A meeting of the joint committee for monitoring IPA funds was held

The ninth meeting of the joint committee for monitoring IPA funds was held in Belgrade on October 17, 2014, in which the Regional Agency for Development and European Integration took part as an observer.

The meeting was chaired by Ms. Jadranka Joksimović, minister without portfolio in charge of European integration.

The meeting discussed the implementation of IPA funds, current problems and challenges with special emphasis on certain sectors. namely: environment, public administration, energy and agriculture. They also discussed the funds provided and diverted from the IPA funds to aid the flooded areas, and it was pointed out that the EU was the largest donor after the May disasters.

Minister Joksimović gave a brief overview of the EU integration process of the Republic of Serbia and pointed out the importance of preparing the human capacities of the Serbian administration in the context of future EU funds, and on the occasion of the screening for chapter 22 - Regional policy and coordination of structural instruments, and it is the IPA mechanism for comparing this area.

Director of the Directorate for Extension Mr. Jean-Eric Paquet emphasized the need for a stronger role of the regional aspect in the realization of the IPA, which in the coming period should be more strategically oriented with clearly defined goals, for greater effects.

The head of the EU delegation in Serbia, Mr. Michael Davenport expressed satisfaction with the progress of the Republic of Serbia in the process of EU integration, noting that expectations are now increasing. Mr. Davenport emphasized the importance of a decentralized project management system, noting that this process must be introduced gradually, in order to avoid delays in the implementation of projects. Also, Davenport pointed out that the project preparation process is too long and should be shortened, and one of the ways to do that is multi-year planning and implementation of the most ready projects that will achieve the greatest effect.