Some 124 experts in the field of agriculture and rural development made a city escape to Deliblato Sands in Vojvodina on July 14 for the conference entitled “Rural Impact Day”.
Organised by the National LEADER Network – Serbia’s largest non-profit network for rural development – with support of the Norwegian Embassy, the conference focused on IPARD II 2014-2020 (Rural development programme for Serbia), IPA II: EU Instrument for Pre-Accession and Cross-Border Cooperation Programs, and Venture CSR and Business support to growth of rural development.
Karl Heinz-Vogel of the EU Delegation in Serbia presented the conditions under which people from Serbia can apply for financial help and added that good ideas and interesting projects can easily get support.
“From our previous experience with Serbia I can say that there are plenty of good examples and people have already got money from us for the development of tourism, but also to start producing and for promotion of rural development,” says Heinz Vogel.
National LEADER Network is the main link between people from rural areas to propose new ideas and projects and representatives of the EU which will fund the best ideas.
Ivana Stefanovic Ristin, president of the National LEADER Network, is very happy with how the conference went. “The most important message conveyed is that only together we can achieve good results. All our further investment in rural development, employment, energy and agriculture can have real meaning and real effect if the public, civil and private sectors get together on these issues,” says Stefanovic Ristin.