Strengthening Competitiveness, Strengthening Communities

While many mark International Workers’ Day with a well-deserved break, it’s also a time to reflect on tangible achievements—growth in employment, the empowerment of small businesses, and better conditions for local economic development. This is precisely at the heart of the EU’s support, channelled through the EU PRO Plus programme, to micro, small and medium enterprises, entrepreneurs, and local self-governments.

By April 2025, under the SME sector support component of the Programme, 113 projects were implemented with a total value of 3,564,397 Euros, including 2,731,787 Euros of EU non-repayable grants. Additionally, 42 new projects were supported through a dedicated call for women and young entrepreneurs.

In the area of economic infrastructure, 20 projects worth 7,955,554 Euros were approved, with 5,070,510 Euros provided by the EU and 2,885,044 Euros in co-funding from local self-governments. So far, 13 projects have been completed, with seven in their final stages. These investments include upgrades to six industrial zones, the reconstruction of a former textile factory in Bosilegrad, and the establishment of a regional Smart Centre in Novi Pazar. Support also extended to sustainable tourism in five municipalities, and technical documentation preparation in seven others.

We spoke with Enis Ujkanović, SME Sector Manager in the EU PRO Plus programme, about the significance of these results, upcoming plans, and key challenges.

1. The EU PRO Plus programme has achieved significant results in employment and entrepreneurship support. What would you highlight as the key contributions to employment and local development?

I believe our greatest contribution lies in recognising potential—not just capacity. Through direct support to 113 micro and small enterprises, 274 new jobs have been created, with around 370 more expected in the coming years. These figures are not just success indicators—they represent stability for families, retention within local communities, and opportunities for new investment. It’s especially important that over half of the supported businesses are based in underdeveloped municipalities, where the impact is the most profound.

2. How important are investments in economic infrastructure for creating sustainable jobs and reducing economic migration?

Economic infrastructure is the invisible backbone of economic development. When a municipality receives a fully equipped industrial zone, technical documentation, or tourism infrastructure, it creates an environment conducive to investment, job creation, and overall development. Through the EU PRO Plus Public Call, 20 projects worth nearly eight million Euros were approved—more than five million Euros of which were provided by the EU. We already have 13 successfully completed projects, and their impact is evident—production is up, the workforce is being retained, and new perspectives are opening up for youth. These are investments that last, even when the programmes end.

3. The Programme placed strong emphasis on collaboration with business support organisations. What role did they play in achieving these results?

Business support organisations—development agencies, regional chambers of commerce, clusters, science and technology parks, business incubators, and associations—were key allies throughout the Programme. They’re close to the business environment and understand what enterprises truly need. Through the 16 projects they implemented, over 500 enterprises received support in areas such as digitalisation, green practices, and business planning. We’ve created a knowledge chain, where solutions are passed horizontally—from one business to another—which is far more sustainable than any one-time intervention.

4. The Programme also encouraged social responsibility, which was a mandatory part of every supported project. How did enterprises respond to that challenge?

I can proudly say that entrepreneurs demonstrated a strong sense of responsibility toward their communities through a variety of socially responsible activities—donations to schools and kindergartens, green initiatives, and free services for vulnerable groups. These activities were extremely well received, and businesses themselves proudly promote them as an essential part of their operations. When small enterprises recognise their social role, it tells us we’re building a healthy business ecosystem—one where individual growth goes hand in hand with community progress.

5. What should be the next step in supporting the economy beyond the Programme’s framework?

There’s still great potential and a real need to support enterprises, especially micro-enterprises and young entrepreneurs. The next challenge lies not only in the creation of new businesses but also in transforming existing ones—making them digital, green, and globally competitive. Support must focus on knowledge, innovation, and market access. That’s why we need to develop additional services alongside financial assistance: training, mentoring, and strengthening local business support organisations. This is the only way to ensure lasting, sustainable growth. Sustainable development isn’t just a phrase—it’s a mindset. It’s the result of continuous effort and a flexible approach we apply at every stage, often under unpredictable circumstances.