Head of the EU Delegation to Serbia, Ambassador Sem Fabrizi, paid a visit to Novi Sad on Wednesday, 20 September, where he met with city and provincial administration officials. This was Ambassador’s first visit to institutions outside Belgrade.

The first meeting took place at the Provincial Government where Ambassador Fabrizi met with President of the Provincial Government, Igor Mirovic.

“The European Union funds a number of major projects across Vojvodina, in Novi Sad in particular. Those projects reflect not only the complexity, but also the scope of our relations. Total value of the projects amounts to EUR460 million, ranging from infrastructure, research and science to the rule of law and agriculture. I said today that I am looking forward to good and close cooperation with provincial authorities and I am encouraged by the fact that the Province has been committed to the process of integrating minorities in the region. Talking to the President of the Provincial Government, I realised that the EU and Vojvodina share the same motto – united in diversity,” Ambassador Fabrizi said.

He added that he was encouraged by the progress made in Serbia-EU relations.

“Last week, the European Commission President gave an important speech on the EU enlargement process and last Friday Commissioner Hahn paid a visit to Belgrade where he met with President Vucic, the Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister. Serbia’s EU accession negotiations are advancing, thanks to the efforts made by the entire country. Vojvodina plays the key, essential role in this process. Following the meeting with the President of the Provincial Government I am even more convinced that this would continue in the future,“ Fabrizi said.

President of the Provincial Government Igor Mirovic said that Ambassador Fabrizi’s visit was an indicator of the good cooperation between the EU Delegation to Serbia and provincial administration.

“In the coming period, during the mandate of the new Head of EU Delegation to Serbia, we will step up our cooperation and be more practical. We have agreed concrete steps regarding the projects that are important to us, such as the Great Backa Canal and its overall protection system. The Canal is among Europe’s major environmental “black spots” and the European Commission is funding the project of reconstruction and revitalisation of the system. Also, after years of struggling, we will finally have the new, Zezelj Bridge. We have a new perspective and we will seize that momentum with the help of Ambassador Fabrizi,“ said President of the Provincial Government Igor Mirovic.

Ambassador then held meetings with Secretary General of the European Movement in Serbia Aleksandar Simurdic and Provincial Ombudsman Zoran Pavlovic.

Ambassador Fabrizi also visited the EU Info Point in Novi Sad, where he addressed the participants of the roundtable “Challenges and opportunities of women actively engaged in environmental protection in the process of EU integration“.

“I liked your sophisticated debate and the way you articulated your opinions. It was just like any debate in Brussels about achieving energy efficiency, the role of renewables and to what extent they could be used, etc.

“Under the EU Agenda, environmental protection is the driving force of innovation, economic growth and job creation. Meetings like this, participated in by parliament members who are experts in different areas, show the comprehensiveness of the issue of environment and its cross-cutting nature,” he said.

Ambassador Fabrizi added that the EU extends two-level support for environment to Serbia.

“On the one hand, we have support for the drafting of legislation. The European Union has the most advanced laws and standards. Indeed, they are complex, but are at the same time focused on the quality of life for all. The second level includes allocation of significant funding for specific infrastructure projects in the area of environment, for instance in the field of waste management or wastewater treatment. Out of EUR460 million allocated for projects in Vojvodina, we have invested EUR45 million in environment projects,“ Fabrizi added.

He said that environment was the issue that concerned the whole society and affected future generations. He added that this issue was not abstract in nature, explaining that the quality of environment was an indicator of the quality of life in general.

Following the visit to the EU Info Point, Ambassador Fabrizi paid a visit to the City Administration where he met with the Mayor of Novi Sad Milos Vucevic. At the end of his first visit to Novi Sad, Ambassador visited the Zezelj Bridge, the construction of which is funded by the European Union.