Deputy Minister of Local Self-Government Мr.Dejan Pavleski at the Conference on National Policies and Local Action Plans for Equitable Access to Water and Sanitation: All citizens have the right to equal access to public services, regardless of whether they live in urban or rural municipalities and areas

Deputy Minister of Local Self-Government Mr.Dejan Pavleski has participated in the Conference on National Policies and Local Action Plans for Fair Access to Water and Sanitation.

The fact that in the Republic of Macedonia there is only 18 percent coverage of a quality sewerage network is more than alarming. Such a reality is a result of the long-standing monocentric development of the country and only Skopje and the larger urban centers have provided communal public services at a satisfactory level, and even in the city of Skopje there are huge differences between the city core and the villages, said Deputy Minister Pavleski.

Recognizing the problem, the Government in the budget for 2018 has provided 100 million MKD more or more than 60% increased means for equal development compared to last year, or, in 2018, 6 million euros through the Ministry and the Bureau for Regional Development will be directed for the development of the planning regions, of which 70% for the development of the planning regions, 20% for the development of areas with specific development needs and 10% for the development of the villages. All citizens have the right to equal access to public services, regardless of where they live, therefore, Government policy is more intensive financing of projects in areas that are identified as priority, such as water supply, wastewater collection and solid waste storage, said Deputy Minister Pavleski.

The Minister without Portfolio Zoran Sapuric emphasized that 90% of the citizens in the Republic of Macedonia have access to drinking water, but with certain risks in some areas, which is necessary to work in coordination with the competent institutions.

It is needed system to be upgraded, in accordance with the obligations arising from the European Union's Water Framework Directive, which requires higher standards, which is an obligation for both central and local authorities, said Minister Sapuric.

On the Conference were presented findings from the research done in the city of Skopje and in the municipalities of Kumanovo and Veles as well as the prepared local action plans.

A Conference for National Policies and Local Action Plans for Equitable Access to Water and Sanitation is organized by the NGO Human Rights Journalists within the United Nations Development Project "Strengthening the capacity of governments and water operators in order to ensure equity of access to water and sanitation in countries with economies in transition in the Economic Commission for the Region of Europe.” The financial support is provided by the side of the French Ministry of Health, Social Affairs and Women's Rights.