The Minister of Local Self-Government Risto Penov had a working meeting today in Kavadarci with the mayors of the Vardar planning region. With the mayor of the municipality of Kavadarci, Mitko Janchev, and with the mayors of the municipalities of the region, they discussed the way of functioning and the sustainability of the regional station for taking care of homeless animals in the Vardar planning region, built with financial resources from the Ministry of Local Self-Government and donor support from the Swiss Government.

- The value of the project is 21 million denars and with the construction of the station in the Vardar planning region, this acute problem is solved for 150 thousand citizens in 9 municipalities of the planning region, therefore it is important that the municipalities cooperate and ensure its sustainability, through joint financing of its functions, it was emphasized at the meeting.

The meeting also discussed other issues related to the functionality of the local self-government, as well as the implementation of the projects financed by the budget program for balanced regional development.

The importance of cooperation between municipalities was emphasized, as well as cooperation between the central and local authorities for the purpose of preparation and financing of projects that will improve the quality of living in the municipalities and create conditions for development. The Ministry of Local Self-Government and the Regional Development Bureau funded 135 projects for the development of planning regions, municipalities, villages and specific areas with funds from the state budget in 2023. and 192 projects in the municipalities were co-financed, financed by the IPA instrument for cross-border cooperation, in the second program period.

- Cooperation between municipalities is important for the preparation of larger, sustained projects that, in addition to budget funds, will also be able to use funds from the IPA instrument of the European Union and other donors such as the World Bank, and which will have a greater impact on the quality of life and of the development of the region, but will also guarantee the sustainability of what has already been done, it was said at the meeting.