EU Delegation hosts EU Member States diplomats’ visit to Subotica and Bac

A group of deputy heads of EU Member States’ missions paid a two-day visit to Subotica and Bac where they met with representatives of local self-governments and toured a number of EU-funded projects.

With over EUR80 million, the European Union is the biggest donor of financial assistance in the Republic of Serbia in the area of migration management. Hence, the visit to the Health Centre, the Centre for Social Work, Migrant Reception Centre, the Subotica Synagogue, the Fortress and the Monastery in Bac served as a chance for diplomats to see the tangible results of the EU assistance.

The delegation of diplomats – headed by the Deputy Head of the EU Delegation to Serbia Mateja Norcic Stamcar – started their visit off with a meeting with Subotica Mayor Bogdan Laban.

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We discussed EU-funded projects in Subotica with Mayor Laban, above all the environment-related activities, such as the regulation and cleaning of canals and the construction of a regional landfill, Norcic Stamcar told the press.

The Health Centre in Subotica – the receiver of an EU donation in the form of ambulance cars – was the next stop during the visit. Deputy heads then continued the tour by visiting the Centre for Social Work, the Migrant Reception Centre and the Synagogue.

Norcic Stamcar described the visit to Subotica as a great opportunity for diplomats to see how the EU tax payers’ money is being spent.

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On the second day of the visit the diplomats paid a visit to the 14th century Fortress in Bac and the 12th century Franciscan Monastery. Mateja Norcic Stamcar reminded them that the EU had allocated EUR3 million for the reconstruction of these monuments.

The delegation of EU Member States’ deputy heads then had a meeting with the President of the Municipality Borislav Antonic with whom they discussed the use of EU funds and cross-border cooperation.

“I am happy to hear about the cross-border cooperation plans with municipalities in Croatia directly from the President of the Municipality,” said Norcic Stamcar.

Deputy Ambassador of Bulgaria Iva Kruleva said that, while presiding over the EU, her country puts focus on connectivity and cooperation.

“The reconstruction of cultural heritage sites is, among other things, crucial for the development of tourism,” Kruleva said following a tour of the medieval Fortress in Bac.