Presentation of the Strategy Europe 2020 Handbook for Local and Regional Authorities
The Strategy Europe 2020 Handbook for Local and Regional Authorities in Europe has been presented to the public at the presentation held at the Rectorate of the University of Novi Sad and organized by
The Strategy Europe 2020 Handbook for Local and Regional Authorities in Europe has been presented to the public at the presentation held at the Rectorate of the University of Novi Sad and organized by the Provincial Secretariat for Interregional Cooperation and Local Self-Government. It was an occasion to the discuss the mechanisms for stable and sustainable growth in Europe, the role and importance of local and regional authorities in the implementation of measures within the smart, sustainable and inclusive growth, furthermore the role and importance of European regions and local authorities, as well as the experiences of Baden-Württemberg (Germany) and AP Vojvodina.
The event was opened by the Provincial Secretary for Interregional Cooperation and Local Self-Government Branislav Bugarski, who said that the Provincial Government was providing support for local authorities in their development and was dedicated to capacity building. He also pointed out that the European Affairs Fund of AP Vojvodina was establishing the Academy for education in the field of EU activities, which would allow direct and indirect budget beneficiaries of AP Vojvodina to undergo a training course, so that they could understand the matrix of the European Union and go through all the structures of the European system in order to solve the problems they face in the best possible way. He also added that the Provincial Secretariat for Finance had provided means for the co-financing of projects financed from EU funds.
The Director of the European Affairs Fund of AP Vojvodina Siniša Lazić said that the Strategy was the main instrument for returning the economy to the path of development and pointed out that more could be achieved when acting at the regional level than at the individual level. The Administrator of the Strategy Europe 2020 Monitoring Platform of the Committee of the Regions Paweł Zamojski presented the Strategy Europe 2020 Handbook, while the representative of the Ministry for Finance and Economic Affairs of Baden-Württemberg Michael Gerner talked about the experiences of that region, which were above average, and of the objectives defined by the Strategy, especially in the field of research, education and environmental protection.
The Strategy Europe 2020 is Europe‘s program for achieving a smart, sustainable and inclusive future, which offers a ten-year plan for development and employment. All its instruments and policy objectives have already been established and it must be implemented in partnership with the European regions and cities because they can contribute to its achievement. The aim of the „Handbook for achieving the goals of the Strategy Europe 2020” is to inform the local and regional authorities about the strategic potential of the Strategy in their field. It provides guidance and support during the process of involving regions and cities in the network, in Europe and beyond, as well as practical, best-practice, inspirational initiatives of the European Union and detailed information about available funds. The speakers at the promotion were also the Secretary General of the Standing Conference of Cities and Municipalities Đorđe Staničić, Vice-rector for Finance of the University of Novi Sad Radovan Pejanović, and the representative of the EU Info Point Novi Sad Snežana Pupovac, who held a presentation on the European integration process.