Within the EU Embassies Open Doors event, organised on the occasion of Europe Day by the EU Delegation to Serbia, the Embassy of Greece in Belgrade hosted 40 pupils and teachers of primary school “Jovan Dučić“ in Klek, Zrenjanin municipality, as well as 30 students of both Political Sciences and Law faculties of Belgrade University on Wednesday 14 May 2014.
The EU Embassies Open Doors event is about bringing pupils and students closer to EU member states and their corresponding diplomatic missions.
Pupils from Zrenjanin were hosted by the Ambassador of Greece Constantine Economides who informed them on the role and work of the embassy. The pupils visited Hellenic foundation for culture, and attended a short lecture about the origin of Cyrillic alphabet, Greek influence on Serbian language, as well as about Greek myths (Europa Abduction). At the EU Info Centre, pupils were informed about this Centre’s activities, youth and student programmes, as well as about studying and scholarship possibilities across EU member states. Pupils also visited Nebojša tower and saw exhibits about Rigas Feraios and the First Serbian uprising.
Talking to the students of Political Sciences and Law faculties, the Ambassador Economides said he believed Serbia would complete EU accession negotiations by 2018/20 but warned that Serbia first would have to undertake a number of reforms in the areas of public administration, justice, economy, freedom of media, and to fully implement Brussels’ agreement with Kosovo.
“In order to complete the accession negotiations, you have to have political will, and I believe new [Serbian] government has already shown the will it takes to do this, then come the administrative capacities, and – what’s most important – you have to implement all of the reforms,” said Economides during the meeting with the students at the Embassy of Greece.
