FRANCE

2010

• April:
  • The delegation of the Union of the French Cities led by the Charles Josselin visited the City of Niš. Cités Unies France is the organisation which gathers 500 local self-governments from 15 out of 21 French regions. The visit was organised with the aim to explore the possibilities of the decentralised cooperation between France and South East Europe in the domain of agriculture, tourism, application of new technologies and culture. The French delegation met with Niš City Mayor Miloš Simonović, Niš City Municipality Medijana president Dragoslav Ćirković and French Honorary Consul in Serbia Saša Miljković at the reception organised at Niš City Hall. Mayor Simonović reiterated on this occasion that cooperation between the City of Niš and France had been so far very intense and developing in various fields. The president of the Union of French Cities, Charles Josslin spoke about his deep conviction that the decentralisation ignites the development and democracy.
• March:
  • Days of French culture
  • Honorary Consul of Serbia in France, Mr. Robert L. Liris delivered the official letter from the respective authorities from the Museum of Natural Sciences in Paris which represented the invitation to Serbian anthropologists for cooperation in the area of the archeological research. Honorary Consul Liris has been promoting Serbian spa tourism for many years. He proposed closer cooperation of Niška Banja and French health resorts. 
  • A reception for ten post graduate students and two professors from the University of Provence ex Marseilles was held in the City of Niš. The aim of their visit is to learn more about architectural tradition in Niš as well as the continuation of cooperation between the City of Niš and the City of Arles on the projects of historic heritage valorization. This group of students has the task to develop the detail study of the objects inside Niš Fortress with the aim of utilizing the full potentials of all archaeological sites. At the same time their task is to suggest a program for improvement of physical conditions of facilities in the Fortress.
• February:  
  • Representatives French Cultural Centers from Belgrade and Niš took part at the Conference entitled "DIRECTIONS AND MODALITIES OF NIS CITY INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION IN THE DOMAIN OF CULTURE". This conference is a part of the project - Developing Program Base and Promotion of Nis City Office for International Cooperation in Science, Education and Culture. First day of the Conference represented a final step prior to establishment of Nis City Office for International Cooperation in Science, Education and Culture. Its aim was to, after first internal consultations, hear opinions and suggestions from important partners outside the City- representatives of Ministry of Culture and Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia, cultural attachés of embassies and culture centers in Serbia, representatives of donor' community and national experts in the area of cultural policy. The second day was dedicated to presentations and exchange of experiences in the field of research, protection, valorization and promotion of cultural heritage of Constantine's cities: Trier (Germany), Arles (France), Milano (Italy), Izmit - Istanbul (Turkey), Carnuntum - Petronelli - Vienna (Austria), York (Great Britain) and Niš (Serbia

