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The City of Bijeljina

Responsible and transparent implementation of EU donations

Bijeljina was visited by a high level Delegation of EU Ambassadors and Diplomats of Spain, Romania, Sweden, Czech Republic, Belgium, Hungary, Croatia and the Delegation of EU in BiH. The purpose of the visit was to get acquainted with the post flood recovery process in Bijeljina and the level of project implementation related to the floods recovery program, financed by the EU and implemented by UNDP. Besides the meeting with Bijeljina Mayor, Mićo Mićić about the flood consequences, recovery process and plans for future protection from floods, the Delegation also visited the following primary schools: „Sveti Sava“ in Bijeljina, „Dvorovi“ in Dvorovi and „Meša Selimović“ in Janja, Secondary school in Janja and pre-school institution „Čika Jova Zmaj“ in Bijeljina. All mentioned institutions had been affected by the May floods and were recovered through EU funds.

Additionally, during the EU Delegation visit, financial grants for five small and medium size enterprises were handed out, in the total amount of 107.000 Euro. These grants are part of the EU support to the economic recovery of the City of Bijeljina.

The Head of the EU Delegation in BiH Cooperation Unit, Melvin Asin reminded that already in May 2014, the EU started its intervention assistance to flooded regions and that the EU flood recovery program started in August. He stated that the EU will invest around 3 million Euro for the recovery process in the City of Bijeljina. Special attention was given to most vulnerable categories of citizens, therefore schools and pre-school institutions were prioritized when the recovery process started, back in August. Mr. Asin added that it is very important to have reliable partners in the local communities, with whom cooperation and successful implementation of the projects can be achieved. He concluded that Bijeljina has proved to be one of such local communities, given that the EU funds are being implemented in a transparent and responsible way and that the completed and ongoing projects bear good results.  

Presenting the situation in the City of Bijeljina after the May and August floods, Mayor Mićić stressed that the provided EU assistance is valuable. It was a significant contribution in our efforts during the critical period to safe human lives and to feed our citizens in flooded areas, but it also helps us greatly in our attempts to normalize life in flooded areas. He added that with the assistance provided through EU funds, all flooded schools were recovered by the beginning of the school year. Further, 200 family houses shall be recovered through EU funds in Bijeljina. The number of families who applied for this assistance was 1.700, which shows the significance of these funds for the citizens of Bijeljina.

The EU Diplomats also emphasized that, besides the recovery measures, it is even more important to undertake preventive measures for the future, as well as to find ways to recover lost employment opportunities and create new work places, adding that the EU will continue to support BiH in these efforts.