CorD Magazine, April 2021, no. 198

H.E. KIMMO LÄHDEVIRTA

FINNISH AMBASSADOR

Every Vaccine Counts

PETAR ‘PECA’ POPOVIĆ

MIHAIL ARANDARENKO

PH.D. PROFESSOR, FACULTY OF ECONOMICS, UNIVERSITY OF BELGRADE

ROCK MUSIC CRITIC, WRITER

The Beatles Changed The World Without Firing A Shot

APRIL 2021/ ISSUE NO. 198

www.cordmagazine.com

Stimulus Package Or Relief Aid?

interviews opinions news comments events COMMENT

Time of Paradoxes FOCUS

What The Pandemic Has Shown Us About The Strengths And Weaknesses Of Our Healthcare System

Exclusive

ADINA VĂLEAN 783002 771451 9

Working Together Can Yield Fantastic Results

ISSN1451-7833

EUROPEAN COMMISSIONER FOR TRANSPORT

CONTENTS

06 TIME OF PARADOXES

BY ZORAN PANOVIĆ Comment

08 WORKING TOGETHER CAN YIELD FANTASTIC RESULTS

24 CREATING CHANGE FOR EVERYONE’S BENEFIT

ALEKSANDAR KAVČIĆ Ph.D. scientist and professor at Carnegie Mellon University

27 BUSINESS DIALOGUE 40 FROM A PROFESSOR TO A BILLIONAIRE 12 EVERY VACCINE COUNTS

DR. TIMOTHY SPRINGER Scientist, Serial Entrepreneur & Social Advocate

H.E. KIMMO LÄHDEVIRTA Finnish Ambassador

CORDMAGAZINE

EDITOR IN CHIEF: Ana Novčić a.novcic@aim.rs ART DIRECTOR: Branislav Ninković b.ninkovic@aim.rs CONTRIBUTORS: Rob Dugdale, Maja Vukadinović,

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51 THE BEATLES CHANGED THE WORLD WITHOUT FIRING A SHOT

43 THE BUSINESS OF INSPIRATION

DR DRAGANA PERKOVIC-MARTIN Technical Group Supervisor and Radar System Engineer at NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory

Focus

CORD MAGAZINE

48 AWAITING THE NEW AVANT-GARDE

PETAR ‘PECA’ POPOVIĆ rock music critic, writer

18 HEROES OF MISTAKEN REFORMS

@CORDMAGAZINE

Art

ADINA VĂLEAN European Commissioner for Transport

16 GLOBAL DIARY

@CORD_MAGAZINE

44 10 PORTUGUESE PAINTERS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT

56 CHILL OUT 58 FASHION

22 STIMULUS PACKAGE OR RELIEF AID?

60 CULTURE CALENDAR

MIHAIL ARANDARENKO ph.D. Professor, Faculty of Economics, University of Belgrade

62 AFTER WORK

“CorD does not criticise or critique. We are a place where people can inspire and be inspired by others” Mirjana Jovanović, Miša Brkić, Ljubica Gojgić Radmila Stanković, Steve MacKenzie, Zorica Todorović Mirković, Sonja Ćirić, Miloš Belčević EDITORIAL MANAGER: Neda Lukić n.lukic@aim.rs PHOTOS: Zoran Petrović COPY EDITOR: Mark Pullen

TRANSLATION & EDITING MRP EDITORIAL SALES MANAGERS: Biljana Dević, b.devic@aim.rs Vesna Vukajlović, v.vukajlovic@aim.rs Mihailo Čučković m.cuckovic@aim.rs

OFFICE MANAGER: Svetlana Petrović s.petrovic@aim.rs FINANCE: Dragana Skrobonja finance@aim.rs GENERAL MANAGER: Maja Vidaković m.vidakovic@aim.rs PUBLISHER: Ivan Novčić i.novcic@aim.rs

DIRECTOR: Ana Novčić a.novcic@aim.rs a.novcic@cordmagazine.com PRINTING: Rotografika d.o.o.

Segedinski put 72, Subotica CorD is published by: alliance international media Prote Mateje 52, 11111 Belgrade 17, PAK 126909, Serbia

Phone: +(381 11) 2450 508 Fax: +(381 11) 2450 122 E-mail: office@aim.rs office@cordmagazine.com www.cordmagazine.com www.aim.rs ISSN no: 1451-7833 All rights reserved alliance international media 2021

The views expressed in this publication are those of the presenter; they do not necessary reflect the view of publications published by alliance international media

Comment

Time Of Paradoxes

BY ZORAN PANOVIĆ

J

ust as Vučić rules according to a system of mutually functional paradoxes, so the European Parliament report is awash with paradoxes. The opposition is encouraged, but the report is enough of a “smörgåsbord” that the government can take what it likes.

Here’s another paradox: The EP report provides an overwhelming reminder of the programme document of the Serbian Progressive Party from 2011: ‘The White Book – Programme to Change’.

That which was emphasised in 2011 when the Progressives were in opposition (the fight against corruption) and was resented at the time by Boris Tadić’s Democrats – has been betrayed. Today it is commonplace among the country’s opposition (although Vučić tries to relate it to ‘anti-vaxxers’) to conclude that the West brought Vučić to power in order to ‘sell Kosovo’. Vučić had only one wish in 2012 – to become the mayor of Belgrade. He lost the election to Đilas and conceded defeat. And by today Vučić has changed the political DNA of what was Tomislav Nikolić’s SNS. The Progressives and Nikolić were voted into power in 2012 by the citizens of Serbia at the national level, with the help of “white ballots” (invalid protest ballots), but more with the help of national democrats, because Koštunica supported Nikolić directly. And the

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The European Parliament has adopted the Report on Serbia that cites scandals and pressure exerted on the media and non-governmental organisations. Serbia has also been called upon to harmonise its foreign policy with that of the EU, while on the other hand this report, which was prepared

by European Parliament Rapporteur for Serbia Vladimir Bilčik, welcomes the fact that EU accession remains Serbia’s strategic goal, despite the lack of progress on many reforms that has led to the seeking of ‘convincing results’.

EU accepted the Progressives (as a reformed version of Šešelj’s Radicals) as partners.

Kosovo simply wasn’t an important topic during the 2012 elections. And on that issue the rotten constitutional compromise made between Koštunica, Tadić, Nikolić and Dačić was still valid.

In their “White Book”, the Progressives promised a better investment environment and fiscal consolidation, and they delivered on most of what they promised in 2011 in the domain of the economy generally.

In that document, covering more than 120 pages, the Progressives stated their consideration that the media in Serbia should be free, without economic and political pressure.

Speaking at the time, Vučić said that the media in Serbia under Tadić was reminiscent of the media in Chile during the time of Pinochet (what is the media reminiscent of now?), emphasising that we are obliged to expose hidden media owners, but with a guarantee of the complete freedom of the press and public informing, to which the Progressives would adhere. That’s what they said and wrote.

Item 19 of the “White Book” is unambiguous: “Freedom of the media – the basis and condition of democracy”!

Alongside a determined fight against corruption, the rule of law and the resolving of

controversial privatisations, in 2011 the Progressives announced the accelerating of European integration that the “yellows” (the Democratic Party colour) had blocked.

They also announced the continuation of close cooperation with Russia, the United States, China and third world countries, but also Japan, which was perhaps emphasised because Vučić’s rethink occurred precisely during one of his visits to Tokyo. Back in 2011, the Progressives were ready for full cooperation with international financial institutions. The almost idyllic relations between the International Monetary Fund and Vučić’s administration (regime) confirm the fulfilling of this promise.

Quite a lot has also been done in the area of infrastructure, with a hint that the country’s modernisation doesn’t necessarily also mean its democratisation. On the contrary. What applies in Serbia is: better roads and railways – worse parliament.

So, the Progressives’ “White Book” wasn’t written for them by Tanja Fajon – today’s politically unsympathetic MEP and mediator in negotiations between the government and the opposition on election conditions – but by them, on their own. And that “White Book”could today serve as the opposition’s platform for negotiations with Vučić. And that’s paradoxical, right?

Interview Exclusive

A

ADINA VĂLEAN

EUROPEAN COMMISSIONER FOR TRANSPORT

dina Vălean, European Commissioner for Transport, is in charge of drafting a comprehensive strategy for sustainable and smart mobility, as well as developing a transport sector that must be clean, digital and ready to cater to an economy based on the same principles. Furthermore, her portfolio also includes a number of activities in the Western Balkans that will further connect the region, enabling it to live up to the same principles in connecting the dots between each other and the EU. Indeed, the Green Lanes initiative proved to be an excellent example of EU-WB cooperation during times when COVID-19 threatened the transport of essential goods. We asked Commissioner Vălean what this episode tells us about mutual ties and cooperation between the region and the Union?

“We introduced the concept of Green Lanes at the beginning of the pandemic to keep freight moving in these difficult times and it certainly showed the benefits of joining forces for the common good.

“The Transport Community, the Central European Free Trade Area (CEFTA) and the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) jointly proposed that this concept also be used for the Western Balkans, with an agreement to prioritise certain essential goods, such as food and medical supplies, through an electronic exchange of information system between border authorities and by facilitating 24/7 operations of border agencies at defined border crossing points.

This helped to ensure that there was no shortage of essential goods in the Western Balkans even during the most critical period of the pandemic. The Green

Working Together Can Yield

Fantastic Results The success of the Green Lanes initiative and tangible support provided by the European Commission’s Economic and Investment Plan for the Western Balkans represent excellent examples of EU-WB collaboration. It should ensure seamless cooperation with the EU, as the Western Balkans’ most important trade and investment partner, and regional economies.

