President of the Assembly of Vojvodina Sandor Egeresi stated Monday that he is not satisfied with the overall economic growth in Serbia, especially in Vojvodina since it dropped below Serbia's average.

In 2010, industrial production in Serbia will merely reach half of the production realized in 1990, while GDP in Vojvodina equals USD 3,600 per capita, which is by 4.8 percent lower than Serbia's average, Egeresi said at New Year's press conference.

He estimated that the country will face another tough year, taking into account that neither the budget of the Republic of Serbia, nor that of Vojvodina is developmental.

“For the first time, Serbia's budget is tailored in conformity with the constitutional provision and allocates 7 percent to Vojvodina. However, that is not enough. Vojvodina's budget (RSD 60.7 billion) can only prevent further deterioration of the province, but cannot contribute to its development,” said Egeresi.

Egeresi also criticized the delegation of certain authorities to regional level, underlining that political decisions should entail adequate funds.

Egeresi pointed to the fact that the Assembly of Vojvodina for the first time got its own budget, envisaged by the budget of the province, and underscored that he closely cooperates with Serbian President Boris Tadic, Parliament Speaker Slavica Djukic Dejanovic and Interior Minister Ivica Dacic.

In the next year, the Assembly of Vojvodina will invest its efforts into decentralization, regionalization, further democratization, fostering Vojvodina's multiculturalism and safeguarding the rights of minority groups.