Bujanovac – The lecture "Europe, that’s You", which was held at the Subotica Faculty of Economics’ Department in Bujanovac, marked the launching of the campaign of the same name. The lecture was one in a series of events that would be organized during the campaign in 34 municipalities covered by the program, so that young people could expand their knowledge about the process of European integration and learn all about the opportunities provided by integration, which have a positive impact on their personal development, such as volunteering in the EU countries, study programs, scholarships and student exchanges.

The campaign "Europe, that’s You" is funded by the European Union, the Government of Switzerland and the Government of the Republic of Serbia, through the European Progress development program, with the aim of bringing the process of European integration closer to the citizens, especially the young, of the southeastern and southwestern Serbia.

 “Over 70% of young people have not traveled beyond the borders of Serbia, almost 50% of them are unemployed and just 10% of the population has higher education. These challenges are met by the European Union’s programs, first and foremost by the “Erasmus Plus” one and the “European Voluntary Service”, while our wish is to bring the EU, opportunities for studying, as well as student exchanges  and the acquiring of work experience in one of the EU member states,  closer to the young.  The experience and knowledge and skills gained in this way will later enable them to get better jobs and have a better quality of life, "said Naim Leo Beshiri, the Executive Director of the Institute for European Affairs and a member of the Europe Team-Serbia.

Speaking of how the young could learn more about the opportunities provided by integration, Jovana Bozickovic, from the Belgrade-based Open School, said: "One of the ways of bringing the European Union closer to the citizens, especially to the young, is the application called “Europe to Go”.  The application provides an overview of information about the opportunities that the EU offers to young people in terms of education, volunteering, traveling and working in the European Union and is, therefore, also important for young people from Bujanovac."

In order to make it possible for as many young people as possible to expand their knowledge about the process of European integration and find out all about the opportunities that integration provides, a similar lecture will be held at the University of Novi Pazar.

Through a series of activities and events in the southeastern and southwestern Serbia, which are part of the campaign conducted by  the “Dokukino” Foundation for New Communications and Olaf & McAteer, the young and the general population will, by June 2017, have the opportunity to learn more about the process of European integration and to be informed about the possibilities for their active participation in the process, as well as about  the opportunities provided by integration, which have a positive impact on their personal development, but also on the development of their communities.

Source: Jugpress and Coordination Body