“European Village“ Event
The “European Village” event was held on the main square in Zrenjanin on 10 May 2018.
Mateja Norčič Štamcar, Deputy Head of the EU Delegation to the Republic of Serbia opened the unique manifestation which for the seventh time gathered the elementary-school pupils of Zrenjanin, who presented the EU member states, their culture, tradition and other attractions. Mrs. Norčić Štamcar expressed her hope that Serbia would become an EU member state in a couple of years and said that the manifestations like the one in Zrenjanin were very important. “The young shall inherit the earth and they need to be supported and thought about the environment their country is approaching and what values that environment has, so it is something Zrenjanin can be proud about and we can congratulate Zrenjanin on it” said Mrs. Norčić Štamcar.
The hosts of the event were Čedomir Janjić, Mayor, and his associates, who hosted Ratko Vlajkov, Ambassador of the Republic of Bulgaria, holding the presidency of the European Union this year, Anders Christian Hougaard, Ambassador of Denmark to Serbia, Anja Rović, State Secretary, Ministry of European Integration, Nebojša Vojnović, Undersecretary, Provincial Secretariat for Regional Development, Interregional Cooperation and Local Self-Government, and Vidosava Enderić, Director of the European Affairs Fund of AP Vojvodina.
The Director of the European Affairs Fund of AP Vojvodina, addressed the audience and pointed out that the Fund had supported the event for the fourth time, recognising the importance of young people, the future they represent and European values. She reminded of the fact that the Fund had held lectures in elementary schools on the topic “History and the Creation of the European Union” for two years, so as to familiarise young people with European values. In 2018, through these lectures, the Fund’s representatives thought 744 pupils and visited 24 elementary schools. As a token of attention, Vidosava Enderić, the Fund’s director presented symbolic gifts to the schools when visiting their stands.
Each participating school from the municipality of Zrenjanin presented one EU MS and decorated its own stand in accordance with the country it presented. The pupils were most creative and in this way, while preparing for several months, they became acquainted with the country they presented. The schools also prepared performances, which were delivered at the central stage, through games and songs specific to the countries.