Presentation of Union Programmes as an instrument of EU support was held today, February 18, 2016 at 10:30 am in the premises of the Secretariat for European Affairs. Deputy Prime Minister for European Affairs at the Government of the Republic of Macedonia, Fatmir Besimi PhD, Mr. Michael Samec from German International Cooperation- GIZ and Mr. Martin Klaucke from the Delegation of the European Union opened the event.

In his introduction remarks, Deputy Prime Minister emphasised the importance of Union Programmes for the Republic of Macedonia as an opportunity to upgrade the European values of our society, the implementation of reforms in the European agenda by promoting inclusion, social cohesion, active civil society and creating better opportunities for all.

Therefore, the financial support of the European Union on our progress was highlighted and it was stressed that for the Union programmes (2007-2013) were paid approximately 11.3 million Euro for entry ticket, out of which about 8 million Euro from IPA funds and about 3 million Euro from the state budget. Our institutions and organisations as project coordinators, partners or only beneficiaries have used about 21.5 million Euro in about 800 projects in various areas.

Within the current programming period 2014-2020, by 2015 166 projects have been approved within these instruments: 20 Horizon 2020, 7 Europe for Citizens, 84 ERASMUS, 1 Cosme, 10 Culture, 23 Fiscalis and 21 Customs.

Besimi highlighted the Erasmus plus programme, as a total of 316 applications for projects in the National Agency for European Education Programmes and Mobility were submitted, out of which 84 projects were approved.

With the commitment of the Secretariat for European Affairs, the Republic of Macedonia has so far signed Agreements for accession to the following programmes: Erasmus, Horizon 2020, Creative Europe- culture, Media, Kosme, Fiscalis, Customs, Europe for Citizens, Employment and Social Innovation Programme and Civil Protection Mechanism.

The Union programmes cover almost every area of socio-economic life of the European citizens: education, culture, youth, media, social issues, development of small and medium-sized enterprises, environment, transport, public health, legal cooperation, fight against violence, crime, terrorism, information society, customs and taxes.