56 Small and Medium Enterprises Received EU Funds

Following a strict selection process and evaluation of applications received for the public call, the EU Flood Recovery Programme has selected 56 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) from 24 municipalities in flood-affected areas in Bosnia and Herzegovina for the award of non-reimbursable aid for flood recovery. The selected enterprises will be awarded funds totaling over 1.43 million EUR (2.8 million KM) in financial assistance from the European Union, it was announced, reports the BiH news agency Patria.

Through the award of these non-reimbursable funds, the European Union aims to help preserve jobs threatened by the damage caused by the May floods; to support the production capacity of small and medium-sized enterprises; and to create new jobs in flood-affected areas. The ultimate goal is to preserve and create up to 2000 jobs.

SMEs engaged in manufacturing and manufacturing-service activities, registered in the municipalities of Maglaj, Odžak, Domaljevac-Šamac, Orašje, Tuzla, Sanski Most, Živinice, Zenica, Srebrenik, Lukavac, Žepče, Bijeljina, Šamac, Doboj, Prijedor, Banja Luka, Modriča, Laktaši, Srbac, Šekovići, Vukosavlje, Donji Žabar, Čelinac, Brčko, could apply for the public call for non-reimbursable funds.

A total of 458 applications were received, and the selection was based on the following criteria: that the company suffered material damage from the floods to key assets, that it is a privately owned legal entity engaged in manufacturing and/or manufacturing-service activities, that it employs 5 or more workers, that it has extensive commercial ties with suppliers, i.e., a number of other SMEs and micro-producers (individual suppliers), that it achieved a positive business result in the previous fiscal year, and that the company has certificates issued by fiscal authorities for regular payment of taxes and other dues, including those towards employees.

The selection process took place in two phases and consisted of checking the compliance of applications and evaluation according to the selection criteria from the public call, as well as field visits. The evaluation commission, led by members of UNDP in BiH (as the main partners in project implementation), conducted the assessment and scoring of applications according to the established criteria, and proposed a ranking list of received applications based on the points scored.

The commission's decision is final, but every award of non-reimbursable funds is subject to a thorough process of continuous verification of compliance with conditions and criteria. In the event that any irregularities are found during a subsequent field visit between the information provided in the application and the actual situation on the ground, the approved financial funds may be withdrawn. In addition to the funds approved by the EU Flood Recovery Programme, all aid recipients must also provide a portion of their own funds. 

See the list of SMEs here