Lena Smiljanić, a student of the Užice Grammar School, won the first prize in the EU PRO Plus art competition for the 2026 calendar, while the second and third place went to Petra Branković, from the Electrical Engineering and Construction School “Nikola Tesla” from Jagodina and Faruk Džudžević from the School of Textile and Leather Design from Novi Pazar. The audience and the jury decided that their works best responded to this year’s competition theme “Create, Play, Connect the World!” while the School for primary and secondary education “Jelena Majstorović” from Zaječar was declared the best school.
“This year’s theme “Create, play, connect the world” has given you the opportunity to express your talent, but also to show how young people in Serbia build communities, move and connect people through art and sports. You have shown that sports and art teach us team spirit, fair play and mutual respect”, said Plamena Halacheva, Deputy Head of the Delegation of the European Union in Serbia. While congratulating the winners, she pointed out that although the works were created in different cities and schools in Serbia, they all carry the same message – that creation, play and cooperation are universal languages that know no borders.
“We are glad that young people recognise the European Union’s support to Serbia as they see in their communities how investments in sports halls, playgrounds and cultural centers, as well as youth exchange and mobility programmes, create new opportunities for connection and progress. For us, this calendar is a symbol of your creativity, but also a message about the values we share – solidarity, equality, inclusion and respect for diversity,” Halacheva added. She particularly thanked the professors who, with their knowledge and dedication, supported young authors, as well as the schools that foster creativity and active participation of young people, and concluded that the European Union remains a strong partner for young people in Serbia, as they are building a connected, open and just society.
“For almost two decades, the European Union, in partnership with the Ministry of European Integration and with the support of UNOPS, has been investing in the more balanced local development of Serbia. Through the completed programmes but also through those that are their successors – once EU PROGRES, European PROGRES, EU PRO and EU PRO Plus, and now EU INTEGRA – numerous projects have been implemented that show that European integration has a very concrete and visible impact on the everyday life of citizens. The participants of this competition through their artworks tell us that European values are alive, close and present in our communities”, said Danilo Golubović, special advisor to the Minister of European Integration.
“The calendar art competition is certainly one of our most beautiful activities because we have the opportunity to work with you young people, to see how you look at the world, and what you think about important topics – from solidarity and new technologies, to environmental protection, equality and inclusion. You have delighted us every time with your art talent and maturity and views on the world, and you helped us to better plan activities that meet the needs of both you, the youth, and your local communities”, said Marko Vujačić, Head of Programme of UNOPS South East Europe Multi-Country Office.
This year, 160 works from 40 high schools and grammar schools from the territory covered by the programme were submitted to the competition, while the 12 best were selected by the votes of the jury and the audience. Thus, on the pages of the calendar of the EU PRO Plus programme for the coming year, in addition to the first three awarded works, there will also be works of Dunja Stamenović from Pirot, Milan Trujić and Jelena Trujić from Zaječar, Mina Tomović and Ina Zečević from Kraljevo, Teodora Paunović from Smederevska Palanka, Marija Dobratić from Niš, Natalija Stanojević from Vlasotinac and Lee Vasić from Surdulica. The results of the art competition can be found on the website of the EU PRO Plus programme Results of the art competition “Create, Play, Connect the World!” .
The European Union supports the activities of the EU PRO Plus programme – which contributes to more balanced socio-economic development across Serbia – with EUR 30 million. The programme, implemented under the leadership of the Ministry for European Integration, aims to improve territorial development governance, boost economic growth, and enhance local infrastructure and cohesion in 99 local self-government units across two regions: the Region of Šumadija and Western Serbia, and the Region of Southern and Eastern Serbia. Activities on the ground are carried out by UNOPS.
