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Head of Economic and European integration Sector of the Delegation of the European Commission to Serbia Alberto CAMMARATA has handed over to Velimir STANOJEVIĆ, Mayor od Čačak the distance heating plant financed by the European Union (EU) from its Serbia energy sector donation programme.

The new plant was built within the period of 15 months at the location of a previous heating facility, in technical cooperation between local authorities, and through financial and professional assistance of EU funds. The new plant, including the expansion of heating distribution capacity, will link the town with residential blocks, make the heating sustainable and efficient, and save energy significantly.

„Modernisation of this plant will contribute to a more reasonable utilisation of energy and significant energy saving, whereas the price of energy is part of any price, and it has direct implications for industry and economy of every country. A careful use of energy is, therefore, of high importance “, Cammarata said. He pointed out that the EU had facilitated stabilisation of Serbia's energy sector since 2000 with a budget of more than half a billion euros.

Expressing gratitude for the donation, Velimir Stanojević, Mayor of Čačak, pointed out that Čačak had done all it could to accelerate technical operations to enable the works to coplete by the beginning of theheating season. „,Čačak as one of five towns where the EU has financed the renewal of heating systems, has developed the best quality project and demonstrated its knowledge and determination to use the funds properly.

Modernisation and techinal improvement of the distance heating plant in Čačak were financed by the EU with a budget of 4.6 million euros within the energy modernisation programme for heating systems. In addition to Čačak, the towns of Subotica, Pančevo, Užice and Valjevo were also included.

Before the official event of the handover of the heating plant, Cammarata had met with Stanojević and the municipality management to discuss basic conclusions of the Serbia Progress Report published by the European Commission on 5 November, including the recommendations significant for administration of power at the local level.

Municipal authorities expressed their satisfaction to Cammarata with the political stability established in the local municipality, and as the main issue they were facing they set out the problem of unemployment and the need for fresh foreign investments. They announced the continuation of a good mutual cooperation in this part of Serbia to tackle some of the key infrastructure related issues, such as water supply and improved addressing the problems of the safe disposal of waste.

Representatives of the business association called 'Unija Čačak 2000' discussed with Cammarata the conditions in which small and medium-sized enterprises operate in Čačak and the region, including the terms of cooperation with economic subjects in the EU, and the impact that the world economic crisis may have on the business environment in Serbia.