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VISION

We would like to see Serbia’s roads integrated into a seamless network that will serve both businesses and citizens.

Lanes are a great example that when we work together, with a common goal and determination, fantastic results can be achieved.

“Looking ahead to a life beyond COVID-19, the region must focus on sustainable solutions that will also help with the recovery from the pandemic. We aim to link the EU’s Green Lanes initiative to the Western Balkans at certain border crossing points between the EU and the region. Given that the EU is the Western Balkans’ most important trade and investment partner, we feel that the joining of the two initiatives is key and will benefit both parties.

We hope that the Green Lanes will stay green long after the pandemic is over.” Four Action Plans of the Transport Community Permanent Secretariat were unanimously endorsed at the Ministerial Council last October. They form a base for the Transport Community’s future engagement in the region. Please tell us what is the essence of these documents?

The four Transport Community action plans are blueprints for delivering important goals for the region - safer roads, reduced waiting time at border crossing points and a modern and sustainable rail and road network. The ultimate aim of the action plans is to ensure that transport systems in the region are safe, sustainable and resilient.

The documents are aligned with the European Commission’s Economic and Investment Plan for the Western Balkans, which envisages EU investments in transport and connectivity projects that will contribute to further integration within the region and better ties with the EU. The “Road Safety Action Plan” promotes safety management, safer infrastructure and the protection of road users.The plan has as its “vision zero”target. In other words, a target of no deaths or serious injuries on the region’s roads. It also aims to encourage best practices in relation to road safety.

The “Transport Facilitation Action Plan” will further strengthen regional cooperation and aims to create joint “one-stop-go” facilities at internal and external border crossing points. Reducing waiting time at the border crossings is potentially one of the

REFORM

I would encourage Serbia to continue with its rail reforms and to improve prioritisation and the preparation of transport infrastructure. quickest and cheapest way of making businesses in the region more competitive, reducing CO2 emissions from waiting vehicles and generally improving the quality of life for citizens. The “Rail Action Plan” provides the basis for deeper integration with the EU rail market. The overarching aim is to have a rail system that is safe, inclusive, reliable, environmentally and socially sustainable and inter-connected within the region and with the EU. Finally, the “Road Action Plan”aims to develop a climate resilient, intelligent and resource-efficient TEN-T road network in the Western Balkans by incorporating green and smart elements into road investments. Our ultimate aim is to stimulate road transport operations that are innovative, low

We aim to link the EU’s Green Lanes initiative to the Western Balkans at certain border crossing points between the EU and the region. We feel that the joining of the two initiatives is key and will benefit both parties emission and fit for the digital age. As you’ve noted, the Road Action Plan aims to develop a climate resilient, intelligent and resource-efficient TEN-T road network in the Western Balkans. How much is this vision incorporated into existing road investments in Serbia?

I would like to stress that efforts to improve transport in the Western Balkans should focus all modes of transport. When it comes to the road network in the region, it should be upgraded to include green and smart elements. The key to achieving this is to develop a climate-resilient, intelligent and resource-efficient Trans-European Transport

MODERNISATION

It would be good to have many more onestop border crossing points like the PreševoTabanovce example rolled out across the Western Balkans.

Network (TEN-T) for road that will spur economic development. Incorporating environmentally friendly improvements – such as electronic charging stations along the TEN-T network – is one of the priorities specified in the Transport Community’s Road Action Plan.

Serbia has already taken its first steps in this direction. It is currently preparing a national strategy for the deployment of ITS across all modes of transport. Furthermore, along Corridor X in Serbia there are five fully functioning e-charging stations. Ultimately, we would like to see Serbia’s roads integrated into a seamless network that will serve both businesses and citizens. The creation of joint “one-stop-go” facilities at internal and external border crossing points should enable smoother, more efficient and less costly logistics chains. How far have we advanced in establishing such a mode of functioning?

In Serbia there is a very successful one-stop border crossing point functioning at the Preševo-Tabanovce border, where customs and border authorities of both Serbia and North Macedonia are working together at the same facility.This integrated border crossing is an inspiration and a shining example for the region.

We would like to see many more one-stop border crossing points like the Preševo-Tabanovce example rolled out across the Western Balkans.This is also one of the aims of the Transport Community’s transport facilitation action plan. The joint declaration of a new Regional Rail Strategy in the Western Balkans, which was endorsed by transport ministers and representatives of the Western Balkans at the end of 2018, provided the starting point for the development of the Regional Rail Action Plan. To what extent have the deadlines set been hampered as a result of the pandemic?

All actions mentioned in the Transport Community’s Rail Action Plan are fully on track. Rail is one of the key modes in terms of reaching our sustainability objectives. The objectives of the Rail Action Plan are completely aligned with the strategic

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Interview Exclusive with regard to the EU accession process and corresponding chapters?

objectives of the EU regarding the improvement of rail transport systems.

I would also like to take this opportunity to mention that 2021 is the “European Year of Rail”.

This will create momentum to help increase rail’s share of passenger and freight transport. Through a number of activities in the EU and the Western Balkan region this year, we will raise the profile of this important, safe and sustainable mode of transport – and I would like to invite your readers to get involved.Take a look at our dedicated website, https://europa.eu/year-of-rail, and read all about it.

one of the cornerstones of the EU agenda in general. To what extent have these policies found their application in Serbia and across the Western Balkans?

Serbia is often cited as a regional leader in this regard.

Its extensive rail project pipeline covers most of the Serbian rail network and focuses on renovation, modernisation and the construction of new lines.

When executed, this will increase the efficiency of rail transport in the country. However, Serbia and other regional partners need more sustainable maintenance plans for their railway infrastructure.

In other words, a balance needs to be struck between new infrastructure projects and maintenance of the current rail network.

The EU is committed to making the roads of the region safer for everybody. Our aim is to ensure that transport systems are safe, sustainable and resilient.

Road crashes may be an everyday occurrence, but they are both predictable and preventable.

The measures that Serbia has taken as part of the “UN Decade of Action for Road Safety 2011–2020”have reduced road traffic deaths significantly.Those measures include the strengthening of road safety management, improving data collection, adopting new legislation and capacity building for transport police. There was a 25% decrease in road fatalities in 2020 compared to 2010.

Notwithstanding the positive results achieved to date, there is still plenty of room for improvement – after all, our aim is to reduce road deaths to zero.

The 2020 Stockholm Declaration, supported by the EU, will provide guidance on road safety measures up to 2030. One of the focuses of the declaration is on the role of international cooperation in improving road safety at a global level. I’m very much looking forward to seeing the concrete results of these efforts in Serbia.

Safety management, safer infrastructure and the protection of road users represent

How would you assess the progress Serbia has made in the transport sector

How satisfied are you with the pace of the modernisation of Serbia’s railway infrastructure?

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Serbia has a good level of preparation under Chapter 14 – Transport. I would nonetheless encourage Serbia to continue with its rail reforms, to continue implementing connectivity reform measures and to improve prioritisation and the preparation of transport infrastructure.

Under Chapter 21 - Trans-European networks, Serbia currently has a framework that could be defined as moderately prepared. Efforts need to be exerted to strengthen administrative capacities for transposing, implementing and enforcing the Trans-European Networks acquis. Serbia also needs to revise and adopt an updated transport strategy that’s in line with EU guidelines for the development of the Trans-European Transport Network.

Finally, I would stress the importance of all rail infrastructure complying with the EU’s technical specifications for interoperability and the fact that investments need to be implemented in accordance with cost-benefit analyses that adheres to EU best practices. The Social Forum is a platform for dialogue between key transport stakeholders of the European Union and the Western Balkans Regional Partners. Which messages would you like to convey to our readers from the last meeting, held this February?

It was my pleasure to attend the Social Forum of the Transport Community this year. The event shed light on social issues in rail. It was particularly apt that the event was dedicated to rail, given that 2021 is the European Year of Rail.

As we explain in our new Sustainable and Smart Mobility Strategy, we want to make careers in the transport sector more attractive, from working conditions to reskilling opportunities and career prospects.

We are also stepping up protection for rail passenger rights, with new rules coming into force this year.These will make it easier for passengers with reduced mobility to access rail and ensure that their rights are protected.

I would encourage our Western Balkan partners to align their social and passenger rights legislation with that of the EU. This will facilitate closer cooperation and transport integration in the future. More work is needed on transport links between the EU and the Western Balkans, and on rail in particular. That is clear. Nevertheless, I would like to congratulate the Transport Community on the progress made on the Rail Action Plan, and for the events planned to take place throughout the European Year of Rail.

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Interview

H.E. KIMMO LÄHDEVIRTA

FINNISH AMBASSADOR

EVERY

VACCINE COUNTS Some 75% of Finns have said that they are ready to take the vaccine, and that percentage has been growing constantly, as people have seen that the vaccines are safe and efficient. It is also encouraging that young people who do not belong to risk groups are also eager to take the vaccine. That shows respect towards those with a higher risk of falling seriously ill 12

April

By Ljubica Gojgić

EU INTEGRATIONS

Independent oversight bodies need to strengthen their role in order to be the corrective mechanism that’s necessary in all democratic societies

T

he COVID-19 pandemic has compelled the European Union to focus on the most pressing issue, which is the preserving of human lives, but Finland continues to support the idea of EU enlargement and Serbia’s accession. In this interview for CorD Magazine, Ambassador Kimmo Lähdevirta says that “Serbia has made notable progress in fulfilling the economic criteria on its hitherto European path, but it has not demonstrated the same commitment when it comes to reforms on the rule of law.” According to Ambassador Lähdevirta, problems are particularly evident in the media scene, which is highly polarised, while tabloidisation violates ethical standards and threatens the safety of the people written about by the tabloids. Your Excellency, Finland has proven to be the most successful country in Europe when it comes to the struggle against COVID-19, having managed to keep the number of infected people at a low level.

