EU support for the preservation of cultural heritage – is the name of the panel that was held at the beginning of the second day of the European Opportunity Week, dedicated to topics from the domain of culture.

Dunja Đenić, Assistant Minister for Tourism and Youth, Vesna Marjanović, General Secretary of Europa Nostra Serbia, Marina Pavlović, architect and conservator, as well as Iskra Maksimović, Director of the Golubac Fortress spoke about this topic.

Dunja Đenić, Assistant Minister for Tourism and Youth, primarily focused on the project EU for cultural heritage and tourism.

The project in question is aimed at the development of tourism as a significant economic potential for the economic development of Eastern Serbia and Lower Danube. It is financed by the European Union with EUR 22 million and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development BMZ with EUR 2.3 million, and it is implemented by the German Organization for International Cooperation GIZ.

The goal of the project was not only to preserve the past, but also to create economic and cultural opportunities for the future. This initiative included eight municipalities in Eastern Serbia, Lower Danube and Topola in Central Serbia. The Golubac Fortress, Fetislam, Felix Romuliana, Rajačke pimnice and the King’s Cellar in Topola are the largest projects financed by this project. Support was also extended to those engaged in old crafts, home crafts and more.

“We are very pleased to have the opportunity to use EU funds for the development of tourism”, said Đenić and emphasized how important it is to show and promote the cultural and tourist heritage not only to our people, especially young people, but also to foreign guests.

“Infrastructural investments, specifically the ones in Eastern Serbia, made it possible for us to empower the local population”, said the Assistant Minister.

Vesna Marjanović spoke about the importance of the organization Europa Nostra Serbia: it is a European organization, a federation of civil society organizations dealing with cultural heritage. Last year, Europa Nostra celebrated its 60th anniversary.

“The organization has been present in Serbia since 2007, and it is made up of a network of experts, citizens who are dedicated to preserving heritage – a broad-spectrum civil society. The most popular activities are carried out through two programs, which are also available in Serbia – the annual awards ceremony in the field of heritage preservation, and the second one, which is gaining popularity in our country – the list of the 7 most endangered”, said Marjanović, adding: “The Synagogue in Subotica was on the European list of the most endangered, and now it is a success story, a completely reconstructed cultural monument that has its own use”.

She explained that the Kalemegdan Fortress and the water mills from Bistrica are considered the most endangered in Serbia; This year, the Home of the Yugoslav People’s Army (JNA) in Šabac was also on the list, while Dečani Monastery has been on the list for years.

The European Opportunity Week, the second one in a row, is being held this year from September 23 to 27. The first four days cover the topics of business and innovation, culture, civil sector, media, education, youth and sports, local development, and the activities take place in the European House Belgrade. On the last day, panels on local development, territorial cooperation and green transition, as well as formal ceremonies and networking are held in Niš, at the “Tami” Hotel.

Find the detailed agenda and other details of the European Opportunity Week on the following page: https://eumogucnosti.rs/evropska-nedelja-mogucnosti/ 

During this event, you will have the opportunity to hear all about the most important European programs, projects and funds that are available in Serbia. Opportunities are numerous and include public calls, grants, loans, youth opportunities, student exchanges, competitions, skills development and free training.

If you are not able to follow the program live or online, you will be able to find all the sessions on the EU YT channel in Serbia, after October 7.