Skills and cooperation for a better life of citizens were the main theme of the cocktail party organised by the Delegation of the European Union in Serbia.

Along with partners and representatives of the diplomatic corps, the exhibition “Skills in focus” was opened at the same time.

EU Ambassador to Serbia Emanuele Giaufret said on that occasion that there is a very strong political determination to bring the Western Balkans closer to the European Union and that 2024 represents a great opportunity for that.

“We have a Growth plan for the region, it is a proposal of the European Commission from last year to speed up the accession of the entire Western Balkans. We recently had a large and important summit in Skopje, which is also being done in Brussels, with the aim of turning the idea of improving the Balkan accession dynamics into action The main message is that there is a very strong political determination to bring the Western Balkans closer to the EU. That determination is strong and the year 2024 brings a great opportunity for the Western Balkans, and I think that opportunity must not be missed,” said Ambassador Giaufret at the ceremony held in “Aeroklub”.

“We will remain very committed to our goal, the goal of the EU, to bring the Western Balkans closer to the EU. Bringing Serbian society closer to the EU, working on the rule of law, improving democracy, the media scene, the economic and economic situation, the standard of living,” said Giaufret.

At the same time, the EU Ambassador congratulated the winners of the “Skills in Focus” photo contest.

The expert jury chose the three best photos and awarded them with vouchers for the purchase of photo and electronic equipment in the equivalent value of dinars, and the first prize of EUR 1,000 went to Marija Erdelja, the second prize of EUR 500 to Mikica Andrejić, and the third prize of EUR 300 was won by Maja Stošić.

Four special commendations from the members of the jury were also awarded, and they were deserved by: Ivana Stojanović, Slavko Rosul, Ognjen Mirković and Slađana Pantelić.

The five-member jury chose three winning works, and also chose 19 best photos (including the three awarded ones), which are part of the exhibition that those interested will be able to see in Belgrade, and then in Novi Sad and Niš.

The ceremony was attended by a large number of diplomats, including US Ambassador to Serbia Christopher Hill, French Ambassador Pierre Cochard, Ukrainian Ambassador Volodymyr Tolkach.

The Delegation of the European Union in Serbia and its partners organized a competition for the best photo created in Serbia “Skills in Focus”, on the occasion of the European Year of Skills. More than 800 works showed people in a wide variety of activities, where both the skills of the protagonists and the skills of the photographer stood out. Photo contests are a traditional annual activity of the EU Delegation.

The competition is dedicated to all people who are skilled in something: athletes, students who acquire new skills, old crafts, scientists, experts in the field of medicine, construction, architecture or their works, painters, cooks, etc. With this theme we celebrate creativity and skills in all age groups of people. By participating in the contest, the participants showed not only their creativity, but also their photography skills.