What do you think has been the key to this success?

It has been a difficult year for everyone. The virus has also tested Finnish society and its healthcare system. At the time of this interview, the situation in Finland is again deteriorating and a state of emergency has been introduced for a second time during this pandemic.

However, it is true that Finland has so far had a relatively low level of infected people and deaths caused by the virus. During the pandemic, there has been broad popular acceptance of the policies introduced by the government. In general, there is a high level of trust towards the authorities and between citizens, and that has helped in coping with the situation.

Some more practical things worth mentioning are the readiness of Finnish society to work remotely and easy access to free-of-charge PCR tests even for patients with mild symptoms, both effective ways in slowing the spread of the virus.

Of course, our relatively remote geographical position in Europe and a sparse population have also helped in handling the situation. The struggle against the COVID-19 pandemic has again raised questions

ELECTIONS

There are no free and fair elections without a free and professional media, regardless of other aspects of the electoral process

over the effectiveness of the EU when it comes to resolving crisis situations and ensuring solidarity among member states. Viewed from a Finnish perspective, are you satisfied with efforts and achievements?

The COVID-19 pandemic shows that, in a globally interdependent world, multilateral cooperation is more essential than ever before and is the only way to defeat the virus, which needs to be done everywhere.

companies are starting to recognise Serbia as a destination for investments that require advanced technologies, environmentally friendly solutions and the involvement of a highly educated workforce There is always room for improvement, but I feel that, after the first shock, the EU has worked quite well and placed the focus on the right things, not only helping itself, but providing support to its partners too. The list of actions the EU has taken is extensive: donations of protective and medical equipment, cross-border treatment, strengthening healthcare systems and social protection and, of course, financial support. Namely, the size of the EU’s global recovery package to help our partners is 38.5 billion euros. As you know, 3.3 billion has been allocated to tackle the health crisis and socio-economic recovery here in the Western Balkans.

I think the EU’s role will be even more crucial concerning the recovery from the social and economic impacts of the pandemic.‘Next Generation EU’, an extraordinary €750 billion recovery fund, will boost our economies and help with digital and green transitions that are in its focus.

TRADE

Trade figures between Finland and Serbia are at a moderate level, but a positive trend is visible.

Despite the pandemic, there was a 37.3% increase in the value of traded goods in 2020

Finland closed its state borders during the pandemic. What do you think of the idea of introducing a “covid passport”?

In principle, it is a good idea. People need to be able to cross borders and to do so in a safe manner. It is important for economic recovery, but also for social reasons. However, we still have several open questions related to it. In Finland, the system of certification is planned to be carried out by including vaccination information in the nationwide electronic patient records database. The Finnish people have shown great trust/confidence in the government since the initial outbreak of the pandemic. Will they also respond positively to the vaccines in such large numbers?

In the latest poll, from early February, some 75% of Finns said that they are ready to take the vaccine, and that percentage has been growing constantly, as people have seen that the vaccines are safe and efficient. As you said, this is definitely another good sign of the confidence Finns have in the authorities and the healthcare system. It is also encouraging that young people who do not belong to risk groups are also eager to take the vaccine. It shows respect towards those with a higher risk of falling seriously ill.

Every vaccine counts in the fight against the novel coronavirus. You are witnessing the unfolding of the struggle against COVID-19 in Serbia, where vaccines from four different manufacturers have been procured to cater for the vaccination process. Do you think immunisation is purely a health issue, or does it also have a geopolitical dimension?

Serbia has fared particularly well in the immunisation campaign and the government must be credited for that. The global production and delivery of vaccines has been slower than expected and that has been a disappointment to all. The only way out of the crisis is for vaccines to be available to citizens around the world and we need several manufacturers to achieve that goal. Serbia has chosen to procure Western, Russian and Chinese vaccines, and citizens have responded well to the campaign. As any other

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Interview Exclusive with the adoption of the new methodology. It is good that Serbia did not hesitate to accept it and has looked for guidelines on how to apply it. As regards Finland, we remain a strong supporter of the enlargement policy and Serbia’s efforts on the European path. Serbia finds itself at the beginning of a new round of political dialogue on fair elections. How do you see the situation in the media, which is among the key topics of the dialogue?

There are no free and fair elections without a free and professional media, regardless of other aspects of the electoral process. That is why the media situation is of vital importance in this dialogue. The media in Serbia are highly polarised, thus leaving limited space for an open debate between the ruling and opposition parties. Another issue is media tabloidisation, which not only violates ethical standards, but also potentially endangers the safety of people who are the subjects of that kind of reporting, including investigative journalists. These issues make it difficult for citizens to make informed decisions, which is key for democratic processes.

economic or political activity, the production, distribution and procurement of vaccines can also be viewed through a geopolitical lens, if so wished. Serbia is hopeful of support from Finland in its EU integration process. On the path to accession, we can note delays in the opening of negotiation chapters.

Where do you see problems arising; are they in the EU or in Serbia?

Both Serbia and the EU have had their specific challenges in this process. Moreover, there is the ongoing pandemic that has forced us all to focus on the most pressing issue, which is preserving human lives.

Serbia has made notable progress in fulfilling the economic criteria on its hitherto European path, but it has not demonstrated the same commitment when it comes to reforms on the rule of law. Serbia needs to do more in order to secure an independent and well-functioning judiciary, which will lead to substantial results in the fight against organised crime and corruption. Independent oversight bodies need to strengthen their role in order to be the corrective mechanism that’s necessary in all democratic societies. Journalists need to feel safe and free

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This year we are planning to intensify cooperation with Serbian stakeholders in the field of the circular economy. That’s why the Embassy of Finland, together with other Nordic Embassies, will organise workshops and other events in order to share Nordic best practices and knowhow in this field to do their job. Those are some of the concrete targets that Serbia needs to work on.

As regards the EU, while the enlargement policy remains among its key policies, the recent period has been dominated by efforts to adjust the enlargement process to better fit the current context, not only in the Western Balkans, but also in the EU. I hope things are clearer now

Serbia’s foreign minister recently invited his counterpart from Finland to help intensify bilateral economic cooperation, as well as sending your embassy an invitation to assist in furthering cooperation with the Nordic Business Alliance in Belgrade. How do you view the possibilities of economic cooperation during years when the economy is stagnating as a consequence of the pandemic?

We already have very good cooperation with the Nordic Business Alliance. We very often join forces with the Nordic Business Alliance and other Nordic Embassies in raising topics important for the improvement of the business environment, as well as topics that are closely related to Nordic values. These topics include innovations, digitalisation, smart cities, the environment and circular economy, to name a few.

Trade figures between Finland and Serbia are at a moderate level, but a positive trend is visible. Despite the pandemic, there was a 37.3% increase in the value of traded goods in 2020. That’s why I don’t see any obstacles to the further development of economic cooperation in the future. Furthermore, our Embassy is working actively on the intensifying of economic cooperation between our countries by pointing out market opportunities at the local level and exchanging best practices. To what extent have the subsidies that Serbia provides to investors served

to motivate the investments of Finnish companies in our country to date, such as that of the PKC Group in Smederevo, and how much are they a result of assessments that investing in Serbia represents a profitable business decision?

One can say that, at the very beginning, subsidies played an important role. That’s why companies from Finland, like other international companies, recognised the potential in outsourcing and manufacturing in labour-intensive industries.

By seeking membership of the UN Human Rights Council in 2022–2024, Finland is demonstrating its continuing commitment to human rights-based foreign and security policies However, this trend is changing and companies are starting to recognise Serbia as a destination for investments that require advanced technologies, environmentally friendly solutions and the involvement of a highly educated workforce.This is also an opportunity for Finnish companies to step in.

We’ve noticed increased interest among Finnish companies lately towards the renewable energy and environmental sector in Serbia.

Part of this increased interest among Finnish companies is also due to the stronger confidence in the stability of the Serbian market, which is related to the EU integration process and ongoing reforms. However, Serbia should exert additional efforts to make the business environment even more attractive for investment by making it even more predictable, competitive and transparent, while at the same time less reliant on subsidies. The issue of environmental protection is becoming ever more present among Serbian citizens. Is there interest in the Finnish model of the circular economy among your interlocutors in Serbia?

Sustainability, climate change and environmental protection have always been priority areas for Finland. In Serbia, Finland is recognised as one of the leaders in smart solutions related to the circular economy, clean energy, air quality, as well as other environmentally-friendly solutions. This

year we are planning to intensify cooperation with Serbian stakeholders in the field of the circular economy. That’s why the Embassy of Finland, together with other Nordic Embassies, will organise workshops and other events in order to share Nordic best practices and knowhow in this field. There has been great interest so far among Serbian stakeholders and we are looking forward to future cooperation. Could you tell us more about Finland’s campaign for membership of the UN Human Rights Council in the 2022-2024 period, under the campaign slogan: “A Diverse World, Universal Human Rights”?

