Project Agreements on Inter-municipal Cooperation in the Area of Social and Environment Protection Signed

On 15 October 2010 in Skopje, the UNDP Resident Representative in the country, Ms Deidre Boyd and the mayors of 18 municipalities signed 8 Project Agreements on Inter-municipal Cooperation involving 18 municipalities and amounting to USD 100,000. The Agreements were verified by the Minister of Local Self-Government Mr. Musa Xhaferi.

These projects provide support for inter-municipal cooperation in the field of social protection and environment and nature protection. They are within the framework of a Programme financially supported by the Norwegian Government. The Evaluation Commission was composed of representatives from the Ministry of Local Self-Government, Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning and Ministry of Labour and Social Policy, as well as UNDP.

The following Municipalities will work jointly in the area of environment and nature protection:

-        Gostivar with Mavrovo, Rostuse and Vrapciste,

-        Kriva Palanka and Rankovce,

-        Negotino and Demir Kapija,

-        Dolneni and Krivogastani and

-        Radovis and Konce

While the Municipalities of:

-        Zajas and Oslomej,

-        Novo Selo, Boslilovo and Vasilevo, and

-       Gevgelija and Dojran, will work together to provide social protection services to their citizens.

This initiative is part of the “Inter-municipal Cooperation for Better Service Provision and EU Accession” Programme, funded by the Norwegian Government and implemented in partnership between the Ministry of Local Self-Government and UNDP since 2007.

During the signing ceremony, addresses were made by: the Minister of Local Self-Government, Mr. Musa Xhaferi, UNDP Resident Representative Ms Deidre Boyd, Minister of Environment and Physical Planning Mr. Nexhati Jakupi and Mr. Robert Velkov, Mayor of the Municipality of Radovis.