The EU has allocated three million euros of support to small businesses for the purchase of equipment and the introduction of services

The European Union (EU) program for local development, EU PRO Plus, which is implemented in cooperation with the Ministry of European Integration, has published a public call for grants to entrepreneurs, micro and small businesses registered in one of the 99 local governments included in the program.

The European Union will support companies registered between January 1, 2016 and December 31, with a total of three million euros through the purchase of equipment and the introduction of services. 2020 and are engaged in the production or provision of services that include information technology, architectural and engineering activities, health and social care, tourism-related services, maintenance and repairs. from the negative impact of the pandemic as well as the current one geoeconomic crisis," said Jadranka Joksimović, Minister for European Integration.

"In this way, the European Union provides support for the development and competitiveness of the micro and small business sector, which is the basis of a healthy and sustainable economy and directly contributes to the creation of new jobs. As before, we will support good business ideas so that the Serbian economy is ready for the European market," said Ambassador Emanuele Žiofre, head of the Delegation of the European Union to Serbia.

From the total budget, two million euros are intended for support to manufacturing companies, and one million euros will be spent to help those small businesses engaged in service activities. The amount of support per individual project for companies registered for production activity is from 10,000 to 40,000 euros, and for companies registered for the provision of services from 10,000 to 30,000 euros. In both cases, a minimum co-financing of 20 percent of the project value, or 15 percent for companies from municipalities that are in the fourth category of development, is mandatory.

"In order to make the positive impact on local communities even greater, within individual projects, entrepreneurs and companies are obliged to design and implement socially responsible activities and thus provide support to their fellow citizens, vulnerable groups, children, sports clubs, or contribute to environmental protection," said Olivera Kostić, manager of EU PRO Plus. program.

The call is open until June 30, 2022, and more information about the conditions of the call, the criteria for selecting beneficiaries, how to apply, as well as the application documentation is available on the website of the EU PRO Plus Program: Public call for project proposals for the procurement of equipment and introduction of services for entrepreneurs, micro and small businesses.