The Delegation of the European Union to Serbia presented in Niš Annual Progress Report of the European Commission on Serbia for 2021, with the participation of representatives of the City of Niš, business and academic community, institutions and civil society organizations. Deputy Mayor Dušica Davidović, Assistant Mayor for International Cooperation Jovana Mitić and the Member of Niš City Council prof. dr Vladislav Marjanović talked with the Head of the political sector of the EU Delegation in Belgrade, Dirk Lorenz, about the role of local governments on Serbia’s path to EU membership in anticipation of opening new clusters by the end of the year. Dušica Davidović assessed that this year’s Report of the European Commission noted significant progress of Serbia in many areas, emphasizing the importance of implementing EU standards and values ​​at the local level. She stated that the EU is an important partner for the City of Niš, with which it jointly implements large projects in order to raise the standards of citizens. We are thinking about reopening City of Niš Office in Brussels in order to improve cooperation and communication, said Assistant Mayor Mitić.

Marjanović said that for the citizens, bringing our country closer to the EU is logical, having in mind the previous partnership and pointing out the importance of presenting the values of the EU to the citizens. Dirk Lorenz pointed out that the Report noted some progress in a number of areas in which there was no progress last year, thanks to a number of initiatives of the Government of Serbia, and that it is now very important to turn those initiatives into concrete results. Serbia has successfully led its economy during the pandemic Lorenz assessed and stated that the EU is the largest donor in Serbia and a provider of foreign direct investment.