EU Ambassador Giaufret Visits South Serbia to Reaffirm EU’s Continued Commitment to Local Development and Minority Rights

The Head of the European Union Delegation to Serbia, Ambassador Emanuele Giaufret, concluded a two-day visit to the municipalities of Preševo and Bujanovac, underlining the EU’s continued support for inclusive development, improved infrastructure, and respect for minority rights in South Serbia.

During the mission, Ambassador Giaufret met with key political and institutional representatives, including Ardita Sinani, Mayor of Preševo; Arber Pajaziti, Mayor of Bujanovac; Aleksandar Martinović, President of the Coordination Body for the Municipalities of Preševo, Bujanovac, and Medveđa as well as Nenad Mitrović, Acting Director of the Coordination body; and Enkelj Redžepi, President of the Albanian National Minority Council. He also held a farewell meeting with MP Shaip Kamberi, the only representative of the Albanian minority in the Serbian Parliament.

“This is my final visit to the region before the end of my mandate. I came to listen and to hear about the latest developments and to reaffirm the EU’s unwavering commitment to supporting South Serbia and its diverse communities,” said Ambassador Giaufret.

The visit was an opportunity to review several EU-funded projects that have made a significant impact on the lives of local residents:

• In Preševo, the Ambassador visited the Industrial Zone Čukarka, a strategic economic infrastructure project supported through the EU PRO Plus programme. With over €619,000 in EU funding, the initiative completed vital utility infrastructure—sewage, water, lighting, power, and roads, opening new opportunities for business development and job creation.
• In Bujanovac, Ambassador Giaufret toured newly constructed social housing units that provided dignified homes for 12 previously displaced families, thanks to the EU SHAI project. “Closing the last collective centre in Serbia is not just symbolic—it is a human rights achievement. We are proud to have been part of it,” the Ambassador stated. The EU will continue supporting efforts to resolve remaining housing needs in cooperation with the municipality.

• The Ambassador also visited the cross-border cooperation project “Flood Prevention – From Risk to Benefit”, which provided modern equipment and supported reforestation to mitigate land degradation and floods. The EU invested nearly €295,000 in this initiative to strengthen environmental resilience in the region.

Throughout his meetings, Ambassador Giaufret reiterated the EU’s expectation for the continued implementation of the Seven Point Plan aimed at improving the position of Albanians in South Serbia, and further integration of Albanian minority in Serbia.

The European Union remains the largest donor and most committed partner to Serbia’s inclusive development, especially in regions that face long-standing structural challenges. The projects visited by the Ambassador reflect the EU’s broader objective of supporting Serbia’s European path and our shared vision of Serbia as a future member of the European Union.