"SPORTS ZONES" CONNECT PALILULA AND BERKOVICA
2.10.2015

Thanks to a partnership on the project "Establishment of sports areas in the municipalities of Palilula and Berkowica," residents of the two cities in Serbia and Bulgaria got valuable sports centers - "sports zones" for recreation and gathering of young people. Investments worth around 760,000 euros, are realized in the framework of the IPA fund and EU support. The stadium and sports center in Berkovica were opened by the presidents of these partner municipalities in the presence of Bulgarian Prime Minister.

On the occasion of the completion of the project "Strengthening territorial cohesion in the border region through the development of social infrastructure in the field of sport - Development of sport", which was implemented under the Neighborhood Programme Bulgaria-Serbia, with the support of the IPA (Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance) Fund of the European Union, in the City Municipality of Palilula from October 8-10 a Sport Festival will be held. On this occasion, in the elementary school "Branko Miljkovic" "SPORTS ZONES> with skate park, gym and outdoor artificial rock will be opened, says Boban Džunić, president of Palilula Municipality. Investment worth about 110,000 euros will enrich youth sporting activities in this part of the city,with which will be completed partnership activity of these two municipalities: Palilula and Berkovica, on the establishing of sports fields.

On the occasion of the Day of Berkowica Municipality, earlier this month, in the presence of Prime Minister of Bulgaria Bojko Borisov, the presidents of the partner municipalities, Boban Džunić, president of Palilula Municipality and Dimitranka Kamenov, Mayor of Berkovica opened the renovated stadium and sports complex, built with EU financial support.

In addition to the construction of sports facilities in the two cities, the special value of the project makes the all social inclusion. On this occasion, 30 of young people from the municipality of Palilula visited the municipality Berkovica and young Berkovica people will make this return visit in October. According to president Boban Džunić, Palilula recognized "Neighborhood Programme" of the European Union as an opportunity towards improving the link between local communities and the strengthening of cultural, social and economic cooperation and the promotion of their potential in the region, especially from Bulgaria. In the previous period Palilula has achieved successful partnerships and projects with Bulgarian cities Svoge, Cuustendil, Bobov Dol, Ihtiman, Botevgrad and with this new project expanded it with the Municipality of Berkovica in regional area of Montana.

This place is mentioned back in the seventh century as an old settlement. Today there are about eighteen thousand inhabitants. It is located at the foot of the Kom mountain (2016m) and is an attractive place for tourism and recreation, sports and entertainment.