AMBASSADOR SEM FABRIZI, HEAD OF THE EU DELEGATION TO SERBIA, AS GUEST LECTURER AT THE UNIVERSITY BUSINESS ACADEMY IN NOVI SAD

On 20 May 2019, in the Lecture Hall of the Faculty of Law for Commerce and Judiciary, University Business Academy in Novi Sad, we had the honor of welcoming H.E. Ambassador Sem Fabrizi, Head of the EU Delegation to Serbia. Ambassador Fabrizi delivered a lecture marking 30 years since the launching of Jean Monnet activities, which are part of the Erasmus+ EU program. The moderator of the entire event was prof. Vladimir Medović Ph.D., Professor at the Faculty of Law of the University Business Academy.

At the beginning of the ceremony, prof. Marijana Carić Ph.D., President of the University Council, expressed her great pleasure over the visit of the Head of the EU Delegation.

As part of the ceremony, there was a debate on the topic of "Euro-integrations of Serbia and the Western Balkans". Alongside with Ambassador Fabrizi, prof. Mirko Kulić, Ph.D., Rector of the University Business Academy, also took part in the discussion. Ambassador Fabrizi pointed to the key aspects of Serbia's EU accession during his talks with students. "There are several key challenges that need to be tackled: the issue of migrations, infrastructure, including the digital sphere, as well as agriculture and food safety. All this affects, above all, the economy and harmonization with EU standards. The question is not whether you fit into the system, but HOW to fit in" - said Ambassador Fabrizi. H.E. Ambassador Fabrizi encouraged students, as future leaders of the society, to contribute to the development of Serbia with their own professional development.

Mr. Darko Milogorić, representative of the Tempus Foundation in Serbia, talked about this foundation, which is in charge of monitoring the implementation of the Erasmus+ program. Mr. Milogorić added that Jean Monnet activities and the opportunities it offers are an indispensable part of the Erasmus+ program.

Prof. Mirko Kulić, Rector of the University Business Academy, stated that this is an exceptional opportunity to analyze the obstacles that Serbia is facing on the road of its accession to the European Union.

Within the framework of the Jean Monnet Program, between 2015 and 2018, the University Business Academy in Novi Sad offered its students the possibilty to attend a special module entitled "Serbia’s Accession to the European Union". The course was attended by more than 200 students of undregraduate, master and doctoral studies, as well as employees in the local, provincial and state governance institutions.