Under the motto Europe Open, the Delegation of the European Union to the Republic of Serbia, together with its partners, will celebrate Europe Day 2015 by organising numerous events in Belgrade and its municipality Obrenovac, in the presence of European Commissioner for European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations Johannes Hahn.
Commissioner Hahn will be a special guest at the central event of the Europe Day 2015 celebration which will be held in Obrenovac. This municipality, being the one hardest hit by heavy floods in May 2014, will be the host of a sport competition for primary school pupils from across Serbia. From 7-9 May, they will compete in volleyball and basketball in three Obrenovac schools, all of which are renovated with the support of the European Union:
Agriculture and Chemical high school, Primary school Posavski partizani and Primary school Jovan Jovanovic-Zmaj. The competition, organised together with Ministry of Youth and Sports, Municipality of Obrenovac and Alliance for School Sports Serbia, will gather around 320 pupils hailing from municipalities in the areas affected by May 2014 floods.
On 7 May, Commissioner Hahn will attend ceremonial parade of all participants in the Agriculture and Chemical School, together with Head of the EU Delegation to the Republic of Serbia, HE Michael Davenport , President of the Municipality of Obrenovac Mr Miroslav Cuckovic, president of the Alliance for School Sports Serbia, Mr Zeljko Tanaskovic and other guests.
Europe Day celebration will continue on 8 May with the traditional university conference, organised by Faculty of Finance and Administration (FEFA) and EU Info Centre. Panelists at the conference The challenges of the European Union and implications for Serbia will be Minister without Portfolio in Charge of European Integration, Ms Jadranka Joksimovic, Ambassador Davenport, FEFA Dean Professor Ana Trbovic, Professor Zarko Puhovski and others.
The same day, the City of Zrenjanin will held cultural manifestation European village presenting diversity of 28 EU Member States. The event will be held in the central city square.
In EU Info Centre, in Dom omladine Beograda, Europe Day, 9 May, will be marked by a workshop presenting Erasmus+ programme and a debate Myths and Prejudices about Serbia’s EU Accession, with participation of Deputy Head of the EU Delegation, Mr Oskar Benedikt, organised jointly with Serbian European Integration Office (SEIO).
Sport competition will be closed on 9 May in Agriculture and Chemical School in Obrenovac, where the final matches will be played in the early afternoon hours. Ambassador Davenport, Minister of Youth and Sports Vanja Udovicic, Secretary General of the Basketball Association Andrija Kleut and President of the Volleyball Association Aleksandar Boricic will present medals to the three most successful competitors. Celebration in Obrenovac will be closed by Europe Open programme at the central square: in the organisation of EU Info Centre and SEIO, cultural and musical programme will be held from 11.00 until 24.00.
Europe month celebration will continue with the final simulation of a European Parliament debate, that will gather high school student teams at the National Assembly of Serbia, on May 20.
Traditionally, in the cadre of Europe Day celebration, the European Film Festival will be held in Dom omladine Beograda from 19-24 May, presenting 22 contemporary films from all over Europe.
In Novi Sad and Nis, Europe Day celebrations will be organised by the respective EU Info Points.
On 8 May, a debate My Country Before and After EU Integration will be held at OK Radio in Novi Sad; on 9 May, cultural and promotional event is envisaged in the open. European Film Festival will be organised from 21-25 May.
In Nis, open event Balkan Street promoting EU values through debate, rock concert and competition What Do I Know about Europe for pupils will be organised on 9 May. The city will see the European Film Festival from 22-28 May. Selection of best European movies will also be available to citizens of Zrenjanin, Vranje and Prokuplje.
EU Member States’ embassies in Belgrade will open their doors to visitors: Open Days will be held from 8 May to 12 June, in order to bring European diversity closer to Serbian citizens.
Background
– About Europe Day
The Europe Day, 9 May, commemorates the declaration made by French foreign minister Robert Schuman on the same day in 1950 which is considered the first official step in the establishment of the present EU. It was a proposal to former enemies, France and Germany, to establish an organisation to jointly manage their coal and steel industries in order to prevent a war in Europe from happening again; the proposal led to the creation of European Coal and Steel Community, a forerunner of modern day EU.
– Overview of the EU assistance for flood relief in Obrenovac
The European Union Assistance for Flood Relief in Obrenovac is estimated at €3,775,000. This includes construction of 25 private houses and social housing building with 32 apartments, reconstruction of 150 private houses and five schools, support to 40 micro and small businesses and provision of seeds, fertilizers, seedlings and equipment to 660 agriculture producers. The EU allocated €862,700 for reconstruction and equipping of five public schools and the development of necessary technical documentation for the reconstruction of the Gymnasium. The programme is implemented by the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) in Serbia with its implementing partners (DRC, ASB, Help, FAO and Divac humanitarian foundation).
