PROGRAM OF GOVERNMENT 2017-2020 municipalities, which, based on real indicators, have continuously shown little tax capacity and great financial needs. The Government will set up a fund to support municipal projects, financed from IPA and other EU programs. The fund will provide permanent and reliable funding for capital infrastructure projects such as water supply systems, construction and reconstruction of local roads and streets, regional plants for treatment of municipal solid waste, wastewater collection systems, treatment plants for fecal wastewater, gasification of municipalities, public street lighting, parks, regulation of riverbeds, etc. The Government will launch a process that will encourage and oblige municipalities to prepare urban plans for all residential areas. The conversion will take place in two phases - the first will cover residential areas of over 1,000 inhabitants, while the second, settlements with less than 1,000 inhabitants. Municipalities will be required to develop economic development plans as a basis for sustainable community development for all residential areas. According to the best European practices, urban plans will have a longer period of validity, while municipal development plans will be valid for 4 to 6 years. The Government will simplify and lower the costs of all procedures for obtaining building permits. In smaller and rural areas, we will directly stimulate the construction of buildings for housing and business. In these areas we will significantly reduce the cost of building land and fully subsidize the urbanization of the construction land. For young couples and families who do not have their own home we will introduce additional stimulation measures for housing construction. This will stop the outflow of young people and create realistic conditions for return of life in these areas. The Government will provide budgetary support for replacement of all asbestos-cement pipes and all asbestos-cement roofs of public institutions under the jurisdiction of local government by the end of the mandate. All public local government buildings will receive insulating facades, which will save a lot of money for fuel, reduce the cutting of firewood and improve conditions for residence and work. The Government will initiate reforms in the utilities sector to improve service quality and increase productivity. By way of transformations and other forms of organization, we will reconstruct the existing and build new communal facilities. We will establish balance between business-for-profit operations, on the one hand and the provision of cheap, reliable, high quality and widely accessible services for the citizens, on the other. The Government will propose appointment of municipal ombudsmen to improve the protection of the rights of citizens violated by the local government. 57