The European Movement in Serbia organized the twenty-third annual Assembly.
The assembly was held in Dorcol Platz (59 Dobracina Street, Belgrade) on February 9, 2021, from 5:00 PM to 6:30 PM.
On the agenda were:
- Adoption of the agenda
- Annual work report for 2020
- Annual financial report for 2020
- Election / confirmation of the mandate of the Secretary General of the EMinS
- Discussion
- Various
Election / confirmation of the mandate of the Secretary General of the EMinS
On February 9, 2021, pursuant to Articles 19, 21 and 31 of the Statute of the European Movement in Serbia and Article 22 of the Law on Associations, the Assembly of the European Movement in Serbia has made the “Draft Decision – Mandate of the Secretary General” for accepting the interpretation of Article 19 of the Statute which was adopted by the Main Board during a session held on February 5, 2021. It will be considered that the first mandate of Zvezdana Kovac, lasting a full three years, began on the day this decision was made by the Assembly of the European Movement.
Decision on the inclusion of the European Movement in Serbia in the National Youth Council of Serbia (KOMS)
The Assembly of the European Movement in Serbia passed the Proposal of the “Decision-KOMS” on the inclusion of the European Movement in Serbia in the National Youth Council of Serbia. The European Movement in Serbia joins the work of the National Youth Council of Serbia (KOMS), the highest independent representative body of youth in the Republic of Serbia, which advocates improving the position of youth in Serbia and whose member organizations share the same goals and values as the European Movement.
Decision on the accession of the Youth Forum of the European Movement in Serbia to the European umbrella association Young European Federalists (JEF Europe)
The Assembly of the European Movement in Serbia passed the Proposal of the “Decision – JEF Europe” on the accession of the Youth Forum of the European Movement in Serbia to the European umbrella association Young European Federalists (JEF Europe) as the national section of this alliance for Serbia. The European Movement in Serbia joins the work of the Young European Federalists, an umbrella alliance that brings together pro-European organizations across Europe to advocate for deepening European integration and EU enlargement and that shares the same goals and values as the European Movement.
Decision on establishing the annual award “Zivorad Zika Kovacevic” for contribution to the development of good neighborly relations and regional cooperation
The Assembly of the European Movement in Serbia passed the Proposal of the “Decision – Živorad Žika Kovačević” on the establishment of the annual award “Zivorad Zika Kovacevic” for the contribution to the development of good neighborly relations and regional cooperation. The European Movement in Serbia, the Center for Regionalism and the Center for Foreign Policy, non-governmental organizations known in society for the principles of promoting good neighborly policy and improved regional cooperation, establish an annual award for the development of good neighborly relations between Serbia and wider regional cooperation “Zivorad Zika Kovacevic”.
Photo by: Marko Vlaovic
Speech by President Jelica Minić at the Annual Assembly of the European Movement, February 9, 2021:
Today, we are talking about the European Movement in Serbia and its results in 2020, exactly one year since the new team took responsibility for the work of one of the oldest NGOs in Serbia, which was founded in 1992 and became a member of the International European Movement in the midst of Yugoslav wars. How was that possible? The answer is in the people. At that time, the president of the European Movement was Vojin Dimitrijevic, while a plethora of great lawyers, diplomats, journalists and members of the academic world were members which gave credibility to an organization that advocated peace, Serbia’s European future, good relations with neighbors and an orderly state in which the legal framework regulates relations in society, not the paramilitary and mafia associated with wartime governing structures. We advocated decentralization and the rights of local communities, as well as support for spontaneous business, which is a prerequisite for a healthy economy.
Our goals have not changed to date. But the environment has. The previous year was the year of the pandemic, the year of the announcement of the US return to the multilateral system, the year of growing polarization and shifting of centers of power in international relations, the year of turmoil in the European Union and the Western Balkans, the year of another crisis and stagnation in the enlargement policy which seriously impacted Serbia, the year in which Serbia did so little on the European path. Above all, we have experienced one of the most severe attacks on the most active civil society organizations and individuals operating in it, under the unfounded suspicion that we are engaged in money laundering and terrorist financing. This inappropriate attack provoked mass condemnation of the largest part of civil society in Serbia and important international organizations and competent institutions.
Where are we today? After several years of serious crisis in the European movement, we have consolidated the organization in the past year. We are on a good path to regain the organization’s former great reputation and influence, we have made it visible, active, full of good energy and sacrifice. We have established good relations with partner organizations from civil society, media and donor community, we have improved the status and engagement in the International European Movement where our Secretary General represents us in the Main Board, we are part of important civil society networks in Serbia, the region and in Europe, we have our own network of local councils with which we initiate intensive cooperation.
How did we do that? The real question is who did it. A small, completely new team, which believes in the mission of the European Movement, shares European ideals, respects the citizens of Serbia and believes in them. The answer is in the completely dedicated pace of work, with very little resources, in the extremely unusual circumstances of the pandemic, which also visited our organization. We adopted new methods of work, discovered new possibilities, formulated a three-year strategy of the organization, relied on a good tradition and took off. And we believe that our flight will be a flight with wide wings for many years to come, with all those who have supported us and who have helped us and whose solidarity we highly appreciate.
In the end, the most important people are: Zvezdana Kovac, Vlada Medjak, Ivan Vujacic, Djordjo Cvijovic, Zorana Milovanovic, Goran Lapcevic, Mirjana Prodanovic, Srdjan Dimitrijevic, Isidora Crkvenjakov, Gordana Drazic, Marija Petaric, Milan Vrankovic and everyone else who came and went and left their beautiful mark in the life of this organization. I want to thank them all for their dedicated work and the good energy they have.
