Standing Conference of Towns and Municipalities, in cooperation with the Municipal Infrastructure Support Programme (MISP IPA 2010), financed by the EU, organized on 14th of November 2013 the first of three Regional Trainings for SLAP Coordinators, to be implemented within the Programme. The event was held in “Tami Residence” Hotel in the City of Nis.

Regional trainings cover themes important for planning and preparation of municipal and inter-municipal infrastructure projects, including:

• Overview and exchange of experiences regarding project planning and preparation, including required planning, technical documentation and permits;
• Key elements of an (EU) Feasibility Study, enabling participants to properly interpret information and conclusions from this document;
• Principles and main parameters of Cost-Benefit Analyses (CBA), including a practical exercise;
• Informing participants about latest developments regarding SLAP IS, difficulties in project registration and identification of new projects to be entered into the database.

Regional training in Nis was attended by 18 representatives of local self-governments, RDA “Jug” and the Ministry of Energy, Development and Environmental Protection.

MISP IPA 2010 trainings for SLAP coordinators are planned to be continued in January and February of 2014.

Materials from the event (in Serbian) are available through the following links:

• Photographs;
• Presentations;
• Agenda.

More information on the Municipal Infrastructure Support Programme can be found by visiting MISP website: www.misp-serbia.rs.

Standing Conference of Towns and Municipalities (SCTM) organized on 8-9 October 2013 the 5th Meeting of SLAP Coordinators, in “Vojvodina” Hotel, Trg Slobode 5, Zrenjanin. Organization of the event was supported by the European Union, through EU Exchange 4 programme, implemented by SCTM.

Main purpose of the meeting was to present current and planned activities related to SLAP Information System, as well as to facilitate exchange of experiences and information significant for development of local and regional infrastructure projects.

During the introductory part of the meeting, SLAP Coordinators from municipalities and regional development agencies were greeted by representatives of SCTM and EU Exchange 4 programme, as well the Ministry for Regional Development and Local Self-Government and the Republic Water Directorate. Methodology for Prioritization and Selection of Infrastructure Projects was presented by representatives of the Serbian European Integration Office (SEIO) and PPF 5 programme.

Following the introductory presentations, participants had an opportunity to attend trainings in one of three thematic groups: 1) Inter-municipal Cooperation; 2) Communication Planning and Sustainability of Infrastructure Projects; 3) Communication, Public and Media Appearance Skills.

Agenda and materials (in Serbian) can be downloaded using the following links:

• Agenda;
• Presentation on the Methodology for Prioritization and Selection of Infrastructure Projects (SEIO/PPF 5);
• Presentations from the “Communication Planning and Sustainability of Infrastructure Projects” training;
• Presentations from the “Inter-municipal Cooperation” training.

Standing Conference of Towns and Municipalities (SCTM) will organize regional Info Days events during September 2013, to present the public call for technical assistance to municipalities in areas of strategic planning and local finances, within the Exchange 4 Programme, financed by the EU and implemented by the SCTM.

Info Days sessions will be held in the following locations:

1. Uzice – 12 September, City Assembly hall, 52 Dimitrija Tucovica st;
2. Jagodina – 16 September, Pomoravski District meeting room, 80/A Knjeginje Milice st;
3. Nis – 17 September, City Assembly hall, 42 Nikole Pasica st;
4. Novi Sad – 19 September, City Assembly hall, 2 Zarka Zrenjanina st;
5. Belgrade – 23 September, Assembly hall of Novi Beograd City Municipality, 167 Mihajla Pupina st.

Invitation letter with the agenda sent to local self-governments can be downloaded HERE (Serbian version).

Main purpose of the public call is to select municipalities which are to receive assistance in the following areas:

1. Sector plans development in waste management, energy and environmental protection;
2. Action plans development, for implementing framework strategies;
3. Planning and preparing programme and capital budgets;
4. Preparing and issuing municipal bonds.

Main objective of the Info Days is to provide information to local self-governments about the purpose and conditions of the public call and areas to be supported.

For additional information, please contact Danijela Pocuca – 011/3223-446 (ext. 125) or by email danijela.pocuca@skgo.org.

Based on an initiative of the Embassy of Republic of Serbia and as part of the official development cooperation between the Republic of Serbia and the Republic of Slovenia, project “Support to Serbian municipalities in cooperation on international (EU) projects” was initiated. The project is managed by the Center for European Perspective, founded by the Slovenian Government to facilitate development cooperation and assistance of the Republic of Slovenia to countries of Western Balkans. For the beneficiary, Project is coordinated by the Standing Conference of Towns and Municipalities, with involvement of Serbian European Integration Office (SEIO), Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Regional Development and Local Self-Government of Serbia.

Objective of the Project is to improve capacities of Serbian municipalities and municipal staff for managing international (EU) projects, in order to achieve a more efficient use of funds available from various programs.

Within the project, a five days training will be organized for municipal staff involved in planning, preparation, monitoring and management of infrastructure projects. Training will be held in Vrnjacka Banja, from the 23rd to the 27th of September.

Standing Conference of Towns and Municipalities organized the Forth Meeting of SLAP Coordinators on 25th of February, in Hotel M in Belgrade, with support from EU funded Exchange 3 programme.

Meeting was attended by more then ninety SLAP coordinators from cities and municipalities from all around Serbia. Results of SLAP information system achieved through the Exchange 3 programme were presented, with the plans for further development of the system through the Exchange 4 programme.

Representatives of Department for Tourism of the Ministry for Finance and Economy presented the Ministry priorities for development of tourist infrastructure, current activities and opportunities for financing municipal projects. Modifications to the SLAP questionnaires were presented, together with the requirements for registering and updating environmental projects, in line with Line Ministry requirements. Trainings to be organized by MISP IPA 2010 programme were also presented and discussed.

Participants used the opportunity to exchange their experiences in using the System, and talk about difficulties they face in identifying, formulating and registering projects, with presentations made by representatives of Zitiste, Velika Plana and Regional Development Agency “Jug”.

Presentations from the Fourth Meeting of SLAP Coordinators can be downloaded HERE (in Serbian).