EC, Serbia clinch regional development deal

Deputy PM Bozidar Djelic and the European Commissioner (EC) for regional development have signed a joint statement on cooperation in that field in Kragujevac. “By signing this cooperation agreement, the EC has committed to continuing to help Serbia with its development and cross-border cooperation,” said Danuta Hubner after the signing. EC, Serbia clinch regional development deal Adding that Serbia controlled the speed of its own European integration, Hubner said that there should be no repeat of past mistakes, and said that the EC wanted to follow Serbia on its path to Europe. “Since 1998, the EU has invested EUR 2bn in developmental projects in Serbia,” she said, adding that today’s agreement offered support to balanced regional development and decentralization. Djelic stressed that the deal opened a new chapter in Serbian relations with the EC, and launched cooperation with the strongest ally for balanced regional development. According to the minister, the issue of balanced regional development was just about to begin and gain pace in Serbia's relations with the EU. “In its current status, Serbia still doesn’t have access to the most important parts of the European budget,“ he pointed out. Djelic added that once candidate status was received at the end of the year, Serbia would become eligible to access funds for agriculture and education. Yesterday, Hubner attended a meeting with local self-administration representatives in Serbia, at a round table under the Permanent Conference of Cities and Municipalities. Hubner stressed that she realized that Serbia was going through a difficult political period, but that a practical approach was necessary to see what could be done on the government level in order to gain access to these important European funds. Prior to visiting Belgrade, Hubner said that it would be "very difficult" for Serbia to use the EUR 1bn in financial assistance allocated to it by the EU before 2013, unless it signed the Stabilization and Association Agreement with the EU. She confirmed that the European Commission endorsed signing the agreement with Serbia. At the round table, Hubner stressed the huge importance of decentralization and developing local municipalities, which the EU was particularly devoted to. The EU she said, is still centralized, but the Lisbon agreement pays special attention precisely to regional development. "Serbia, which will become a part of the EU, needs to decide, on its own, which model of regionalization suits it the best. Each state is different and specific, while the decentralization of power and infrastructure always gives better results," Hubner said. Bozidar Djelic, Danuta Hubner (Tanjug)

EC, Serbia clinch regional development deal

Adding that Serbia controlled the speed of its own European integration, Hubner said that there should be no repeat of past mistakes, and said that the EC wanted to follow Serbia on its path to Europe.

“Since 1998, the EU has invested EUR 2bn in developmental projects in Serbia,” she said, adding that today’s agreement offered support to balanced regional development and decentralization.

Đelić stressed that the deal opened a new chapter in Serbian relations with the EC, and launched cooperation with the strongest ally for balanced regional development.

According to the minister, the issue of balanced regional development was just about to begin and gain pace in Serbia's relations with the EU.

“In its current status, Serbia still doesn’t have access to the most important parts of the European budget,“ he pointed out.

Đelić added that once candidate status was received at the end of the year, Serbia would become eligible to access funds for agriculture and education.

Yesterday, Hubner attended a meeting with local self-administration representatives in Serbia, at a round table under the Permanent Conference of Cities and Municipalities.

Hubner stressed that she realized that Serbia was going through a difficult political period, but that a practical approach was necessary to see what could be done on the government level in order to gain access to these important European funds.

Prior to visiting Belgrade, Hubner said that it would be "very difficult" for Serbia to use the EUR 1bn in financial assistance allocated to it by the EU before 2013, unless it signed the Stabilization and Association Agreement with the EU. She confirmed that the European Commission endorsed signing the agreement with Serbia.

At the round table, Hubner stressed the huge importance of decentralization and developing local municipalities, which the EU was particularly devoted to. The EU she said, is still centralized, but the Lisbon agreement pays special attention precisely to regional development.

"Serbia, which will become a part of the EU, needs to decide, on its own, which model of regionalization suits it the best. Each state is different and specific, while the decentralization of power and infrastructure always gives better results," Hubner said.