Minister without Portfolio in charge of EU integration Jadranka Joksimovic stated that Serbia has the opportunity to become the engine of development in the Western Balkan region.
At the fourth National Conference on Cross-Border Cooperation, where awards were presented to the best projects, Joksimovic said that the local self-governments will be responsible for 60% of the implementation of EU standards, and therefore their capacities need to be strengthened, especially in terms of cross-border cooperation.
In order to achieve this goal we have to work on reforms, I believe that we will make good results in the next two years, Jokismovic said.
This is a good mechanism of cooperation, Joksimovic said, adding that since 2004 Serbia is participating in cross-border and transnational programmes.
The Minister pointed out that Serbia has the opportunity to be part of big EU strategies, such as the ones for the development of the Danube region and the Adriatic-Ionian region.
Head of the EU Delegation to Serbia Michael Davenport said that cross-border cooperation is very useful for local communities, stressing that he is aware that the application procedures are complex, especially for border municipalities with scarce resources.
Davenport said that good examples are municipalities of Nova Varos and Uzice, which have introduced waste selection practice in schools and other public facilities, thus teaching children about the importance of environmental protection.
Konstantinos Mousouroulis of the Directorate-General for Regional and Urban Policy of the European Commission said that the priority in terms of territorial cooperation is that borders should not represent barriers and problems should be solved in cooperation.
Cooperation, socially networking, civil engagement, tolerance and solidarity can bring people closer, and cooperation among countries has to be visible and lasting. This is not easy and requires firm commitment, he said.