Serbian Minister for European Integration Jadranka Joksimović delivered to French ambassador Pierre Bashar a document with recommendations from the Serbian public for the European initiative Conference on the Future of Europe, and said that the document demonstrates the interest of our people in their European future.
Joksimović said the document contains 52 recommendations and that the largest number concern the green agenda.
“It seems that issues of climate change have aroused the most interest, especially among younger people, and most of the recommendations have been defined in that sense, but there are also issues of employment, social policy and education in EU common policy”, said Joksimović.
The document was made over several months by selecting recommendations that were discussed at debates and sessions on various topics – from the green agenda, digitalization, employment, the economy and health policy to youth, climate change, education and culture.
“The contribution was conceived as the conference ordered, through the sum and summary of recommendations given by participants in sessions and debates by representatives of more than 70 NGOs, from various business institutions, but also from state institutions and universities”, said the minister.
Noting that the countries of the Western Balkans have not receive an official invitation, she pointed out that they had been told they were welcome to give their contribution, so Serbia did not wait for an official invitation, but had been very active.
Joksimović expressed confidence that European institutions will take these recommendations into account and that the voice of the Serbian public on common policies, transformation and future progress, and on various challenges, will be heard in the EU and will be respected.
As she pointed out, the interest of our people in European policies clearly shows that it is an interest in the future of us all, especially in those areas that are becoming sensitive given the changed geopolitical, geo-economic and geo-strategic circumstances everywhere in the world, including the EU.
Joksimović emphasized that the people of Serbia had displayed great knowledge about today’s Europe and the EU, but also serious ideas on how the Union can be an even better roof for all of us who live on the European continent.
She expressed hope that the French presidency will keep that in mind and that in the coming months a new step will be taken in Serbia’s European integration.
“The situation is difficult, relations have become much more complicated and there are many things expected from Serbia in the coming period, but the recommendations are an important indicator of how much Serbian society is interested in its own European future, and that is most important for the European integration process”, said Joksimović.
The delivery of recommendations was also attended by Head of EU Delegation Political Section Dirk Lorenz.
Foto: mei.gov.rs