By seeking membership of the UN Human Rights Council in 2022–2024, Finland is demonstrating its continuing commitment

to human rights-based foreign and security policies. The candidacy for membership in the HRC is one of our government’s key foreign policy objectives this year.

The campaign slogan underscores the universal nature of human rights. In the Human Rights Council we want to continue working on themes that are close to us, such as the rights of women and girls and equal access to education. We also want to bring attention to climate change and new technologies that may have adverse effects on human rights. We also want to defend multilateralism from increasing attempts to undermine it, and the need to promote the engagement and participation of civil societies in the UN’s activities. In short, Finland wants to ensure that human rights remain at the core of the United Nations.

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GLOBAL DIARY

“I would like to offer President Biden [the opportunity] to continue our discussion, but on condition that we’ll do so what is called live, online, without anything pre-recorded” – VLADIMIR PUTIN, RUSSIAN PRESIDENT

ANTI-LOCKDOWN PROTESTS ERUPT WORLDWIDE On 20 March, International Day of Happiness, demonstrators took to the streets in many capital cities across the world, showing increasing signs that the public is growing frustrated with the restrictions.

When the first coronavirus lockdown was imposed across the World exactly a year ago, most would have struggled to conceive that, 12 months on, restrictions on public and private life would still be in place. With that now a reality, there are increasing signs that the public is growing frustrated with the constraints, with anti-lockdown protests hitting the capital cities worldwide.

TRUMP BUILDING HIS OWN SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORM AFTER TWITTER BAN 45th President of the United States will soon use his own platform to return to social media, said his adviser Jason Miller. This announcement comes months after the former president was banned from Twitter for allegedly inciting the US Capitol riot. “The president’s been off of social media for a while. I do think that we’re going to see President Trump returning to social media in probably about two or three months here with his own platform,” said Miller.

MYANMAR MOURNS BLOODIEST DAY SINCE COUP

Photo: AP

Myanmar security forces opened fire on mourners gathered for the funeral of one of the 114 people killed on 27 March, the bloodiest day of protests since the military coup on 1 February, according to witnesses.

At least six children between the ages of 10 and 16 were among those killed, according to news reports and witnesses. The latest bloodshed drew renewed western condemnation. The UN special rapporteur for Myanmar said the army was carrying out “mass murder” and called on the world to isolate the junta and halt its access to weapons.

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“The price he’s (Putin) going to pay, well, you’ll see shortly,” – JOE BIDEN, U.S. PRESIDENT

U.N. NEGOTIATING WITH CHINA FOR UNFETTERED ACCESS TO XINJIANG The United Nations is holding “serious negotiations” with China for unfettered access to the Xinjiang region to verify reports that Muslim Uighurs are being persecuted, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said.

The UN’s High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet said in February that reports of arbitrary detention, ill-treatment, sexual violence and forced labor in Xinjiang necessitated a thorough and independent assessment.

The Chinese government denies any mistreatment and has said that people of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang and the Tibetan region enjoy wideranging freedoms.

EU LEADERS CLASH OVER VACCINE DISTRIBUTION EU divisions over vaccine distribution were laid bare during the European Virtual Council as governments failed to agree on how to provide additional jabs to member states in need of emergency supplies.

Leaders clashed during a marathon vide-

oconference which ended with no resolution to demands from predominantly poorer eastern member states for part of 10m in additional BioNTech/Pfizer vaccines.

Tense and sometimes ill-tempered discussions broke down after demands from Austria’s chancellor Sebastian Kurz for additional vaccine supplies for Vienna were rejected by leaders including Germany’s Angela Merkel.

POPE SAYS DEVIL TAKING ADVANTAGE OF PANDEMIC In pre-coronavirus times, Palm Sunday, which marks the start of Holy Week and leads to Easter, tens of thousands of people would pack St. Peter’s Square, Vatican City, holding olive branches and intricately woven palm fronds in an outdoor ceremony.

Instead, only about 120 members of the faithful participated in the Sunday’s Mass, joining the pope and about 30 cardinals in a secondary wing of the huge basilica.

“Last year we were shocked. This year we are more under pressure and the economic crisis has become heavy. The Devil is taking advantage of the crisis to sow distrust, desperation and discord,” he said, adding that the pandemic had brought physical, psychological and spiritual suffering,” Francis said in his traditional Sunday noon address after the Mass.

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Focus

What the pandemic has shown us about the strengths and

Heroes of

Mistaken Reforms In Serbia, as has been the case in many countries, the outbreak of the pandemic exposed all the negative sides of the neglect of finances and personnel in the healthcare system. Although doctors and medical staff have shown themselves to be highly ethical, it seems that neither citizens nor the state have grasped the lesson that good health protects the economy.

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n parallel with the waves of the pandemic and questions over whether the healthcare system will “burst” under the weight of constant influxes of patients, many dilemmas have emerged regarding the future of this sector, which has been the subject of (un)successful reforms for years, but also the point of departure from this country for the best personnel. We spoke with our interlocutors, all of whom are excellent doctors from the first and second lines of the pandemic front, about what lessons should be drawn if

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we want a more resilient healthcare system and what can be done and under which conditions? The answers we received highlight both the strengths of the system and its many weaknesses that require serious “treatment” - from poor planning, to the inadequate structure of doctors and nurses, and the side-lining of the private healthcare sector.

In addition to this, two key shortcomings are transparency and the availability of information in the system, and work on the proper informing of patients.

weaknesses of our healthcare system

DUŠAN MILISAVLJEVIĆ PH.D.

SPECIALIST OTOLARYNGOLOGIST AND PROFESSOR AT THE UNIVERSITY OF NIŠ FACULTY OF MEDICINE

CHARLATANS CONFUSE CITIZENS THE HEALTH SYSTEM IN SERBIA RESPONDED SOLIDLY TO THE CHALLENGE OF THE PANDEMIC, SHOWING RESILIENCE AND PERSEVERANCE BASED ON THE ENTHUSIASM AND LOVE OF DOCTORS AND NURSES FOR THEIR WORK AND THE DESIRE TO HELP PEOPLE WHEN THEY NEED IT THE MOST. I’M SORRY THAT CITIZENS STILL DON’T UNDERSTAND THAT THEY NEED TO HELP THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM.

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he healthcare system in Serbia, and the pandemic that hasn’t only hit Serbia but all of the planet’s countries, is something that came as a surprise to all health workers and healthcare systems. I must admit that, in my opinion, the Serbian healthcare system responded solidly, and showed resilience and perseverance based on the enthusiasm and love of doctors and nurses, not only for their work, but also in their desire to help people when they need it the most.

The healthcare system in Serbia, and the pandemic that hasn’t only hit Serbia but all of the planet’s countries, is something that came as a surprise to all health workers and healthcare systems. I must admit that, in my opinion, the Serbian healthcare system responded solidly, and showed resilience and perseverance based on the enthusiasm and love of doctors and nurses, not only for their work, but also in their desire to help people when they need it the most.

I’m speaking as a professor from the Faculty of Medicine in Niš and the Niš University Clinical Centre, which was the most overburdened in Serbia, and perhaps even in the Balkans, during the first quarter of the pandemic in early 2020. At one point we had over 1,200 hospitalised patients in UCC Niš. March, April and May will remain etched in the memories of all of us, because every infected patient from south-eastern Serbia – whether from Negotin, Kladovo, Preševo or Surdulica – was immediately transferred to the Niš Clinical Centre. We gradually familiarised ourselves with the virus, and COVID-dedicated hospitals slowly opened in Serbia, including south-eastern Serbia, so that the Niš Clinical Centre could start breathing more easily. We showed our tenacity and accepted every patient, even those who didn’t have a more severe clinical picture. Patients with a mild or moderate clinical picture were initially hospitalised in Čair Hall in Niš, as well as in the Belgrade Arena.

Unfortunately, the virus forced us, as well as our colleagues around the world, SERBIA IS EUROPE’S LEADER WHEN IT COMES TO to downgrade the prioritising of some operations, “non-urgent” interventions that INCIDENCES OF CHRONIC NON-COMMUNICABLE DISdidn’t require immediate medical attention, such as chronic inflammation and chronic non-communicable diseases. However, Serbia is Europe’s leader when EASES, CAUSED BY HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE, HEART it comes to incidences of chronic non-communicable diseases, caused by high ATTACKS, CEREBRAL HAEMORRHAGES AND MALIGblood pressure, heart attacks, cerebral haemorrhages and malignancy. Given NANCY. WE COULDN’T PROVIDE THESE PATIENTS that Serbs, and other citizens of the Balkans, like to smoke, eat fatty foods and WITH OUR FULL ATTENTION AND THAT WILL COST US. drink alcohol, all of which form a winning combination for the development of tumour processes, we forgot about those patients to an extent and I’m sorry that citizens still haven’t grasped the severity of this pandemic and the need for them to help the healthcare system. First by helping themselves and helping their loved ones, but also by helping us health workers, all of us who are on the front line in the struggle against COVID-19. However, it is possible to survive COVID-19, and 80% of people will survive, but many patients are in danger, particularly those who have cancer or some chronic affliction.

