The Management Board of the Development Fund awarded over 2.5 million euros to Kosovo's four northern municipalities at its meeting in Pristina yesterday.

Over 900.000 euros were awarded to the municipality of North Mitrovica for the construction of a sports hall. The Board previously allocated 1.6 million euros to this municipality in September. These funds will be used to build a fire brigade centre, support small and medium sized enterprises, as well as for the expropriation of land to construct a new municipality building. In total, North Mitrovica has been awarded over 2.5 million euros for four projects.

The Board decided to allocate almost 500.000 euros to the Zvecan municipality for three projects. The funds will be used to support civil society organisations through sports and cultural activities, develop small and medium size enterprises (SMEs), small farms and sustainable agricultural production. In addition, last month the Board awarded Zvecan municipality 350.000 euros for land expropriation for an access road to a landfill site. To date, Zvecan has been awarded close to 850.000 euros for four projects.

The Zubin Potok municipality has been awarded almost 1 million euros for three projects. The funds will be used for construction of a swimming pool and reconstruction of an athletic arena, as well as for the rehabilitation of local roads.

The municipality of Leposavic was awarded 140.000 euros for the purchase of equipment for the kindergarten in Lesak.
The four municipalities also submitted a number of concept notes, which are to be developed into project proposals and reviewed during the next Board meeting planned in January 2016.

The Development Fund derives its revenues from taxes collected at the Jarinje/Rudnica and Tabavije/Brnjak crossing points. The revenues collected so far amount to over 8 million euros and are used to support socio-economic development of the northern Kosovo municipalities.

The operation of the Fund is decided by the Management Board composed of Samuel Zbogar, Chair of the Board in his capacity as the EU Special Representative in Kosovo, Kosovo Minister of Finance Avdullah Hoti on behalf of the Kosovo authorities, and Danijela Zubac on behalf of the Serb community.