Serbia: Government announces creation of youth agency and EU scholarships

Bozidar Djelic, Vice-President of the Government charged with European Integrations, said that he intends to demand from Brussels up to 500 scholarships to finance education of Serbian students in countries of the EU. He also announced, at the meeting with representatives of youth organizations in the country, the creation of a National Youth Agency, which is required to get EU Budget funding for Serbian students.

Youth representatives told Djelic that they intend to adopt a Declaration expressing their wish for Serbia to enter EU as full member. Djelic promised to present the Declaration to EC President Jose Manuel Barroso, to EU Expansion Commissioner Ollie Rehn, other European Commission members and Government of EU member states.

Sne?ana Samard?ić-Marković, Minister of Youth and Sports, said that she supports the initiative, which proves the capacity of the youth to decide their own fate and future. She added that she will ask the EU for possibility for internships at EU institutions for at least 300 Serbian students.

Simon Simonovic from the Student Union noted that students and young population want to be a part of Europe, having in mind that the «…youth has always been a part of European integration and intends to remain part of the integrations».

Tanja Azanjac, Coordinator of Youth Programme at Civic Initiatives, said that CI is satisfied with the cooperation with state institutions.

«For seven years, we have fought for a Ministry of Youth, in order to establish institutional framework for cooperation between the state and civil sector. Now that the framework is in place, we cooperate with the state to locate the funds and instruments for further improvement of status of youth in Serbia», emphasized Azanjac.

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