Deputy Head of the EU Delegation Oskar Benedikt called on young people in Serbia to take an active part during their country’s EU accession process. Addressing the participants of “Youth and European Integration” Info Day, held at the Centre for the Promotion of Science, Benedikt said that European Union enabled its citizens to move and find employment freely which were among the advantages taken mostly by young people.

“Engage in politics, seek information, become active, make the most of all opportunities, and we we will be ready to support you,” Benedikt said.

European Union is already widely present in Serbia. There are over 600 ongoing projects, from construction of kindergartens and cutting the emission of harmful gases in thermal power plants in Obrenovac, to cooperation with universities, Benedikt said, adding that even the EU Delegation to Serbia employed more than 100 people.

Speaking about the greatest benefits of the EU, Benedikt said that it had brought peace to Europe and replaced politics of force and power with cooperation and rule of law.

“It is what really matters, especially when developments around the EU are taken into account, in Arab countries, in Ukraine; then we can understand the importance of the fact that conflicts in Europe are not addressed through violence, but law, institutions,” Benedikt said.

He said that the EU was not a static organisations, but had 28 Member States and counting.

Addressing the young participants, Head of the Team for Negotiations with the EU Tanja Miscevic said that European values went hand in hand with the sense of responsibility for what was said and done.

She explained that, if implemented correctly, Serbia’s obligations during EU accession might above all bring benefits to Serbian citizens.

“The story does not end the moment Serbia enters the EU; only then does the party begin,” said Miscevic and noted that Serbia would have to prove it could contribute to creation and development of certain policies and problem solving, which was the part where young people would play a major role.