slovak - serbian eu enlargement fund

Supporting young Independent researchers and journalists on the EU Agenda in Serbia

On the December 1, 2009 the Pontis Foundation and its Serbian partner Center for Democracy Foundation start a new project: Slovak-Serbian EU Enlargement Fund.

This new Fund seeks to support at least 12 Serbian domestic experts, journalists and researchers from the younger generation (up to 35 years old) with the aim of rejuvenating and reviving the sector in its goal of disseminating arguments examining the benefits of EU membership for Serbia. Via improved cooperation with the Serbian government and through the publication and presentation of their work, these future opinion-makers will have the opportunity to help shape Serbia’s future path towards the EU. We intend to establish a model of practical transfer of Slovak EU accession know-how, making use of study trips to Slovakia in the form of travel grants which, along with the Fund as a whole, has the potential to be replicated around the Western Balkans.

The Pontis Foundation believes that it is in Serbia’s youth that the country’s future path may be found. By offering financial support and guided practical training through this new Fund, Slovakia can aid those most eager to spread the EU message, thus positively influencing Serbia’s prospects in its goal of joining Slovakia within the border of the European Union.

The project Slovak-Serbian EU Enlargement Fund (Supporting young independent researchers and journalists on the EU Agenda in Serbia) which is scheduled until May 2011, is supported by the Slovak Agency for International Development Cooperation (SAMRS) with the amount 97,954 €.