That intervention couldn’t be performed because our anaesthesiologists are in the red zones. The secretion in this little one was organised and had blocked the chain of ear bones, and this child will have poor hearing, which is a tragedy in my opinion. That’s why it’s necessary for citizens to accept the appeals of health workers, and not charlatans who appear in the national media and on portals, who spread all kinds of lies and untruths about the virus, about treatments and about vaccines. And they need to understand that the only way out in this situation is protective, preventative measures, but also immunisation. The process of immunisation is a good of civilisation, something which – in addition to potable water – has saved many human lives, and now someone in the 21st century is telling lies in order to receive views, retweets or the sharing of some status on Facebook or Instagram, which has led many citizens to question whether they really need to receive the vaccine, or whether accepting the vaccine is dangerous for their lives or their health. As a full professor at the Faculty of Medicine, I’m sending the message that the vaccine is safe, that all vaccines approved by our agency for medicines and available on our market are safe. It is much better for a citizen to receive it than to come into contact with the virus and see if their immunity can overcome that virus, and to see what consequences it will have on their brain, ovaries, sperm. A virus can do a lot of damage, but a vaccine cannot.

Until this viral fire and its spread are extinguished, the most important message is to protect ourselves through prevention, maintaining our distance, avoiding closed spaces where there are a lot of people, and certainly through immunisation that represents the light at the end of the tunnel.

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Focus

What the pandemic has shown us about the strengths and

DR JASMINA KNEŽEVIĆ FOUNDER AND DIRECTOR OF BEL MEDIC

ONLY INTELLIGENT AND CREATIVE PEOPLE COOPERATING WILL SAVE HUMANITY WE ARE NOT A RICH, WELL-ORGANISED COUNTRY WITH A PRACTISE OF PLANNING, BUT OUR PUBLIC HEALTHCARE SECTOR REORGANISED ITSELF QUICKLY AND SUCCESSFULLY. HOWEVER, THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAXIMISE THE RESOURCES OF BOTH THE PRIVATE AND STATE SECTORS WAS NOT UTILISED.

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The pandemic has taught humanity a lesson. It has shown that nobody is privileged and that we can only survive if we seek a solution jointly. We thought until recently that there is no health without a lot of money and a successful economy, but now we see that there is no economic progress and survival without healthy people, healthy nature and biological equilibrium.

It was a year ago that the novel coronavirus found us with over 111,000 employees in the public health sector and about 17,000 in the private sector (2018). This is better than the average in the region and worse than the average in the EU, especially in terms of the number of mid-level medical staff, where we have 628 per 100,000 inhabitants and the EU has 1,441.

Over 55% of our doctors are aged over 50. We have a shortage of specialists, ALTHOUGH IT IS SMALL IN TERMS especially anaesthesiologists, intensive care specialists and emergency medicine specialists, as well as a major shortage of nurses.

OF CAPACITY, IN TERMS OF Our hospitals are mostly housed in old and unsuitable facilities, while many new EFFICIENCY PRIVATE HEALTHCARE ones have central heating and cooling systems that aren’t adequate for such an SYSTEM CAN BE AN EXCELLENT infectious virus.

COMPLEMENT TO SERBIA’S Although the initial outbreak of the pandemic was a terrible blow to the healthcare system, which didn’t even have basic protective equipment for employees, and although STATE HEALTH SYSTEM individuals and the crisis staff didn’t handle themselves in the best way, with their contradictory statements, now, a year on, we can be satisfied with how we’ve done.

We are not a rich, well-organised country with a practise of planning, but our public healthcare sector reorganised itself quickly and successfully.

Clinical Hospital Centres have been converted into COVID Hospitals, and two new large-capacity COVID Hospitals were constructed in just four months. Public hospitals, as the only places were COVID-positive patients could be treated, were excellently supplied with all relevant treatments for severe forms of COVID, which were provided according to world protocols. Serbia has procured vaccines from all manufacturers and citizens are able to choose, which is a privilege compared to the rest of the world.

In term of what could have been better, I would single out the PCR test, which the private sector was unable to conduct. This resulted in the disease spreading more, because contacts and asymptomatic patients were not tested, rather only those with a temperature exceeding 38°C. This situation eased with the appearance of a reliable antigen test that could also be done privately.

Secondly, the private sector wasn’t adequately included in handling the pandemic. Although it is small in terms of capacity, in terms of efficiency private healthcare system it can be an excellent complement to Serbia’s state health system. A small number of courageous, better-organised private institutions got to grips with the outpatient treatment of COVID-positive patients, and provided a great contribution to the sense of security and accessibility to patients. There was no legal regulating of hospital treatment in the private sector.

Thirdly, there was no reason for COVID-negative patients – at the expense of the Fund – not to undergo operations and diagnostic procedures in the private sector that could not be performed in clinical centres, because they were converted to COVID hospitals. Waiting lists were huge for hip an knee replacements, coronary angiography procedures, stent implantations, tumour surgeries, scanners and magnetic resonance imaging. If that had been permitted, many chronically ill and oncology patients would have received solutions.

The COVID pandemic is still continuing, many lives have been lost, the economy has ground to a halt. Nobody knows how long this will last. All that’s left for us to do is to learn quickly, research new medicines and vaccines, and strive to be faster and wiser than the virus. It is absolutely clear that we should maximally utilise the resources of both the private and public sectors. More than anything that’s come before, this novel coronavirus warns us that trust and cooperation among all intelligent and creative people is the only way for humanity to survive.

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weaknesses of our healthcare system

DR RADE PANIĆ

ANAESTHESIOLOGIST AND PRESIDENT OF THE UNION OF DOCTORS AND PHARMACISTS OF SERBIA

THE PANDEMIC EXPOSED ALL HEALTH SYSTEM FLAWS THE CONSEQUENCES OF COVID-19 HAVE SO FAR LED TO THE DEATHS OF 111 DOCTORS, PHARMACISTS AND DENTISTS IN SERBIA, WHILE THE NUMBER OF NURSES, TECHNICIANS AND OTHER HEALTHCARE EMPLOYEES WHO’VE LOST THEIR LIVES REMAINS UNKNOWN. SUCH STATISTICS ARE JUST ONE OF THE MANY SYMPTOMS OF THE FACT THAT THE PANDEMIC WAS MET WITHOUT A PLAN AND WASN’T RESPONDED TO WELL.

W

hen we found out last December that the epidemic that had appeared in China would spread to encompass the whole world, we were, unfortunately, good prognosticators. We announced, as a union, that it would expose all the shortcomings of the healthcare system. The consequences for public health are already great, and we are afraid that they’ll be even greater in the future. From the outset we didn’t have sufficient numbers of health workers, not even as many as are prescribed and required by the Law. Under such conditions, unfortunately, the Ministry didn’t respond to our first request to hire all doctors, nurses and technicians registered with the unemployment bureau. We had a lack of protective equipment, which was initially very pronounced and subsequently grew to become chronic, while we were confronted by ignorance and a lack of information about what kind of tests are IN THE MIDST OF THE PANDEMIC, PUBLIC CONdone for coronaviruses and whether they are conducted according to SULTATIONS WERE ORGANISED ON A NEW PLAN indications or some other criteria. Likewise, the workers who were hired TO OPTIMISE THE NETWORK OF HEALTHCARE INat COVID units weren’t adequately transferred and no consideration was given to maintaining the capacity of the healthcare system. We STITUTIONS IN THE REPUBLIC OF SERBIA WHICH, should add to this poor organisation, the fact that acting directors of IN THE OPINION OF THE UNION OF DOCTORS AND health institutions thought more about keeping their position during the PHARMACISTS, WOULD BE DISASTROUS FOR THE epidemic than they thought about organising healthcare, which was HEALTHCARE SECTOR particularly aggravated during the epidemic, then they thought more about the forming of illegitimate bodies, such as the crisis headquarters, instead of the Republic Expert Commission and respecting the authority of the Batut Institute for public health, as well as the failure of Health Minister Zlatibor Lončar to take all necessary steps.

All of this led to us ending up with the pandemic having major consequences, to the false reducing of figures for both those who have succumbed and those who are newly infected, although we are probably among the worst in the world.

When it comes to the deaths of health workers, The consequences of COVID-19 have so far led to the deaths of 111 doctors, pharmacists and dentists in Serbia, while the number of nurses, technicians and other healthcare employees who’ve lost their lives remains unknown. Our fear is that the announced optimisation of healthcare, the public debate on which has been faked more than conducted during the epidemic, will lead to us not only suffering from the consequences of the epidemic, but suffering even more from bad reform. We consider the proposal to privatise public healthcare as disastrous for the inhabitants of Serbia. We have submitted our proposals and will continue to do so. The Ministry, unfortunately, doesn’t respect us, despite us having 6,700 members among the 19,500 doctors who are employed in the state healthcare system. We consider ourselves an obligatory negotiator, as the holders of jobs in a domain of general social importance, and we are seeking urgent insight into the numbers and the database of the deceased and new patients. We also consider that the public debate on health optimisation should be extended and the current proposal should be abandoned, as it is harmful.

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Feature

The pandemic and economic measures

Stimulus Package or Relief Aid? MIHAIL ARANDARENKO, Ph.D. Professor, Faculty of Economics, University of Belgrade As a response to the crisis caused by the pandemic, Serbia last year allocated as much as 12.7% of GDP for measures to support the economy and the population, which equates to almost six billion euros. The two main pillars of that support were almost universal assistance to the private sector of the economy with payments of more than four net minimum wages per employee and financial assistance of 100 euros for all adult citizens. This state assistance was generous by regional standards, and even further afield, which was very important not only in a financial sense, but also psychologically.

