Cross-border project proves successful in SEE region

Authorities and experts from public utilities from three cross-border regions of South-Eastern Europe learned to formulate and prepare environmental investment projects for financing. Participants from Zvornik, Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) and Mali Zvornik, Serbia; Debar, FYR Macedonia and Peshkopia, Albania; and Bileca/Trebinje, BiH and Niksic/Herzeg Novi, Montenegro exchanged information on achievements and lessons learned, and planned future activities. The conference took place in Montenegro on September 6-7 as part of the Cross-Border Cooperation through Environmental Investment and Planning project. The project was funded by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs and implemented by the REC for CEE.

Participants presented key project results from their sites. Key achievements of the project were noted: four international standard feasibility studies for water resources quality improvement were prepared by teams of local consultants under the guidance of the REC project team; the project team applied a participatory approach to involve local stakeholders and communities from early stages of the project; and a training programme for local consultants in feasibility analysis methodology, tools and contents proved successful. It was also established that since the project contributed to improving the capacity of local authorities and experts in investment preparation, the project methodology can be replicated in other municipalities and cross-border areas in SEE where the need for environmental investments is critical.

For more coverage on the Balkan environment, see the REReP webpage.