Resen, 12 July 2024 (EU Delegation/MIA) - European Union Ambassador David Geer and UNDP Resident Representative Armen Grigoryan will promote Friday the EU-funded opportunities offered to Prespa area towards restoration of natural resources, sustainable agriculture and tourism and infrastructure improvements.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Environment and Physical Planning Izet Mexhiti, Minister of European Affairs Orhan Murtezani and Minister of Agriculture Cvetan Tripunovski will take part in the promotion events, which will be hosted by the Mayor of Resen Jovan Tozievski, the EU Delegation said in a press release.

Following the addresses, the family-run orchard “Spirit of Prespa” in Carev Dvor will be visited to showcase the potential, challenges and solutions for agro-tourism in the Prespa region. Next stop will be “Markova Noga” border crossing between Dolno Dupeni [MK] and Laimos [GR]. In the afternoon, in Pretor, Ambassador Geer will open the “Prespa Development Forum” in the presence of Deputy Prime Minister and Ministers, local stakeholders and the mayors of the three Prespa Lake riparian countries: Resen [MK], Laimos [GR] and Pustec [AL].

“EU4Prespa” programme has a financial envelope worth €21.5 million, of which €18 million i.e. 84% are provided by the European Union. The goals of the programme are multi-fold interconnected: 1. Support for local farmers and tourism providers to green their businesses and create green jobs; 2.Investments for reducing pollution in the Prespa area (improving waste water collection and treatment and solid waste management); 3. Improving trans-border mobility;  4. Support for local NGOs, parks and institutions for the protection and valorisation of natural and cultural heritage; 5. Consolidation of the transboundary Prespa Park.

The region of Prespa is already benefiting from the “EU4Prespa” programme through 4 grants awarded to local civil society organisations and 2 contribution agreements signed with UNDP. In addition, EU-funding of €7,7 million is available under the programme for cross-border cooperation between Greece and North Macedonia for re-opening of “Markova Noga” border crossing.

MIA file photo