Head of the EU Delegation to Serbia Michael Davenport visited Novi Sad where he met with City and Province’s political leadership, held a lecture on EU-Serbia relations, participated in a broader discussion on the subject of newly elected European Commission’s approach to enlargement process, and attended the ceremony celebrating 10th anniversary of European Movement in Novi Sad.
During the visit Davenport said that the European Commission strongly supports the pro-European policy of the Government of Serbia.
The new European Commission supports all political and financial efforts of Serbia to keep making progress on the path of European integration, Davenport said, adding that the cooperation with the representatives of the Province of Vojvodina and the City of Novi Sad was on a high level.
Addressing the students and professors at the Faculty of Economics and Engineering Management in Novi Sad (FIMEK), Davenport said that new EC President Jean Claude Juncker had a somewhat harder task on the post he currently occupies. He also pointed out that the European Parliament now has had a stronger position, as its approval is required for programs of each of the European Commissioners.
In front of the full amphitheatre Davenport held a lecture on European Union-Serbia relations, after which he discussed with students and answered their questions regarding alignment of Serbian standards to those of the EU, especially in the area of environmental protection. Students were also interested in the assessment of Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama’s recent visit.
Apart from Davenport, Fishbowl discussion, held in fully packed Great Hall of the University of Novi Sad on the subject of approach towards the enlargement process of the newly elected European Commission and its effects on perspective of Western Balkans, was participated in by Croatian Ambassador Gordan Markotic and representative of Igman Initiative Vehid Sehic. Inevitably, Euroscepticism emerged as a topic, but discussion also dealt with UK and Croatia’s EU experience.
“As a phenomenon, Euroscepticism surely exists in the UK, but in other countries as well,” Davenport said.
“Both personally and professionally, I believe that EU membership is the best solution for my country, and this is not a political statement. Debate in the UK will only have an impact on raising the awareness on its EU membership,” he added.
Ambassador of Croatia Gordan Markotic spoke about the experience of the newest EU Member State: “EU brought us countless possibilities in terms of studying and employment. External borders get much safer. One cannot perceive EU as a thing that brings benefit overnight, but as a lasting process.”
Within his visit to Vojvodina’s capital, Davenport also attended the Academy celebrating 10th anniversary of European Movement in Novi Sad in the Gallery of Matica srpska, where he received a letter of thanks from the European Movement for their contribution to the European integration process. Film director Želimir Žilnik, the Municipality of Srbobran, the Matica Srpska Gallery the Art Academy and many others received the letter as well.
