Belgrade – European region

Organized by the Regional Agency for Development and European Integration Belgrade (RAREI), on November 23, 2015, a formal event Belgrade-European Region was held in the Belgrade City Assembly.

The mayor of Belgrade, Dr. Siniša Mali, Ms. Jadranka Joksimović, Minister without Portfolio in charge of European Integration and National IPA Coordinator, and Ms. Snežana Radinović, director, spoke at the event. Regional Agency for Development and European Integration Belgrade.

The Regional Agency for Development and European Integration Belgrade was founded by the City of Belgrade with the aim of providing strong support to the Republic of Serbia on the way to European integration, as well as strengthening the institutional capacities of local self-government.

The Regional Agency for Development and European Integration is key for Belgrade on its way to Europe, said the mayor of Belgrade Siniša Mali.

The mayor reminded that one of the city's priorities is to attract as many people as possible. investment.

- A greater number of investments means a decrease in unemployment and increasing the rate of economic growth, in which the City tries to help the efforts of the Government of Serbia. After the May floods last year, without the Agency, we would not have been able to collect funds from donors for the reconstruction of the embankment in Obrenovac. Also, without it in the next six months, we would not be able to complete the Belgrade Development Strategy, which will define the goals and action plans for the development of the capital from 2015 to 2025. That strategy is important to us for the projects we plan to implement together with other European countries in attracting funds from the European Union - pointed out Siniša Mali.

Minister for European Integration Jadranka Joksimović pointed out that the Agency has great opportunities and that there is close cooperation with the Office for European Integration, and that potential investors and donors can be sure that all mechanisms for using funds are the same at the republic and city level.

"Through this Agency we want to attract investors and this is a message to them, because if you have an organized mechanism and a certain framework in which you move, you become more attractive and interesting to potential investors," Joksimović said.

Reminding that the strategic goal of the Government is European integration, Joksimović pointed out that local governments have a special role in these integrations, because as much as 70 percent of the laws that are adopted are implemented by local governments.

"The agency has support in The Office for European Integration and me as a minister and all those who participate in the process of creating and raising capacity for the use of pre-accession funds, which amount to around 200 million euros," the minister indicated.

Joksimović stated that one of the most important and demanding chapters in the negotiations with the EU is chapter 22, which refers to regional policies, through which we negotiate how and whether we will be ready to use structural funds at the moment of membership.

"Belgrade is very interesting with more aspects, but it is handicapped when it comes to attracting money from European funds, which are more often intended for less developed areas", said Joksimović.

Snežana Radinović reminded that the Agency was created in 2002, first as a center for the development of small and medium-sized enterprises, to become RAREI in April last year. It functions through two sectors - for regional development and European integration, and so far it has been a leader in three and a partner in thirteen international projects. Among the most significant projects planned for the next period are: Public-private partnership for the "Vinča" landfill, "Sava bike - connecting the section from Slovenia to Serbia with bicycle paths", Restoration of facades to improve energy efficiency, Flood protection on second-order watercourses, "Gondola Belgrade" and others.

The event was attended by high-ranking representatives of the diplomatic corps, international organizations and representatives of the City of Belgrade.