2009

• December:
  • Mr. Bricolage hypermarket was opened. The opening of this hypermarket offered a business opportunity to 75 our citizens. Mr. Bricolage is the biggest European "Do it yourself" chain in Europe and includes more than 705 stores all over the world and they employ about 11.000,00 workers in all stores.
  • H.E. Mr. Jean Francois Terral, the Ambassador of France in Belgrade, delivered officially the credentials issued by Republic of France Government and Republic of Serbia Ministry of Foreign Affairs to Saša Miljkovic appointing him for the honorary French consul with the office in Niš. His Excellency Mr. Terral expressed great pleasure that France would have its representative in Niš. At this occasion it was announced that a formation of bi-lingual class in Lyceum Svetozar Marković was initiated. In that way students would be able to listen to lectures in French and to become beneficiaries of scholarships awarded by the Republic of France.
• October:
  • Niš City joined Alliance of European Cultural Cities. AVEC is international network gathering 30 cities from 11 European countries among which are: Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Spain, France, Hungary, Italy, Malta, Portugal, Romania and Serbia. The Association was established in 1997. The headquarters are in the City of Arles, France. The main office is in the City of Tours, France.
    AVEC gathers the cities with rich material and spiritual cultural and historical heritages which could serve as base on which to build a sustainable city i.e. as a vector of sustainable development. 
    The main aim of joining Association is adoption of European standards of quality in management of cultural heritage as well as management of actual cultural creation and their development in line with principles of sustainable development. Common aim of Association members is building European regions based on respect of diversity and interaction among cultures. One of most important aims of members is that local inheritance is made one of the main potentials for economic, social and cultural development of cities and territories in the spirit of AVEC Network Charter which obligates members to respect European standards in management of cultural and historic inheritance which imply, besides other, protection of cultural properties from commercial misuse.
    Niš City Mayor Miloš Simonović together with the president of the Nis City Municipality Medijana Dragoslav Ćirković attended the session of the AVEC Administration Council held in Santarem Portugal on October 30th, 2009. On this occasion Mayor Simonović presented the cultural heritage of Niš
• June:
  • Nis City Mayor Mr. Miloš Simonović, French ambassador in Serbia Jan François Terral, Bulgarian ambassador Georgi Dimitrov and the representatives of Mr. Bricolage Company in Niš Bruno Kantoni and Milen Hristov placed the foundation of the future hypermarket Mr. Bricolage in the Boulevard Medijana in Niš. It is the first Serbian hypermarket of this famous trading chain based on the system "do it your self". The logistical center for the company activities coordination will be a part of hypermarket facilities. This investment worth 9 million Euros would bring employment to 140 new workers, 90 in this year and 50 in the next year.
• March:
  • The City of Niš, the Republic of Serbia Government and French Company Sagem signed the Cooperation Protocol at Niš City Hall. The Protocol was signed by Niš City Mayor Miloš Simonović, Republic of Serbia Government Vice president for European Integrations Božidar Djelić and the Sagem company president Patrik Evian.  The international company Sagem has an annual turnover of 1, 6 billion Euros and it employs 6500 workers. The present plans for Niš are to employ 200 workers but they hope to increase this number to 600. The first production line is expected to start in few months

2008

• November: 
  • Thanks to Ambassador of the Republic of France, Jean Francois Terral, the City of Niš hosted for the first time, the ambassadors of EU countries, over which France currently presides. 22 ambassadors of EU countries to Serbia and the Head of the Delegation of the European Commission to Serbia Ambassador Josep Lloveras first time in Niš, at the City Hall, held their regular meeting.

2004

• May:
  • A meeteng between Mayor of Niš and Mayor of Tours City.
• April: 
  • On the occasion of Manifestation Days of French Culture, a reception in honor of Cultural Attaché of French Embassy in Serbia and Montenegro Mr. Dannie Gaillard and Manager of French cultural center in Niš, s Neige Pruvot was held in the City Hall. 

2003

• April:
  • French cultural center was opened in Niš. 2001
• October: 
  • The City of Niš got 10 buses for use by a Company for Urban Transport RATP from Paris. At the reception held in honor of Ambassador Gabriel Geller, it was announced that a lector for the French language would come to Niš. Ms, Severine Blaise would be engaged in working with the French language teachers in Niš schools for the period of 6 months. This cooperation will continue through seminars for teachers of the French language from south-east Serbia and concerts of Jazz music which will be organized by French Culture Center from Belgrade.
• September:
  • Delegation from National Assembly of the Republic of France visited Niš and had a meeting with representatives of the City of Niš.
  • EDB - Electric Utility of Niš got three transformers from the Government of France. By installation of 10Kw transformer stations, local low voltage equipment in three most affected areas in the City will be enhanced. New transformers significantly improved power supply.   
• April:
  • On the occasion of marking anniversary of the end of Serbian Golgotha in the south of Albania during First World War a delegation consisting of three war Veterans from France visited Niš. They were guests of Association of Veterans and Descendents of Soldiers in Liberation Wars of Serbia from 1912-1920.
• January:
  • Delegation from France, with head of Delegation Yves Dange, Deputy Mayor of Shinon City and Suzanne Rousselot, President of General Council of Haut-Rhin Principality visited Niš. During this visit they announced stronger cooperation among French and Serbian cities. The idea of French Government is partnership on equal basis and direct contacts of cities aimed at stronger cooperation and realization of certain projects.