Vojvodina has become a member of the newly-set Adria-Alpe-Pannonia Euroregion

Graz, Austria, 14November – Vojvodina has once again confirmed its role as the leader in European integration in the Republic of Serbia; it has been emphasized in Austria, where the delegation of the Executive Council of Autonomous Province of Vojvodina, led by Dr. Gabor Lodi, Vice-president, has been staying. The Alpe-Adria-Pannonia Euroregion was founded in Graz yesterday. Only ten days after the signing of the Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA), in which regionalization has been designated as one of the strategic approaches, a new regional partnership has been established in Graz within the new European legal instrument, European Grouping for Territorial Cooperation (EGTC). The Alpe-Adria-Pannonia Euroregion has been formed and its members are the following regions: Veneto and Friuli-Venezia Giulia from Italy; Carinthia, Burgenland and Styria from Austria; the whole of Slovenia; Istra, Koprivnica, Križevci and Varaždin from Croatia; Baranya, Zala, Vas, Tolna and Győr from Hungary; and Vojvodina, as the representative of Serbia.

“Today’s event speaks of the success of the Executive Council of Autonomous Province of Vojvodina and pro-European policy of the Government of Republic of Serbia. Our partnership aims at establishing a competitive region and at strengthening economic, cultural and other relations with our regional partners. This partnership will also provide an opportunity for our country to become a partner in some projects financed by the EU funds with the help of the countries which are already member states of the EU. Accession to these funds will not be possible without this partnership.

I would like to point out that this initiative is based on the Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA), as well as on the strategic documents of the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina and Republic of Serbia”, said Predrag Novikov, Director of the Office for European Affairs in Graz.