Damascus, (SANA) – Minister of Local Administration Dr. Tamer al-Hija on Wednesday discussed with a team of European experts in the Decentralization and Local Development Program work axes of the second phase of the Municipal Administration Modernization program (MAM 2), estimated at 20 million Euros.

Al-Hija said the next stage of MAM will focus on developing random housing areas economically and socially, carrying out projects of local and national benefit, training cadres and restoring historic heritage areas.

He added that the program will help increase the efficiency of Syrian cities through the development of human resources and institutional capabilities and the activation of partnership with local society and private sector's economic activities.

Expert Peter Rous said the program supports developing work mechanisms in the Ministry and Syrian cities and focuses on economic and social development at local and regional levels targeting different cities and work areas of different development levels.

"The program offers grants for NGOs and provides financing to municipalities on competitive basis helping them look for additional funding sources," added Rous, pointing out that the program also aims at developing mechanisms of the Regional Centre for Sustainable Local Development and widening its work as a local and international node.

MAM 2 will also work on developing legal suggestions related to the Local Administration Law, regional planning, financial management and the legal framework for urban planning.

The European team includes experts from France, England, Sweden and Germany.

The first phase of the program (MAM 1), which was launched in June 2006, has carried out various projects with a cost of 18 million euros ranging from institutional development, simplifying procedures, activating financial and administrative programs at the municipalities to developing human resources.

R. Raslan/ H. Said