In relative terms, this intervention was more than double that provided by all other Western Balkan countries, and was similar to the average in the European Union.

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he assistance provided to the economy and the population certainly mitigated the negative economic and social impacts of the pandemic. The GDP fall, estimated preliminarily at 1.1% in 2020, is among the lowest declines in Europe and is certainly the lowest in Southeast Europe. Labour market trends were also relatively favourable overall. According to the Labour Force Survey, employment was only 17,000 (i.e. around 0.6%) lower in the fourth quarter of last year compared to the same period of the previous year, while the number of those

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registered as unemployed was up by 7,000.

Hidden behind this generally positive picture are great differences in how individual sectors and segments of the population traversed the previous difficult year.

When it comes to economic sectors, the hardest hit – due to the very nature of the pandemic - were high-contact sectors, such as hospitality, tourism, passenger transport, personal services (e.g. hair and beauty salons, fitness centres and the like) and non-food retail products.

The Labour Force Survey helps us to have an overview of the variable impacts of the

pandemic on the population’s activity and employment. While formal employment actually increased slightly during 2020, the number of informal workers fell sharply, by more than 30,000. According to age categories, the largest reduction in employment was recorded among younger workers aged up to 34, and, according to education level, among lower educated workers. Employment among members of the youth aged under 24 fell by 12,000, impacting young women the most. The share of young people, aged 15-24, who were neither working nor in education processes represented 17.6% of the total

youth population, which denotes a yearon-year increase of 1.8 percentage points.

All in all, faring the worst on the labour market were those who had insecure and poorly paid jobs even before the pandemic.

On the other hand, the highly educated and those employed in the ICT sector, manufacturing and agriculture fared the best.

Employment increased in the public sector as a whole, and in healthcare in particular.

Average earnings also increased, led by growth in the minimum wage and the growth of wages in the public sector, but also influencing its increase was the previously described effect of the reduction in lower paid jobs as a consequence of the pandemic.

Following last year’s major stimulus package, this year’s assistance package, which is worth at least 2.1 billion euros according to announcements, again surprised the general population and the professional public. Despite most domestic economists and international agencies having recommended that the new package be selective, in order to help the sectors, companies, families and individuals hardest hit by the pandemic, the Government of Serbia has remained true to its commitment to provide universal support to the economy and the population. On the other hand, additional, selective “assistance in distress” measures have also been announced for the worst hit sectors and individuals.

It became clear with this year’s package that Serbia’s economic authorities have opted to persevere in their Keynesian treatment of the pandemic crisis. Their desire is for Serbia to achieve the fastest cumulative growth in Europe in the coming period at any cost, and they plan to boost that growth by stimulating domestic demand, while the issue of compensating for the actual damage caused by the pandemic and providing relief for those in distress remains secondary, due - among other things - to the modest share of the hardest hit areas in GDP. However, even such a non-selective aid package better protects those who need it more, due to its parametric solutions. Specifically, despite practically all employees receiving the same amounts of assistance, this assistance is relatively (in relation to earnings) higher for employees with lower

salaries, who are on average - according to the data - more exposed to the risk of losing their jobs. Similarly, for someone who lives on social assistance benefits or has no regular income, 100 or 60 euros means much more than it does to someone with an above-average income. Indeed, simulations have actually shown that the combining Under the scope of measures to support the economy in 2021, the state will pay three halves of the net minimum income per employee in the private sector, between April and June, regardless of the size of the enterprise registered.

Registration is required for each individual payment (of around 16,000 dinars), although the granting of assistance is not dependent on a company’s revenue having declined. For three months after receiving the final payment, companies cannot lay off more than 10% of permanent employees, while they are forbidden from paying dividends until the end of the year. A total of 70 billion dinars has been allocated for this measure, with estimates suggesting that this amount will cover as many as 1.4 million employees. Additional assistance will be distributed to particularly hard hit sectors: hospitality facilities and hotels, passenger transport carriers, travel agencies and tour guides. The existing guarantee scheme for support credit to the economy will be expanded by a billion euros.

The main support measure for the population is a payment of 60 euros for all adult citizens and an additional 50 euros of assistance to pensioners. Plans also include additional assistance for the unemployed - at this juncture it has yet to be defined whether this aid will be granted to all those who are registered as unemployed or only to those who lost their jobs during the pandemic. of these two main measures managed to prevent the spread of poverty during 2020, and that universal assistance of 100 euros to adult citizens managed on its own to maintain the growth of income inequality.

The main criticism of this aid package design among the majority of domestic experts and the World Bank refers to what experts dub the error of inclusion – with

unnecessary and thus wasteful assistance provided to companies that didn’t suffer losses, as well as individuals who aren’t at risk of poverty and haven’t experienced job losses or falling income. According to critics, on the one hand, those who are really endangered aren’t sufficiently protected by this, while, on the other hand, this package unnecessarily increases the public debt, which will need to be repaid in solidarity.

Nonetheless, the costs of measures aimed at mitigating the crisis are one-off in nature – as they don’t imply permanently increasing financial obligations in the future. Even the IMF told governments at the beginning of the pandemic to - spend, spend, spend. It can’t currently be said with certainty that the small drop in GDP is primarily a consequence of pandemic measures, but denying their positive impact is even harder. This is an empirical question, and time will prove to be the best judge of the effectiveness of the Government’s offensive approach to handling the pandemic.

A lot is dependent on the further course of the pandemic, both in Serbia and around the world, and that course remains difficult to predict. If the pandemic weakens relatively quickly and everyday life returns to normal, the country’s fiscal position will remain completely stable, with its starting position improved in relation to peer countries, and most of those who’ve lost out will quickly recover when the pandemic’s shock to supply abates. The transformation of the economic structure will be accelerated towards the faster development of ICT, modern services and high technologies. In contrast, a prolonged pandemic would threaten economic activity and cause a narrowing of fiscal space, while growth in the number of bankruptcies, unemployment, poverty and inequality would have to be suppressed through the use of redistributive measures like those that we saw during fiscal consolidation, with even stronger elements of solidarity.

The successful procurement of vaccines was an important first step in reducing the likelihood of a negative pandemic scenario, but comprehensive vaccination coverage is an absolutely essential second step – and, again, only time will tell whether or not it proves to be a completely sufficient step.

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Feature

Creating Change for Everyone’s Benefit

ALEKSANDAR KAVČIĆ

PH.D. SCIENTIST AND PROFESSOR AT CARNEGIE MELLON UNIVERSITY

Instead of putting large amounts of money into the digitalisation, computerisation and robotisation of students and professors, (where) everybody has to go through the same criteria…let them be free, let them be creative, let them innovate, and the results will follow. Free textbooks fit into this win-win philosophy.

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ooks, books, books that’s where our main effort is going to be - says CorD’s interlocutor Aleksandar Kavčić, a Ph.D. scientist and professor at America’s Carnegie Mellon University, where a Foundation under his name recently

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set up with the goal of enabling access to free textbooks for every child in Serbia. His clash with the heavyweights of the Serbian textbook market reminds us of the legal battle his college faced when suing Marvell Technology Group Ltd. in one of the largest

patent disputes related to the magnetic disk reader, which actually came as a result of Kavčić’s own doctoral thesis. That legal battle, which lasted seven years, is today worth recalling because it seems that professor Kavčić is set to face another tough tussle.

How long have you been preparing for the struggle to secure free textbooks? Will your struggle with the publishing clans be rougher and more protracted than the one with Marvel?

Well, I don’t know how long the struggle will last, but I’m sure that when victory comes it will last forever, because this is a basic human right. According to Article 26 of the United Nations’ Universal Declaration of Human Rights, everybody has the right to a free education at the elementary level, and the parent has the primary right to choose.

The parent has the right to choose the education for their child. In Serbia we have a system where education is supposedly free, but textbooks aren’t. And the parent doesn’t have the right to choose the textbooks for their child, yet they need to pay.

It’s a system that guarantees a monopoly for those who print textbooks, because the parents don’t choose. The publishers market the textbooks to the teachers, then the teachers choose the textbooks with whatever criteria they have and then they push those textbooks on the parents. And the parent needs to pay whatever the price is. That’s why textbooks are so expensive in Serbia. Every other country in Europe and North America, with the exception of a few states in Europe, has free textbooks in their public education system. We in Serbia need to realise that we also have the right to free textbooks.

You stated at one juncture that the publishing cartel is intimidating school principals and teachers. What constitutes the substance of those threats? What practical consequences does that have on the spreading of your action?

That’s correct. There is a cartel of publishers who publish textbooks in Serbia, and they act together. The true definition of a cartel is that they have a monopoly, their prices are very high, yet they don’t gain their market share through rationalisation or production, or through being prudent and lowering their market expenses. No, prices are very high, and they divide the market share and the idea is just to push books onto the parents. Now there is a campaign of fear being spread by this cartel and pushed onto

the teachers in Serbia’s public education system. There is the scaring of teachers that if they adopt these textbooks provided by the Alek Kavcic Foundation that they will actually be breaking the law, that they will be financially liable for misdemeanours etc. That’s simply not true, but that’s the

There needs to be a critical mass of parents who realise that we are the only country in Europe where free textbooks aren’t accessible to children that attend public schools campaign of fear that’s being led, and part of that struggle is to change their minds, to change the understanding that this has nothing to do with breaking the law. You cannot break the law by reading books if they are free, it’s simply impossible.

