European Union Support to Inclusive Society is a project financed by the European Union and managed by the Delegation of the European Union to the Republic of Serbia. Main institutional beneficiary is Ministry of Labour, Employment, Veteran and Social Affairs and together with Project Management Unit overseeing the overall project implementation.

The general aim of the project is to support social inclusion policies and the development of the range and quality of community-based social services for vulnerable and disadvantaged groups, including Roma. In general context Project has 3 specific project objectives or purposes:

  • To strengthen the institutional capacities at the national and local levels to manage social inclusion policies across the country;
  • To develop community‐based social services for vulnerable groups;
  • To support the implementation of active inclusion initiatives for Roma population.

First specific objective will be accomplished by providing technical assistance to the Ministry in formulating, implementing, monitoring and evaluating the implementation of the relevant social policies, as well as assisting the CBSS providers in formulating and implementing suitable and appropriate operational solutions to put in practice the policy and strategic indications formulated at the national level. Second and third specific project objectives will be achieved by supporting the successful implementation of actions awarded to selected grant beneficiaries under the main 2 LOTs with total value of EU contribution of 4.331.275,56 EUR:

  1. LOT 1 – Community-based social services for vulnerable groups – 5 cluster projects and 13 social care (Total value of EU contribution of 2.874.848,29 EUR)
  2. LOT 2 – Active inclusion initiatives for the Roma population – 10 projects (Total value of EU contribution of 1.456.427,27 EUR)

A total of 28 projects have been supported, and the EU, in cooperation with the Ministry of Labor, Employment, Veteran and Social Affairs allocated 28 grants to 36 municipalities and cities in Serbia.

Final beneficiaries of the project are the citizens of Serbia – current and future users of the Social Welfare System, members of the Roma minority and other vulnerable and disadvantaged groups, as well as the end beneficiaries of the actions supported through the EU Grant Scheme.

The project will have an impact on the wider domestic population and the local community in terms of the provision of a better quality of life. Positive impacts on the budget (through decreased claims for family income support, one-off assistance in cash, etc.) are expected. Generally, the project will contribute to the better exercising of guarantied basic human rights.  It shall encourage integrated models of service delivery with a view to address social exclusion in a holistic manner, pursuing a cross sector approach encompassing social, education, health care and housing, particularly for those facing a multiplicity of socio-economic problems such as the Roma.

Technical assistance and establishment of Project Management Team is provided by the Consortium of EPTISA Servicios de Ingenieria S.L. (ES), Eptisa D.O.O. (SR) and WYG international (UK).