Signed Memorandum on the implementation of the energy rehabilitation project of four public buildings in Belgrade

Mayor Prof. Dr. Zoran Radojičić, Minister for European Integration Jadranka Joksimović, State Secretary of the Ministry of Mining and Energy Stevica Deđanski and Director of the Regional Agency for Development and European Integration Belgrade doo Snežana Radinović signed today a Memorandum of Cooperation in the implementation of the energy rehabilitation project of four public buildings in Belgrade.

Radojičić pointed out that this project, which deals with the thermal rehabilitation of public buildings and energy efficiency, is very important. He stated, in the Ceremonial Hall of the Old Palace, that it was about the building of the Emergency Service, where nothing had been done for 60 years, then about the Student Polyclinic and Hospital, as well as the Library of the City of Belgrade. The project is worth 16 million euros, of which 11 million was provided by the European Union, while, as he specified, five million will be provided by the City of Belgrade from a loan from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.

It is a great thing that the City of Belgrade finally has a big IPA project from 2018. On the other hand, it is very important to draw the public's attention to energy efficiency and environmental protection. As mayor, I signed an agreement in which, as a city, we undertake to reduce the emission of harmful gases by 40 percent by 2030, while the reconstruction of these public buildings according to the principles of energy efficiency will contribute to this. Only in such a way can we reach the desired goal - pointed out Radojičić and thanked the Ministry for European Integration, the European Office in Serbia, as well as the previous management of the City of Belgrade for the preparation of this project. He said that he hopes that through the IPA projects in 2019 and 2020, an additional number of public buildings in Belgrade will be included in the energy efficiency development project.

Minister Joksimović pointed out that Belgrade, as a more developed part of Serbia, somehow always remained outside the focus of the European Union's pre-accession funds. This project will benefit the citizens in terms of health and culture, which are the foundations of the development of a healthy state. Also, energy efficiency does not only mean the reduction of carbon dioxide, but also leads to concrete energy savings, which is the added value of the entire project - the relevant minister pointed out.

State Secretary of the Ministry of Mining and Energy, Stevica Deđanski, reminded that, in the period from 2014 to 2019, energy rehabilitation was carried out on 39 facilities in local governments. As a result, energy savings of 9.4 million kilowatt hours per year were achieved, and carbon dioxide emissions were reduced by around 1,800 tons per year, specified Deđanski.

Director of the Regional Agency for Development and European Integration Belgrade doo Snežana Radinović reminded that this project has been worked on for more than three years, and that it is about the average for such jobs. The objects that will be worked on within the project have not been reconstructed for 60, 70 or 100 years. More precisely, they have not been done since the moment of construction, and they are necessary to be in operation in order for the citizens to have normal living conditions, like the citizens of the European Union - concluded Radinović.