EU PRO Programme funded by the European Union and the Republic of Serbia
  • Republic of Serbia
  • UNOPS

Sjenica, 21 June 2018

Fabrizi: The European Union Supports the Development of Entrepreneurship

On the second day of his visit to South West Serbia, the Head of the Delegation of the European Union (EU) to Serbia, Ambassador Sem Fabrizi has visited today the enterprise Masry Plus in Sjenica, which received equipment for sugar production and improved its business with the EU support.

The issue of unemployment affects both Serbia and EU countries, which is why the EU supports projects fostering entrepreneurship, especially among women and the youth, Fabrizi said.

 “Young generations should be offered a chance to start and develop their own business, be creative, bring forward good business ideas and grasp opportunities, while the authorities should create a business-encouraging environment. By doing so, the youth will be part of the solution, not part of the problem, “the Head of the Delegation Sem Fabrizi said.

Ambassador Fabrizi also invited local self-governments and enterprises to take an active part in the implementation of the new EU PRO Programme, aimed at economic and social development of 99 local self-governments in Serbia[1]. EU PRO is currently running a public call open for entrepreneurs and micro and small enterprises, for which the European Union has allocated 4.5 million Euros, in order to improve their business, and be socially responsible to their respective communities.

Hazir Dacić, the owner of the enterprise Masry Plus, stated that he managed to improve his business thanks to the EU-donated equipment, and, in addition to his 16 workers, employed four fellow citizens.

During the meeting with the Sjenica Mayor Hazbo Mujović, it was pointed out that thus far the EU had supported the implementation of over 70 projects in Sjenica in the areas of infrastructure, agriculture, migrations and social inclusion. Ambassador Fabrizi said that the EU acted as a partner of local self-governments in their development while supporting Serbia in the process of European integration.

Thanking the European Union for its assistance so far, Hazbo Mujović, Sjenica Mayor, said that the municipality would continue to prepare new projects and implement them efficiently.

The previous day, on 21 June, Ambassador Fabrizi opened the Festival of European Film in Novi Pazar, dedicated this year to cultural heritage. Since the European Union declared the year 2018 as the European Year of Cultural Heritage, the Festival slogan is “Our heritage; where the past meets the future”.

“The key message of the Festival, as well as of the European Union, is diversity and the preservation and respect of this diversity, which unities us in the European Union”, EU Ambassador Sem Fabrizi said at the opening, underlining that Novi Pazar was a city rich in culture and diversity.

The Italian film Leopardi was the first to be screened at the Festival. Apart from Belgrade and Novi Pazar, the Festival will be hosted by another 11 cities across Serbia.

The activities of EU PRO, the Programme contributing to the more balanced socio-economic development of Serbia, are supported by the European Union with a total of 25 million Euros. The Programme is aimed at contributing to the increased competitiveness of micro and small enterprises, an improved business environment and enhanced social cohesion in 99 local self-government units in two regions: Šumadija and Western Serbia, and Southern and Eastern Serbia. Field activities are performed by the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS).

 

[1]Aleksandrovac, Aleksinac, Aranđelovac, Arilje, Babušnica, Bajina Bašta, Batočina, Bela Palanka, Blace, Bogatić, Bojnik, Boljevac, Bor, Bosilegrad, Brus, Bujanovac, Crna Trava, Čačak, Čajetina, Ćićevac, Ćuprija, Despotovac, Dimitrovgrad, Doljevac, Gadžin Han, Golubac, Gornji Milanovac, Ivanjica, Jagodina, Kladovo, Knić, Knjaževac, Koceljeva, Kosjerić, Kragujevac, Kraljevo, Krupanj, Kruševac, Kučevo, Kuršumlija, Lajkovac, Lapovo, Lebane, Leskovac, Loznica, Lučani, Ljig, Ljubovija, Majdanpek, Mali Zvornik, Malo Crniće, Medveđa, Merošina, Mionica, Negotin, Niš, Nova Varoš, Novi Pazar, Osečina, Paraćin, Petrovac na Mlavi, Pirot, Požarevac, Požega, Preševo, Priboj, Prijepolje, Prokuplje, Rača, Raška, Ražanj, Rekovac, Sjenica, Smederevo, Smederevska Palanka, Sokobanja, Surdulica, Svilajnac, Svrljig, Šabac, Topola, Trgovište, Trstenik, Tutin, Ub, Užice, Valjevo, Varvarin, Velika Plana, Veliko Gradište, Vladimirci, Vladičin Han, Vlasotince, Vranje, Vrnjačka Banja, Zaječar, Žabari, Žagubica, Žitorađa.