises improved their business, while the infrastructure was improved in nine municipalities, which gave 48,000 citizens better living conditions.

The Kingdom of Norway has supported the balanced development of less developed cities and municipalities and the strengthening of national institutions with more than eight million euros over the last three years through the project "Norway for you - Serbia". Through various projects, 218 people got jobs, 385 unemployed people improved their employment skills, 162 micro and small enterprises improved their business, while the infrastructure was improved in nine municipalities, which gave 48,000 citizens better living conditions.

From September 2018 until now, the project has organized various public calls and supported more than 90 different projects to improve access to employment, increase social inclusion, improve living conditions and local infrastructure, while activities have been implemented in 59 less developed local governments.

"We are very pleased that during the three years we have managed to achieve extremely significant results together with the Kingdom of Norway and contribute to a balanced regional development. "We have an honest and partnership relationship with Norway in the process of Serbia's integration into the European Union, and from 2008 until today, the Kingdom of Norway has provided Serbia with 100 million euros in non-refundable development support," said European Integration Minister Jadranka Joksimovic today during the celebration of the completion of the project "Norway for you - Serbia".

The project "Norway for you - Serbia" also provided support to the strengthening of national institutions, through the improvement of information security of the Government of the Republic of Serbia by drafting the Information Security Ecosystem Assessment in the Republic of Serbia with the Methodology for Identifying Critical Information Infrastructure improved readiness of key institutions of the Republic of Serbia to respond to cyber attacks.

"Norway has consistently supported the socio-economic development of Serbia for many years, and through various projects, we have built a strong partnership with the Government of Serbia and various national and local institutions, which was the basis for our joint success. "Our friendship is deeply rooted and I am especially glad that we were able to express solidarity with the citizens of Serbia during the kovida-19 pandemic, when it was most needed," said the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Norway, N.E. Jorn Eugen Jelsta.

The Kingdom of Norway also supported the strengthening of the health system and intensive care units by purchasing 20 respirators and 25 devices for anesthesia and respiratory monitoring, in May and June 2020. In addition, the Ministry of European Integration received modern software for translating the acquis communautaire, which contributed to increasing the quality and speed of translation.

"I am extremely glad that at the end of the project" Norway for you - Serbia "we have significant results that we have achieved in cooperation with the Government of Serbia and the Kingdom of Norway, the Ministry of European Integration and other line ministries and national and local institutions. This project covered many different areas, so we responded to the needs of the people, fulfilling the mandate of UNOPS to support the construction of better lives and support the state in achieving sustainable development ", said the director of the UNOPS Serbia's multi-state office Mikela Telatin.