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Croatia and Slovenia generously shared their positive experiences and success stories for regional development and utilization of the EU funds with the Macedonian delegation that visited these two countries last week. The representatives of the Regional Development Bureau and the Ministry of Local Self-Government realized a study visit, which was organized by the United Nations Development Program - UNDP. They had official meetings with the Government Office for Development and Cohesion Funds of Slovenia, the Ministry of Regional Development and EU Funds of Croatia, as well as with several regional development agencies in both countries.
"Regional development is one of the priorities of the Republic of North Macedonia. A successful policy for balanced regional development is not only a condition for accession into the European Union, but is also one of the key predispositions for accelerated development of the regions and a better quality of life for the citizens," stated Mr. Ramiz Redzepi, director of the Regional Development Bureau and head of the delegation. "In the future, it is planned to transform the Regional Development Bureau into an agency, and it is necessary to improve the process of managing the EU funds for regional development. Therefore, the study visit to these countries, which have completed the path of EU integration, was of great importance for us", he added.
Croatia has nine billion euros from the EU's cohesion funds in the programming period from 2021 to 2027.
"Croatia has a high percentage of utilization of the EU funds. You need to invest in the human resources that will manage the European funds once you become part of the European Union", said the Minister of Regional Development and EU Funds of Croatia, Ms. Natasha Tramishak.
Slovenia expects 3.6 billion euros in the same period. A large part of the funds is intended for digitalization projects, green ideas, and cohesion. During the pre-accession period, Slovenia was known for establishing a good internal system for coordinating the EU integration process, including the management of EU funds.
"Slovenia is a friend of North Macedonia, we are here to help you on your pathway to the European Union," said the Slovenian Minister of Development and Cohesion Funds, Aleksandar Javshek.
In addition to the experiences of the development agencies in Slovenia and Croatia for projects and the utilization of EU funds, among the most impressive examples were the European projects of the Croatian City of Chazma. It has almost 7,000 inhabitants, and the city administration has only 13 employees. However, this municipality managed to realize EU funds for several projects. Only in the last project, financed by the Natura programme, almost 2.5 million euros were provided for the construction of a unique bio-pool with natural purification, as well as for several interventions in the tourist offer in the city's surroundings.
The study visit was realized within the framework of the project "Reversing the COVID crisis: Municipalities as drivers of sustainable development", which is financed by the Regional Development Bureau, and co-financed and implemented by UNDP.
