The nine mayors of the municipalities in the Vardar Planning Region today at the constitutive session of the Council for Development of the Vardar Planning Region. Unanimously have decided that the mayor of the municipality of Veles, Ace Kocevski, to be elected president of the Council for development of the region. Because to past experience and the fact that the center of development of the Center is in the municipality of Veles

In his addressing the mayors has welcomed the Deputy Minister of Local Self-Government Mr.Dejan Pavleski. He congratulated the election and wished them successful work and cooperation with the Ministry. Deputy Minister Pavleski said that in co-ordination of the Ministry of Local Self-Government, is formed an inter-ministerial working group has been set up to work on re-examining the method and methodology for allocation of block grants for financing competencies in the primary and secondary education, kindergartens, fire protection. We will try to provide a way of financing that will be fair and transparent and will raise the quality of services in these areas, said Mr. Pavleski, who announced that another working group in the Ministry of Finance will work on the analysis of the opportunities and ways to increase the percentage of VAT for municipalities from 4.5 to 6 percent. It was also announced that in the Budget for 2018, the Government proposed 100 million MKD more for projects for balanced regional development, as well as funds for co-financing projects for cross-border cooperation.

Mayor of the Municipality of Veles and President of the Vardar Planning Region Ace Kocevski in his addressing pointed out that before the municipalities of the region is a period in which much needs to be done for improvement of the life for all the citizens. As two common priorities, he directed: The construction of a regional factory for treatment of solid municipal waste with several transfer stations and a Regional Center for the treatment of homeless dogs as a problem who has been faced by all municipalities.

The Mayors were informed about the current functioning of the Center for Development of the Vardar Planning Region, the financial situation, as well as the projects that have been realized so far, as well as those that are in the phase of realization.