European Union is Serbia’s most active donor, specially in the area of inclusion of Roma into society, their education, employment, healthcare, housing and legal rights, said Head of the EU Delegation to Serbia Michael Davenport at the Workshop on Political Inclusion of Roma.
As in previous years, the EU Delegation to Serbia and EU Info Centre will have their own stand at Belgrade Book Fair, where they will present new publications on EU but also will organise a series of activities – from book promotions and discussions about EU, to Erasmus+ programme presentation and interactive quizzes.
The European Council agreed on the 2030 climate and energy package, including a cut of at least 40 percent in greenhouse gas emissions, President of the European Commission Jose Manuel Barroso said.
The reconstruction of private houses and construction of new homes in most municipalities included in European Union Assistance for Flood Relief in Serbia should commence by the end of October 2014. This will include provision of construction material and manpower and construction of new houses for more than 520 vulnerable families. The completion of this intervention is expected by December 2014 – January 2015.
Economic governance has become one of the “key pillars” of European Union’s enlargement policy, Stefan Füle, European Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighborhood Policy said at the 6th Western Balkans Ministerial Conference in Belgrade on economic governance and connectivity that he attended along with the Vice-President of the Commission Jyrki Katainen. EU is ready to support better connectivity in the Balkans with 1 billion euros from IPA funds and 10 billion euros in soft loans, Füle said.
EU High Representative Catherine Ashton thanked Kosovo Prime Minister Hashim Thaci for “statesmanship” he had shown in the Pristina/Belgrade agreement, expressing a hope that the dialogue would restart as soon as possible.
The European Parliament gave its strong support to the new European Commission led by Jean-Claude Juncker with 423 votes in favour, 209 against and 67 abstentions. The Juncker Commission can thus start its term of office on 1 November 2014.
Due to great interest for the current call for proposals for partnership projects between local self-governments and civil society organisations aimed at strengthening the vulnerable social groups in South East and South West Serbia, European PROGRES extends the deadline for call for project proposals until Friday, 14 November at 16:00.
European Union consigned one million euros to the Municipality of Svilajnac for the reconstruction after the May floods, said today EU Ambassador to Serbia Michael Davenport following his visit to kindergarten “Dečja radost” in Svilajnac, whose reconstruction was financed by the EU, as well as a visit to families that will obtain new or reconstructed homes thanks to EU funds. Davenport has also attended the signing of the agreement on EU assistance with local farmers.
EU High Representative Catherine Ashton met in Brussels with Serbia’s Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic, praising him, Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic and Serbian team for “courage” and “willingness to engage and to take your country forward.”
