- In the past two years, 12 million euros have been provided to encourage balanced regional development. The realization is significantly high, over 95 percent. In the past period, from 2008 to 2017, a total of 30 million euros were planned for this purpose, and the realization was over 55 percent, said today the Deputy Minister of Local Self-Government, Dejan Pavleski.

Pavleski at the international scientific conference "Good practices for regional development in the Eastern region", stressed that, however, the differences between the regions in terms of development are still large. There are differences within, in the regions, as well as in the municipalities, urban and rural.

- The intention is to increase the funds for balanced regional development for the next year, and the centers for development of the planning regions and municipalities will have to propose projects that are efficient and a priority for the regions, said the Deputy Minister.

The Mayor of the Municipality of Stip, Blagoj Bochvarski emphasized that the cooperation between the municipalities and the regions should be strengthened. only in this way, according to him, will the benefits of balanced development be felt.

The President of the Council of Mayors of the East Planning Region, Nikolcho Iliev, said that the regional development is very important for the country in order to stop the migration of the youth and the population in general. Experiences from neighboring countries show that decisions on the development of the regions are made immediately, not left for another day.

The two-day conference is held in the Stip Multimedia Center "Kiri Gligorov". The conclusions that will be reached are expected to serve in the preparation of the new ten-year strategy for balanced regional development.

The conference is organized by the Center for Development of the East Planning Region, with the financial support of the Swiss Embassy and the Ministry of Local Self-Government.