Today, the Herceg Novi Protection and Rescue Service received a new fully equipped fire truck for interventions in urban and rural areas. The keys to the vehicle, which is worth almost EUR100,000, were handed over by the Deputy Head of Cooperation at the EU Delegation to Montenegro Liselotte Isaksson to the Mayor Stevan Katic in a handover ceremony organised by the Municipality of Herceg Novi.

The truck and other rescue equipment were acquired through the EU funded cross border cooperation project „Resilient border“, aiming at improving capacities for prevention, preparation and response to disasters of the civil protection services in the West Herzegovina Canton and Herceg Novi Municipality.

Mayor Katić pointed out that the donation will significantly improve capabilities, readiness and response time of the operational team of the protection and rescue service and the emergency services of Herceg Novi. „We have recently witnessed an increasing number of natural disasters that have harmful consequences for society as a whole. The local community alone cannot do a lot, but through projects like this, by establishing cross-border cooperation and with the support of the European Union, it is possible to successfully overcome the challenges we will face“, Mayor Katic said at the the handover ceremony.

Handing over the keys of the fire truck, Liselotte Isaksson said she hoped that the donation would help Herceg Novi increase its preparedness when it comes to protecting citizens. “Having a good neighbour in an emergency situation saves many lives. Good neighbours also know that they have to work together, even before disaster strikes. The European Union is very glad to have funded this initiative of the civil protection services from Herceg Novi and the West Hercegovina Canton, helping them to come together and improve their skills and capacities to manage natural hazards”, she said.

In addition to the procurement of valuable equipment for firefighting units, the project is helping to improve improve risk prevention and management related to the consequences of climate change and man-made disasters in this cross-border area. Activities are carried out to support networking, strengthen capacities, exchange experiences and raise public awareness when it comes to disaster preparedness.

The project "Improving capacities for prevention, preparation and response to disasters - Resilient border" was approved within the EU cross-border cooperation programme Bosnia and Herzegovina - Montenegro (2014-2020). The total project value is over EUR 586,000 out of which nearly EUR 500,000 are provided by the EU while the remaining amount is co-financed by the project partners PI Development Agency of the West Herzegovina Canton, the Administration of Civil Protection of the West Herzegovina Canton and the Municipality of Herceg Novi. The project started in March 2022 and will last 24 months.