Creative Europe Forum, a traditional event hosted by the Creative Europe Desk Serbia, was officially opened on 20 June at the Ilija M. Kolarac Endowment in Belgrade. It is the fourth consecutive Forum organised by the Creative Europe Desk Serbia. This year, the Forum is dedicated to the European Year of Cultural Heritage and new perspectives of the EU-WB relations in the area of culture.

The Head of the EU Delegation to the Republic of Serbia Ambassador Sem Fabrizi said he was happy to open the Forum which has a “distinct dimension” as it takes place during the European Year of Cultural Heritage, coinciding with the renewed commitment of the EU to the European integration of the Western Balkans.

Fabrizi said the EU had policies to support culture and cultural diplomacy, with cultural heritage and good practice and experience exchange as its essential elements.

Also, the EU has tools to support culture, Fabrizi said, congratulating Serbia for its participation in Creative Europe.

“In a separate Creative Europe CfP, three out of 29 approved projects are led by Serbian institutions, while another six projects have enlisted Serbian institutions as project partners, putting Serbia on the list of the most successful participants, together with Italy and France.”

Fabrizi also mentioned other EU programmes that to a certain extent bear relevance to cultural heritage, such as Erasmus, Horizon 2020 and Europe for Citizens.

He pointed out that the EU supports preservation of cultural heritage in Serbia. He noted that the Subotica Synagogue has been reconstructed thanks to EU support, announcing the forthcoming opening of the reconstructed Fortress in Bac.

“Serbia is a country with rich cultural heritage that should be made visible to a larger number of people, both citizens and tourists. We are happy to be part of the effort of making those cultural gems visible to as many people as possible,” Fabrizi noted.

Bulgarian Ambassador Radko Vlajkov welcomed the participants on behalf of the EU Council presiding country and the Embassy that co-organised the Forum together with the EU Delegation, the EUNIC Global and the Bulgarian State Institute of Culture.

A representative of the EU DG EAC Carmela Cutugno – who will present the new 2021-2027 Creative Europe programme and its international dimension on 22 June – also pointed to importance of EU-WB cooperation in the area of culture.

“Culture is what we consider key to exchange, cooperation and growth, both economic and social,” she said.

Carmela Cutugno described culture as essential part of EU’s international relations strategy, which highlights the role of culture as a key factor for social and economic development, building of peace and intercultural dialogue.

Creative Europe Forum runs through 22 June and is taking place in various venues across Belgrade, including the EU Info Centre.