EU PRO Public Call for Project Proposals for Enhancing Competitiveness of the Serbian Enterprises

The EU PRO development programme has published the Public Call for projects that should contribute to competitiveness and sustainability of small and medium sized enterprises and entrepreneurs in the regions of  Šumadija and Western Serbia and Southern and Eastern Serbia.[1]

Through this Call, open by 10 July 2019, the European Union (EU) will allocate 600,000 Euros for the projects that support enterprises in improving production processes and the quality of products and services, as well as the certification and implementation of relevant standards and concrete activities aimed at expanding to the new markets.

The regional development agencies, business incubators, science or technology parks, clusters, business associations, chambers of commerce, as well as research institutes and academic organisations from the area covered by the EU PRO programme are eligible to apply.

"Since one of the key priorities of the Government of Serbia is the promotion of sustainable regional development, the EU PRO programme will provide support to business support organisations in order to improve the competitiveness and productivity of small and medium-sized enterprises in less developed parts of Serbia," Jadranka Joksimović, the Minister of European Integration of the Government of the Republic of Serbia said.

 The European Union (EU) in this way provides support to improving competitiveness and strengthening of Serbian enterprises so they can on competitive footing enter the demanding European market that offers numerous business opportunities but also requires meeting high standards and, of course, readiness to compete with other market players.

Within the Call, the individual project of organisations may be awarded from 10,000 to 30,000 Euros, while those submitted as partnership of two or more organisations may be awarded up to 50,000 Euros. According to the criteria, for-profit entities must provide co-funding of ten percent of the project value.

„EU PRO also encourages business support organisations to include in their project proposals the activities that will have broader social impact on the local communities, by providing for instance support to the vulnerable groups, or designing actions aimed at environment protection”, Olivera Kostić, EU PRO Programme Manager said.

The EU PRO development programme will organise info-sessions for the business support organisations in the period of 29 May to -19 June 2019. After the first info session that will be held in Vranje on 29 May, the Call will be presented in Zaječar on 30 May, in Vranjačka Banja on 11 June, in Zlatibor on 12 June, in Šabac on 17 June, in Srebrno Jezero on 18 June and in Niš on 19 June, while the online info-session will be held on 21 June.  

More information on the Public Call, selection criteria, application method as well as the application documentation is available on the EU PRO Programme website: Public Call for Proposals for Business Support Organisations.

SCHEDULE OF THE INFO-SESSIONS ON PUBLIC CALL FOR PROPOSALS FOR BUSINESS SUPPORT ORGANISATIONS

• VRANJE
  Wednesday, 29 May at  11:00, Hotel Ponte Bianco, Branislava Nušića 2
• ZAJEČAR
  Thursday, 30 May at 11:00, Hotel Srbija – Tis, Nikole Pašića bb
• VRNJAČKA BANJA
  Tuesday, 11 June at 11:00, Hotel Fontana, Cara Dušana 2
• ZLATIBOR
  Wednesday 12 June at 11:00, Hotel Tornik, Alekse Popovića bb
• ŠABAC
  Monday, 17 June at 11:00, Hotel Sloboda, Trg šabačkih žrtava bb
• SREBRNO JEZERO
  Tuesday, 18 June at 11:00, Hotel Danubia Park, Beli bagrem bb
• NIŠ
  Wednesday, 19 June at 11:00, Hotel New City, Vožda Karađorđa 12
• ONLAJN INFO-SESIJA
  21 June at 11:00