Head of the European Union Delegation to Serbia Michael Davenport started the second day of his visit to South East Serbia by a meeting with the President of the municipality of Nova Varos and his associates with whom he discussed future plans for the development of local self-government and cooperation with the European PROGRES Programme.
Following the meeting, Ambassador Michael Davenport visited high school Pivo Karamatijevic in Nova Varos where he attended the presentation of the school magazine Skica launched by students within the campaign “If you have something to say – say it” which in a creative manner deals with regular school activities as well as topics covered by Europa Diary.
“It is important to hear what the young people think about education, career and other important social issues affecting them and their lives. The coming period will open up new opportunities for students to develop their creativity and perhaps inspire some of them to pursue a career in journalism and the like,” Head of the EU Delegation said.
EU support to female entrepreneurship
While in Nova Varos, Davenport also paid a visit to entrepreneur Tanja Roljevic, one of 45 women who had received support of EUR357 000 from the European Union and the Government of Switzerland to start their own business and create new jobs.
“The support of the European Union, the Government of Switzerland and Serbia encouraged me to go on and believe I could put my ideas into action,” said Tanja Roljevic who after having spent several years in Belgrade returned to her home town and, with support from donors, revived the family-owned watch repair business and expanded it to jewellery making.
Congratulating Tanja Roljevic on her success, Ambassador Davenport said gender equality was one of the fundamental values of the European Union, adding that activities as such brought economic empowerment to women, their families and local communities.
“Supporting female entrepreneurship is important for the entire society: if we strive for a more rapid development we need more working women and must make sure they have the opportunity to apply their knowledge and skills,” Davenport said.
Davenport: “We can be satisfied with the results of 86 projects completed so far“
Following the meeting with the President of the municipality of Priboj Lazar Rvovic, Head of the EU Delegation visited the Homeland Museum whose reconstruction has been funded by the EU and the Government of Switzerland with a view to preserving this valuable Serbian archaeological treasure which forms part of European cultural heritage.
At the Youth Centre, renovated and equipped with the support of the EU, Ambassador Davenport met with young volunteers and pupils from Nova Varos to discuss Serbia’s European path and opportunities it could open up for young people. The youth from Priboj was particularly interested in the possibility to participate in European student exchange programmes as well as in cooperation in the areas of culture and education.
Head of the EU Delegation Michael Davenport ended his two-day visit to South West Serbia by taking part in the tenth meeting of the European PROGRES Steering Committee in Priboj and said that in order to accomplish the final, common goal – a better life for the citizens of 34 municipalities in South East and South West of the country – all partners, and above all towns and municipalities, should make an effort to implement all of the ongoing projects during this crucial, final year of the Programme.
“We can be satisfied with the results of 86 projects completed so far, among which I would single out the support to female entrepreneurship and partnership projects between civil society and municipalities which made possible the creation of over 60 jobs and economic empowerment of several dozens of families, as well as projects aimed at the development of technical documentation thanks to which a several municipalities have secured donor funding to carry out works,“ said Head of the EU Delegation to Serbia Michael Davenport.
The activities of the European PROGRES aimed at youth and women employment and the empowerment of SMEs in this area to make them more successful and help them create new jobs, Davenport singled out as particularly important.
“In the years ahead, we expect the EU to contribute to the creation of over a thousand jobs and support municipalities in improving infrastructure and attracting investment, striving at all times to improve the status of the most vulnerable and raise the standard of living,” Head of the EU Delegation added.
Davenport said that, even after the completion of European PROGRES, the European Union would continue to support balanced regional and local development, adding that local self-governments, civil society organisations and increasingly the representatives of economic sector, had to be ready to seize those opportunities.
“It is therefore important for municipalities to continue implementing reforms, adhering to the framework and guidelines made by the Government of Serbia, develop projects and set up the best teams for their implementation, and the European Union, the Government of Switzerland, Serbia and the UN Office for Project Services will stand ready to help,“ Ambassador Davenport said.
Seven projects of agricultural associations and cooperatives approved
According to Branko Budimir, Chairman of the European PROGRES Steering Committee/Assistant Director of Serbian European Integration Office, the focus is now on the implementation, adding that it is particularly important to make the best use of the Programme’s presence on the ground in local offices in Novi Pazar, Nis and Vranje.
Members of the Steering Committee today approved the financial support for seven projects of agricultural associations and cooperatives, worth EUR208 000, aimed at improving agricultural production and strengthening rural households. Also, the Committee approved funding for 18 projects supporting gender equality mechanisms at the local level to the tune of EUR52 500. The implementation of these projects should contribute to: improving the status of women and their economic empowerment; improving female reproductive health; and the promotion of gender equality principle among the decision makers at the local level.
The European Union and the Government of Switzerland will support the activities of the European PROGRESS programme, which contributes to the sustainable development of the South and South West Serbia, with a total of EUR24.46 million. Approved projects will be aimed at strengthening local administration, creating a favourable environment for the development of infrastructure and economy as well as improving the implementation of social inclusion and employment policy. The programme is implemented by the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS).
The municipalities included in the programme are as follows: Novi Pazar, Ivanjica, Nova Varos, Priboj, Prijepolje, Raska, Sjenica and Tutin in South West Serbia, as well as Prokuplje, Blace, Zitoradja, Kursumlija, Leskovac, Bojnik, Vlasotince, Lebane, Medvedja, Crna Trava, Vranje, Bosilegrad, Bujanovac, Vladicin Han, Presevo, Surdulica, Trgoviste, Brus, Aleksinac, Gadzin Han, Doljevac, Merosina, Svrljig, Babusnica, Bela Palanka and Knjazevac in South East Serbia.
