Renovated Health Center Opened in Šamac

Director for the Western Balkans at the European Commission's Directorate-General for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations (DG NEAR) Jean-Eric Paquet, Head of the BiH Division at DG NEAR Michela Matuella, and Deputy Head of the EU Delegation to BiH Renzo Daviddi officially opened the Health Center in Šamac today. The Health Center was renovated as part of the EU Programme for Flood Recovery in BiH, reports the Patria News Agency.

EU officials also visited other locations in the municipality of Šamac that received assistance through EU funds for flood recovery, including the Municipality building, the "Nikola Tesla" Secondary School, and the "Šamac" Primary School. The delegation also visited the Alžirac settlement, where private houses for 28 families were renovated with the help of the EU.

Šamac was severely affected by the floods in May 2014, and most public institutions and a large number of houses in this municipality suffered enormous damage. It is estimated that the European Union is investing EUR 3.28 million (BAM 6.42 million) for recovery needs in this municipality through the EU Programme for Flood Recovery.

The EU is financing the renovation of 5 public institutions, of which three schools and the Health Center have already been completed, while renovation works on the Municipality building are still ongoing. The EU has also financed the reconstruction of a bridge in Gornja Slatina and awarded grants for business recovery to one company in the municipality of Šamac, enabling the retention of 23 jobs. In the municipality of Šamac, 364 private houses are planned for renovation through EU assistance, of which more than 140 houses have already been completed, enabling the return of more than 500 people.