On the second day of his visit to southeast Serbia, the Head of the EU Delegation to Serbia Ambassador Sem Fabrizi paid a visit to Sjenica and the Sjenica-based Masry Plus company, which has improved its business by obtaining sugar producing equipment through an EU donation.

The issue of unemployment affects both Serbia and EU countries, which is why the EU lends support for projects fostering entrepreneurship, especially among women and the youth, Fabrizi said.

“Young generations should be offered a chance to start and develop their own business, be creative, bring forward good business ideas and grasp opportunities, while the authorities should create a business-encouraging environment. By doing so, the youth will be part of the solution, not part of the problem,“ the Head of the Delegation Sem Fabrizi said.

Ambassador Fabrizi also called on local self-governments and businesses to take active part in the new EU PRO programme aimed at economic and social development of 99 local self-governments in Serbia. EU PRO is currently running a public call for proposals aimed at micro and small enterprises – in order to help them improve their business and become socially responsible toward their communities – for which the EU has allocated EUR4.5 million.

Hazir Dacic, Masry Plus company owner, said that he managed to improve his business thanks to EU-donated equipment, and hired another four fellow citizens, in addition to 16 previously hired workers.

During the meeting with the President of Sjenica Municipality Hazbo Mujovic, Fabrizi highlighted the fact that the EU had thus far supported over 70 projects in the area of infrastructure, agriculture, migration and social inclusion. Ambassador also said that the EU acted as a partner of local self-governments in the process of European integration.

Hazbo Mujovic thanked the European Union for its previous assistance, adding that the Municipality will continue to draft and efficiently implement new projects.

On the first day of his visit, on 21 June, Ambassador Fabrizi visited Novi Pazar where he opened the European Film Festival, whose 2018 edition is dedicated to cultural heritage and ran under the slogan Our Heritage: Where the Past Meets the Future.

“The main message from the Festival – and the European Union for that matter – is preservation and respect for diversity that unites us in the European Union,“ Ambassador Fabrizi said as he opened the Festival, describing Novi Pazar as a town rich in culture and diversity.

The Italian film Leopardi was the first to be screened at the Festival. Apart from Belgrade and Novi Pazar, the Festival will be hosted by another 11 cities across Serbia.

The European Union supports the activities of EU PRO, a programme aimed at promoting a more balanced socio-economic development of Serbia, with a total of EUR25 million. The programme seeks to improve competitiveness of micro and small enterprises and business environment and to advance social cohesion in 99 local self-governments in two Serbian regions: Sumadija and Western Serbia, and Southern and Eastern Serbia. All activities on the ground are implemented by the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS).