Skopje, 12 February 2025 (MIA) - The Government published Wednesday the second public call for grants to municipalities for the construction of infrastructure projects. All municipalities can apply to receive funds from a pool of Mden 15 billion for projects in culture, sport, environment, road infrastructure, social policy and education. The deadline for submitting projects is April 30.

Minister of Local Self-Government Zlatko Perinski told a press conference the public call was drawn up in line with the requests of mayors and it has favorable conditions. Perinski said he expects the planned funds to be used up since, he said, “the municipalities are facing infrastructure problems”.

“The novelty is the extension of the application deadline to April 30, and the process of securing the necessary documentation for the beginning of public procurement has also been facilitated, in order to help the municipalities and give them room to secure the necessary documents while the procedure is ongoing. These are the two novelties introduced at the request of the mayors,” Perinski said.

The distribution of funds will be done on the basis of two criteria – the number of residents in the municipality according to the latest census and the completeness of the project documentation necessary for the beginning of public procurement.

Perinski noted that the second public call is a continuation of the first, which, he said, “is already showing results”.

The Minister said he doesn’t see the grants as “bribery” ahead of the local elections in the fall, since, he said, all mayors regardless of their political affiliation can apply in the public calls and receive funds.

Photo: MIA