25 March 2010

BELGRADE - Deputy Prime Minister for EU integration Bozidar Djelic opened the second regional economic forum "Sustainable development - legacy for the future" at Rudjer Boskovic High School today.
Djelic said that six times less funds are set aside for sustainable development in Serbia than in EU countries and that it is necessary that Serbia, together with other Balkan countries, follows in Europe’s footsteps concerning projects and finances for sustainable development.

Efforts will be made for the preparation of a Western Balkans 2009 strategy which will be similar to the EU strategy and is to be presented before the EU and Western Balkans summit, to be held in June in Sarajevo, said Djelic.

Our aim is to specify key infrastructure which must be built during this decade and then through dialogue with strategic partners to identify European funds which might finance these projects, he said.

Other problems such as the inclusion of the Roma and poverty in Serbia and the Balkans will also be focused on. The strategy should also envisage which ways the Western Balkans, particularly Serbia, might play an important role in the knowledge economy during this decade, said Djelic.

Europe is planning to increase funding for science from 1.9% of its GDP to 3%, while Serbia is currently setting aside 0.3%. Our goal is to increase this to 2% of GDP by the end of this decade, said the Minister.

I expect the summit in Sarajevo to produce more specific decisions, among others that Europe will provide major funding to the Western Balkans from 2012, he said. In 2008, Serbia adopted a national strategy for sustainable development and an action plan for its implementation. Sustainable development represents the wish to create a better world through social, economic and environmental balance, said Djelic.

The strategy adopted by Serbia has three aspects, ecology, social inclusion and the knowledge economy. For instance, one of the sustainable development projects Serbia is working on is the Danube River and more Danube projects will be announced at the Danube Conference to be held in April, said Djelic.

Rodjer Boskovic High School was once again the organiser of the forum this year and hosted schools from Sarajevo, Banja Luka, Mostar and Skopje.

Source: EkoForum