Roma represents the most largest ethnic minority group in Europe, but they are also the most discriminated and marginalised group across the continent, being at the highest risk of poverty and social exclusion of all Europeans. Mindful of the sensitivity and the significance of the issue, the European Union has for years undertaken a series of activities that show EU’s commitment to address this issue. The EU Delegation to Serbia has so far donated EUR50 million in projects aimed at improving the quality of life and fostering social inclusion of Roma in Serbia. At the moment, there are two more calls for proposals aimed at social inclusion of Roma.

The Head of the EU Delegation to Serbia Michael Davenport expressed concern about recent comments from a state official encouraging violence against citizens, the publication of so-called “black lists” and threats directed at NGOs and human rights defenders.

Number of Serb citizens who support EU membership increases, showed the regular semi-annual EU Delegation poll. The poll also showed that most of the citizens are still unaware of EU being the biggest donor to Serbia. “We link the trend with a new phase of relationship between EU and Serbia,” the Head of EU Delegation to Serbia Michael Davenport said.

On the occasion of Europe Day, the EU Delegation to Serbia and EU Info Centre announce the open call for cartoon and comic strip art competition “Myths and Prejudices” – How Serbia and EU view each other.

The dialogue between Serbia and Kosovo under EU auspices has been an example of what EU diplomacy can really achieve, the EU High Representative Catherine Ashton told European Parliament in the debate on foreign and defence policy.

Serbia’s rural areas have a great potential for development, but also some weaknesses that both need to be addressed during its accession process into the European Union, a EU-funded workshop on empowering rural stakeholders concluded Wednesday.

Serbian and Kosovo top officials, who met in Brussels in a new round of the EU-facilitated dialogue, have come closer to an agreement on justice and agreed to meet again shortly to finalize the package, EU High Representative for Foreign Policy and Security Catherine Ashton said after the meeting of Serbian Prime Minister Ivica Dacic, his deputy Aleksandar Vucic with Kosovo Premier Hashim Thaci.

As of May 2014 the European Union will give recommendations to Western Balkans countries, including Serbia, on how to improve their economies within a new approach on economic governance, launched in February.

Serbia’s agriculture is in a good starting position to take part in the EU single market because it is one of the few European countries whose export in this field is higher than import, the Head of the European Integration Section Freek Janmaat told the Conference on Serbian Agricultural Policy.

The next meeting in the framework of the EU-facilitated dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina will take place on Monday, March 31 in Brussels, a spokesperson of Catherine Ashton, High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, said in a statement.