How strong is your “front” with pupils, parents and teachers? Do you actively seek allies or do you expect them to fight independently for the option of free textbooks?

Here is the thing, if you are trying to do a social change, if social change is your objective, an individual cannot win alone. That’s impossible. So, if this struggle is viewed as the struggle of an individual against a corrupt system, the individual is not going to win. Never ever, it will not happen. Victory

comes only if there is a collective effort, so our job – as the foundation – is to give the tools to the public, and those tools are free textbooks. It is up to the public to accept these tools and create victory for themselves by using those tools. There needs to be a critical mass of parents who realise that we are the only country in Europe where free textbooks are not accessible to children that attend public schools.

How have the general public, the media and Serbian society so far received your “American entrepreneurial spirit”, if we can call it that?

I don’t think of myself as a businessman.

I’m not a businessman; I have not done any business in my entire life. I have been a professor and I have always been an educator.

Or if I haven’t been an educator, I’ve been a student. However, there is entrepreneurship here. It’s not entrepreneurship in the sense of creating profit, but it is entrepreneurship in the sense of social entrepreneurship, creating change for the benefit of everybody. That is also entrepreneurship, and yes maybe I have learned that by living in the States. There

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Feature are now attacks on me personally. There is a multinational company involved. Whenever a multinational company is involved and their profit is at stake, what they do is to try to figure out what the weakest link is. And they usually think that the weakest link is an individual. Except that every once in a while

How are your relations with the authors of textbooks? Are they happy that their copyrights are respected or do they feel like they’re part of your endeavour?

I assume that they are happy that we have bought physical copies and printed copies and we also received the right to place those books

they face an individual who is very strong willed and who says ‘this will not pass’.

Will textbooks for the 5th and 6th grades be published on the website of the free library by the end of March? Are you preparing new editions for the next school year?

There will be, as you said. First and second grade books just appeared on the site. There will be textbooks for 5th and 6th grades. They are coming very very soon, this month. We will put all that we have on the site before 15th March. After 15th March there is no point in putting out new books, because the period between then and 15th April is when books are being chosen by schools. Of course, after that, after April, for next year’s period, we are preparing new books. This is an effort that won’t last one year. We’ll do it next year and the year after that and the year after that and however many years we need to do it. We’ll need to update the books because plans and programmes change.

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Get rid of this notion that with a strong fist we’re going to subordinate professors and teachers, which our Ministry does. Let them be free, let them express their creativity on the internet for promotional purposes.

So, the public publisher also needs to have a campaign to promote their own books, and we have provided the platform for that.

The idea you’re representing that insists teachers should be at the centre of school reforms is nothing new, and is something

that’s advocated by some of Serbia’s most prominent experts in the domain of education.

The idea that the teacher, the educator, is the centrepiece of the educational system is not mine, absolutely not mine. Every successful educational system has the teacher as the centrepiece. The teacher needs to be the one driving the issues, not the Ministry of Education. If the Ministry of Education subordinates the teachers and expects obedience from the teachers all the time, then the teachers start being robots who do not know how to behave. Robots don’t express their creativity. If you don’t have creative teachers that’s where the avalanche starts, and you don’t have creative students either.

Students don’t show initiative, they just cram for their exams, thinking that all they need to do is memorise. That’s not how an inventive educational system works. Let teachers be free, let them express their creativity.

Let them teach the children in their own way. Let’s reward those who do it properly.

Unfortunately, our Ministry of Education is putting a lot of money into the digitalisation, computerisation and robotisation of students and professors, where everybody has to go through the same criteria…Let them be free, let them be creative, let them innovate, and the results will follow. In the 1970s our basketball coaches were creative. Look where Serbia is as a basketball country, very small, seven million people, but with the best coaches.

We can have the best educators in the same way. That’s the formula.

Apart from ensuring the provision of free textbooks, what are among the other aims of the Alek Kavčić Foundation, or is this a complicated enough mission on its own?

Well this is going to be a big issue, this is going to be a struggle. We are going to have things thrown at us from those that make a lot of money on textbooks in Serbia. But we will have other activities, one of which is donating computers. Obviously donating computers cannot be something that the foundation can do for the entire country, but we’ll go selectively, where we think they’re most needed.

In rural schools in rural areas, that’s where they’re most needed. Tablet computers – we will do that, but books, books, books – that’s where are main effort is going to be.

Leaders’

MEETING POINT

RICARDO VIAN VLADIMIR SKULIĆ, MARQUES, Chief Executive Officer, General Manager, Gale- CETIN Serbia nika a.d. Beograd

ROMAN MENZ, Managing Director of Moravacem, a member of CRH Group

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We View In Love With Changes One’s Job As New Opportunities

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Bridging Divides In The Digital World PAGE /32

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DARKO JOVANOVIĆ, Senior partner, Karanović & Partners

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DANILO ĆIRKOVIĆ, Executive Director for Insurance and Executive Board Member at the Serbian Export Credit and Insurance Agency (AOFI)

Liquidity of Policyholders Preserved PAGE /37

BOJAN SIMOVIĆ, Hörmann Serbia CEO

Always for True Values and A Healthier Planet PAGE /39

RICARDO VIAN MARQUES, GENERAL MANAGER, GALENIKA A.D. BEOGRAD

Future-Orientated Company Over the course of 2020, Galenika continued its trend from the previous year by growing faster than the market, more than 50% faster. It also additionally strengthened its stable second place in terms of its share of Serbia’s pharmaceutical market Galenika has undergone a process of transformation to a future-orientated, mission-led pharmaceutical company with an innovative mindset. This change that occurred during the previous period is visible internally, through increased motivation and teamwork, while externally it has had a positive impact on the company’s

We have ambitious plans and want to see ongoing progress with Galenika growing even bigger

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alenika is working on the transfer of technology for several products from the new generation of generic drugs, with 22 new products currently in the registration process. Galenika is also proud of the innovative communications campaigns that it launched last year.

Since the privatisation of Galenika, you have managed to return the company to an exceptional 2nd place in terms of market share. What does Galenika’s future look like?

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image. You are right that the market position is a big milestone for us, but we are not stopping there. We have ambitious plans and want to see continual progress, with Galenika growing even bigger.

The pandemic is entering its second year, with no end in sight. What was your biggest business challenge last year? What are your expectations moving forward?

The safety of employees and maintaining a stable supply of products to consumers and medical institutions were the biggest challenges last year, and I’m happy to say that we overcame them successfully.

The Galenika team has shown efficiency, innovation and dedication.

The pandemic has changed everything, everywhere, not only in this region or the pharma industry. I’m sure that this year will bring its own challenges, but I know that we will do our best in what we do best, and that is being guardians of health by bringing positive changes to our industry and the market. We are strategically focused on innovating the company and its portfolio for the benefit of consumers and partners among doctors, pharmacies and institutions.

Situations like this force us to reconsider our priorities. What is your number one priority? Is it people, employees, partners, patients, doctors and pharmacists, or profit and market share?

Definitely people – our employees are, of course, our number one priority. Our people represent the firm and solid foundation for everything we do, before, during and after the pandemic.

We are also committed to, and value, our external partnerships with all stakeholders. That’s why, for example, we went to great lengths to strengthen them and provide them with timely support last year, including assistance to medical workers and donations to the Serbian healthcare system.

One of our priorities relates to the ongoing process of corporate transformation and innovations. All of these together had positive results in terms

of our market position and image. Our success is a result of multiple factors, including a clear vision, good strategic decisions and operational engagement.

Many industries are going through their most difficult days, but not the pharmaceutical industry. Galenika has proved its strength and confirmed its position.

Do the numbers reflect that?

Last year was challenging for all industries, and pharma was no exception. It took a lot of extraordinary teamwork and effort, but in 2020 we recorded growth in all business segments. The company increased its sales on the Serbian market by 19% compared to 2019.

We are in the process of opening six new export markets, while Galenika already has an active presence on 10 markets in the EU, the Middle East and Africa, where it increased its sales by 68% in 2020. This is an excellent result, given last year’s circumstances.

Four new products are expected to be launched on the market in the first half of 2021. Galenika’s Institute for Research and Development is in the final phase of developing two new products, while in our strategic partnership with our sister company from Brazil - EMS, we are working on the transfer of technology for several products from the new generation of generic drugs.

We marked the past year by generating positive values through the maintaining of traditional trust and quality, as well as the further modernisation of the company.

Despite the adversities, opportunities for innovations are possible in many spheres, and at Galenika we have a high level of awareness and the courage to embrace them.

Is this the right time to expand your portfolio and develop new products? Has the pandemic, as a global threat, led to better cooperation between companies, at least when it comes to the production of medicines to treat the novel coronavirus?

I believe that the major influence of the pandemic is seen in two very important life and business lessons. First is the solidarity

that has become more prominent, both individual and corporate, because we are all connected and we need to understand and practise the true meaning of cooperation and support. The second lesson relates to innovation, because times of adversity also represent times to step up.

Although the production of medicines is your basic and most important activity, you are also very committed to prevention and health. What are you doing in that area?

Galenika is more dynamic and vibrant than ever before. As a result of our futureorientation, the topic of prevention has risen significantly on our agenda. It is also an innovation that proves our mission. A special, sustainable, socially responsible project of national importance is our online platform, “Hello Twenties” (www.

Our success is a result of multiple factors, including a clear vision, good strategic decisions and operational engagement dvadesete.rs), which aims to educate young people on healthy living habits.

