Charge d’Affaires of the EU Delegation to Bosnia and Herzegovina Dr Renzo Daviddi visited the Vocational School “Tehnoloska skola” in Banja Luka today, which is currently being rehabilitated within the EU Floods Recovery Programme. EU’s investment to the school’s rehabilitation works comprises 77,000 EUR (150,400 KM) which covers joinery replacement and roof reparation.
“During the catastrophe in May last year, our school suffered severe damages. For instance, the roof of the school’s atelier collapsed and due to already poor joinery condition we had been struggling with bad heating for years. With new joinery and repaired roof, both financed by the EU, our students and teachers now have the opportunity to work and study in safer, more modern and also energy efficient premises,” said Dejan Čutura, the School’s Director.
Banja Luka is a large recipient of EU’s floods recovery assistance, and the projected investment under the EU Floods Recovery Programme comprises a total of 1,8 million EUR. This sum covers the rehabilitation of 6 schools, reconstruction of 2 roads, recovery grants to 4 Small and Medium-sized enterprises (SME) – which contribute to retention of nearly 400 jobs – assistance to agricultural producers and rehabilitation of more than 200 private houses for vulnerable population affected by the floods.
“Banja Luka is one of the municipalities in Bosnia and Herzegovina where the European Union is investing significant amounts of flood recovery funds. I am happy to observe that our funds are already bringing tangible results to the people of Banja Luka – 6 schools are being upgraded to modern standards in addition to repairing the flood damages and already more than 100 private homes have been repaired – enabling families to return home. Our assistance is also bringing direct economic benefits – the EU recovery grants to SMEs have already contributed to retention of nearly 400 jobs in the City”, said Dr. Daviddi.
The EU Floods Recovery Programme was launched to restore normal living conditions in local communities and ensure that the aid reaches the most vulnerable ones in the aftermath of floods in May 2014. Funds are used for rehabilitation of public services and infrastructure, housing units for the most vulnerable people, and for social and economic recovery of local communities. The value of the overall Programme is 43.52 million, out of which 42.24 million is provided by the European Union. This assistance is a part of the funds that the European Union pledged at the donor conference in Brussels in July 2014. The Programme is implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in cooperation with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the International Organisation for Migration (IOM).
For more information visit the EU Floods Recovery Programme feature page and EU Floods Recovery Programme Facebook page
