Serbia in the EU integration process Thematic Local Cooperation - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Support to Local Governments in Serbia in the EU integration process

Thematic Local Cooperation between Swedish and Serbian Municipalities

OVERALL OBJECTIVE: “Contribute to strengthened democracy, equitable and sustainable development in relation to local governance and closer ties between Serbia and EU.” PURPOSE: “Strengthened capacity of Local Governments to respond to EU accession requirements through enhanced effectiveness of SCTM to support members´ interests and development”.

About the programme

PARTNERS: Standing Conference of Towns and Municipalities (SCTM) and SALAR/SKL International DURATION: December 2011 - December 2014 TOTAL BUDGET: SEK 32,653,250 (SEK 19,986,250 + SEK 12,667,000) COMPONENTS: (1) EU accession of Serbia and implications for LG; (2) Environmental protection; (3) Gender equality at local level; (4) Business climate; (5) SCTM capacity building.

About the programme (continued)

3 partnerships between 3 Swedish Municipalities and 3 Serbian clusters

Thematic local partnership

Serbian side Swedish side

• 1.5 year projects on: Waste Management; Energy;

Noise/Air Pollution; (Waste)water Management.

• Action Plans with set of activities on exchange of

knowledge, exposure to specific techniques, delivery of specific assistance, etc.

• Should result in specific products (guidelines,

procedures, analysis, policy recommendations, etc.) to be applied in a Serbian context.

• Expected targets should be included within the

action plan from the outset.

Environment component (thematic partnerships)

Short-term outcomes: (1) Improved capacities of municipalities to deal with environmental issues (2) Knowledge acquired through partnerships disseminated and used for lobbying purpose Long-term outcomes: (1) Strengthened capacities of Serbian LSGs to respond to EU accession requirements (environmental protection). (2) Adoption of new methods and tools and improved level of public participation in environment-related services.

Expected outcomes

Sept 2012: Municipal Partnership Guidelines shared (includes relevant models for action plan, reporting, agreements, etc.). Sept 2012: Agreement signed by SKL International and Swedish Municipalities. 10 – 14 Sept 2012: Kick-off meeting in Serbia (visit to Serbian partner Municipalities, identification of themes for partnership action plans, introductory training, signing of Municipal Agreements). September 2012 – March 2013: Project design including Action Plan finalisation, with ‘design visits’ in Sweden and Serbia.

Upcoming process and responsibilities

April 2013 – September 2014: Project implementation (including exposure visits to Serbia/Sweden, technical assistance, output development, etc.) and (quarterly) reporting. End 2014: Present outcomes at closing conference or together with SCTM and SALAR (for national policy dialogue and best practice dissemination).

Upcoming process and responsibilities

• 1 coordinator appointed per Swedish Municipality

with responsibility for implementation of project.

• Bi-annual Swedish coordinator meetings (next

meeting January 2013).

• Politicians and civil servants engaged.
• Additional expert support may be requested from

SKL International on issues related to national policy dialogue in Serbia.

• Swedish Municipalities sign Agreement and code of

conduct with SKL International and Memorandum of Understanding with Serbian partners.

Commitment/responsibilities

• Programme replaces costs of Swedish Municipalities

for participants' salaries and related costs (including politicians’ fees / benefits / possible compensation for lost income) up to an amount of SEK 5,000 per person per day. Max 4 days/month.

• Overtime or travel time compensation not covered

by the programme.

• Municipality's human resource department verify

salary and related costs for the remuneration of work on programme.

Salaries and fees

• Travel, accommodation, allowances and relevant

miscellaneous costs will be reimbursed. These must comply with municipal regulations.

• Gifts, presentation materials, etc. not covered.
• Municipalities are expected to use travel agencies

with whom they have contracts.

• Cost of 1 trip/month per partnership during the 2

year period (SEK 12,000/trip). Total available for travel for each partnership = SEK 288,000.

• Total available for other miscellaneous reimbursable

costs (translation, interpretation, venue, etc.) = SEK 250,000.

Reimburseable costs

• Coordinator with financial management responsibility
• Swedish Municipalities responsible for reimbursable

costs for both Swedish and Serbian Municipalities.

• Swedish Municipalities invoice SKL International

quarterly (including timesheets).

• Copies of original receipts for reimbursable costs

must be attached.

• Annual audit during Feb – Mar 2013, 2014 and 2015.
• Municipal Partnership Guidelines to include detailed

information on financial management.

Financial management

Ryan Knox, Programme Manager ryan.knox@skl.se Martin Herold, Environment Coordinator martin.herold@markerandco.com Monica Aronsson, Financial Manager Monica.Aronsson@skl.se

Contact persons

SKL International AB Hornsgatan 15 SE-118 82 Stockholm, Sweden Phone: +46 8 452 70 00 E-mail: info@sklinternational.se

Lycka till!