This is a unique platform and initiative that we are very proud of, and we hope to create a community of young people who have a high awareness of mental and physical health. For that purpose we have created a network of doctors and experts who are our allies in this important, long-term mission.

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“It is of great importance to accelerate energy sector projects which strengthen regional cooperation through connectivity.” – H.E. SEM FABRIZI, HEAD OF THE EU DELEGATION TO SERBIA

LOCAL NEWS

BELGRADE STOCK EXCHANGE SIGNS MOU WITH SHANGHAI STOCK EXCHANGE Belgrade Stock Exchange signed Memorandum of Understanding with the Shanghai Stock Exchange to establish cooperation between the two exchanges in the fields of research, product development, exchange of experience and good practices, as well as staff exchange. The signing ceremony was held virtually.

On behalf of the Shanghai Stock Exchange, the Memorandum was signed

by Mr. Cai Jianchun, President of the Shanghai Stock Exchange, while on behalf of the Belgrade Stock Exchange, Mr. Siniša Krneta, Director, signed the Memorandum.

TELENOR NETWORK BEST IN SERBIA FOR THE FOURTH TIME ACCORDING TO COMPANY UMLAUT BENCHMARKING For the fourth time in a row Telenor network won a prestigious acknowledgement BEST IN TEST in independent measurement of the quality of mobile networks in Serbia, conducted by the international company UMLAUT. Telenor Serbia was rated the best network in Serbia with a total score of 921 dots out of maximum 1000.

The tested categories in which company Telenor is the best are the broadest coverage by mobile internet and minimum latency in data transfer. The testing was conducted during a six-month period on 50.5 thousand users and 53 million samples.

IN APRIL SERBIAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE TO OPEN ITS REPRESENTATIVE OFFICE IN ISRAEL The formation of the representative office of the Serbian Chamber of Commerce in Israel is in the final phase and should start working in April. “We plan to open a representative office of the Serbian Chamber of Commerce in Jerusalem in April, as well as a visit of Serbian businesspeople to Israel to get acquainted with innovative Israeli companies from the sector of renewable energy sources, water processing and construction,” said President of the Serbian Chamber of Commerce Marko Čadež.

RIO SAVA EXPLORATION PRESENTS PLANS FOR JADAR PROJECT By the end of 2021, an additional $ 200 million investment and 3 studies on environmental impact assessment.Rio Sava Exploration, part of the Rio Tinto group, yesterday presented an update on the “Jadar” project. Rio Sava Exploration is the leading greenfield investment in Serbia, which has invested US$250 million till date, and an additional US$200 million allocated in the pre-feasibility stage scheduled to be completed by the end of 2021. In this phase, three new environmental impact assessment studies will be completed covering the mine, mineral processing plant, and industrial waste solutions. The Jadar project is a deposit of boron and lithium that Rio Tinto discovered near Loznica and is unique in the world because it contains Jadarite, a new lithium-sodium-borosilicate (LiNaSiB₃O₇OH) mineral.

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“I am proud that Norway, despite difficult circumstances, managed to support job creation in Serbia through the project Norway for you” – H.E. JØRN GJELSTAD, AMBASSADOR OF NORWAY TO SERBIA

Placements postings

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appointments@aim.rs

MILAN GOSPIĆ, NEW DIRECTOR OF MICROSOFT IN SERBIA

Milan Gospić has become the new director of Microsoft for Serbia, tasked with guiding the company’s strategic developmeent and cooperating closely with local clients and partners. As director of the company and its development centre, Mr Gospić is also responsible for supporting the digital transformation of the country, which is one of Microsoft’s main priorities on the local market.

A graduate telecommunications engineer who has also studied computing and information technology, Gospić has amassed more than 20 years of experience working for international companies and has spent more than a decade successfully leading international teams.

CTP TO BUILD SERBIA’S LARGEST LOGISTICS PARK IN BELGRADE Czech industrial developer CTP has announced plans to develop CTPark Belgrade Centre, which it claims will be the largest warehousing park in Serbia. The company has acquired a 27.5 ha site close to Belgrade city centre for the construction of CTPark Belgrade Centre. It will comprise 130,000 sqm of leasable space, making it “Serbia’s largest logistics and technology facility,” according to CTP. It will be situated 6 km from the city centre, 2 km from its New Belgrade district and 5 km from Belgrade airport.

CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE FACTORY OPENS IN SERBIA The Continental Automotive Serbia factory was opened in Novi Sad, which will employ more than 500 workers.

Representatives of Continental introduced the guests to the production programme, explaining that not only instrument panels and displays for cars will be made there, but also smart control systems.

The new factory is part of the business unit Human Machine Interface (HMI) whose focus is on products in the interior of the vehicle, and the value of the investment is €140 million.

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VLADIMIR SKULIĆ, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, CETIN SERBIA

Bridging Divides In The Digital World The traditional telecommunications industry has to date focused on two important business models: end user services and the development and management of telecommunications networks. With the latest technological revolution and digital transformation, end user services have become increasingly diverse and competition has increased significantly 15 years, companies aim to make the most of infrastructure services and offer them to other players on the market. This naturally leads to the separation of the two aforementioned business models,” says CETIN Serbia CEO Vladimir Skulić, speaking in this interview for CorD Magazine.

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oday’s electronic communications market includes platforms, as well as OTT (over-the-top) operators whose services bypass traditional network operators. Additionally, there is also a growing focus on service packages and data processing.

“Due to these changes, infrastructure has become a service in itself (IaaS) and a new business model - “network as a service” (NaaS) - has been developed. Moreover, the accelerated development of 5G technology is bringing many new services and industrial users who will use this technology as a tool in their business. A dynamic setting requires constant investment and quality in infrastructure management. As the investment cycle in the field of infrastructure lasts longer than

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Tell us more about how CETIN was established?

CETIN was established five years ago as an infrastructure company in the Czech Republic, when it was separated from the largest Czech telecommunications company, O2, in order to respond adequately to new market trends. PPF Group was the first in Europe to recognise this model as being the most efficient and decided to apply the acquired knowledge within its other telecommunications companies in the region of Central and Eastern Europe.

Thus, the CETIN Group set its focus on improving the quality of telecommunications infrastructure, ensuring the efficient use of resources and capacities, as well as implementing new solutions. On the other hand, by taking care of infrastructure, we have enabled the mobile operator to dedicate itself fully to the development of services intended for end users.

In Serbia, CETIN was established as a spin-off from Telenor in the middle of last year. The company employs almost 300 highly qualified employees who have decades of experience in the telecommunications and IT industries.

We manage valuable infrastructure: more than 2,200 radio base stations and over 15,000 kilometres of fibre optics. We provide services not only to Telenor, Mobi Bank and other members of our group, but also to all others who are interested in the capacities we own.

What services does CETIN provide on the Serbian and other markets?

The CETIN Group currently operates as a regional company in the Czech Republic, Hungary, Serbia and Bulgaria. We proudly claim that we are one of the bridges in the region that connect the east, west, north and south of Europe, as well as Europe with Asia and the rest of the world. This is due to the fact that, in the wholesale sector, CETIN in Serbia provides services to dozens of national and international users.

With the understanding that differences exist in the needs of our clients, CETIN is fully focused on defining services and providing IaaS and NaaS services for mobile networks, telehousing services in four of our data centres, connectivity solutions and leasing national and international capacities, leasing modern optical infrastructure, services in the field of security operations, such as protection against DDoS attacks etc.

Leveraging on our competences, experience and the capacity of infrastructure, we are able to provide services to various “demanding” industries, such as banking and ICT, as well as offering unique consulting services derived

from the long-term joint work of expert teams.

Finally, we are focused on cooperating with other electronic communications operators in the field of capacity leasing and collocation, especially considering the European market’s trend of infrastructure sharing – a concept that has been increasingly encouraged by regulators.

Things are changing at an incredible rate in the telecommunications industry. What is the trend now?

Telecommunications are still primarily driven by technological developments and needs that come directly from the market. Our journey started with the second generation of networks, where voice communication was the main channel. During recent years we’ve been focused mostly on building the fourth generation of the network. This journey has been gradually evolving over the course of the last 20 to 30 years, and now the fifth generation is bringing major change.

The network is becoming increasingly complex each day, and digitalisation is an integral part of that. It is essential to be dynamic and adaptable. Using analytics and artificial intelligence, such as machine learning, may help us raise the level of automation and allow us to better predict events that may happen, and to do so almost in real time.As the network develops and grows, so does the responsibility to protect our network and its users. In the field of information security, we operate according to the ISO 27001 and ISO 27701 standards. We are well prepared thanks to our close collaboration with the security teams of PPF companies that operate in countries that are subject to EU regulations, which allows us to remain a step ahead of cyber security threats.

The crisis caused by the novel coronavirus has demonstrated that internet access is important to people for both private and business needs. Data traffic is constantly increasing, and the new reality that’s come as a consequence of the pandemic has shown that users also talk more often and for longer, and don’t just communicate via applications or the internet. I’m proud to note that our network worked great during the state of emergency, as we quickly adapted and reacted on time.

the regulatory environment and engage the general public through accountable informing.

That’s why we believe that we will witness the creation of completely new clusters of products and services on the market, for which we are preparing the basis in terms of modern infrastructure.

Given that Serbia also plans to develop a 5G network, could you tell us what changes are brought by this technology of the future?

The fifth generation brings incredible change – the transfer of data at high speed, almost in real time, and the ability to have a huge number of connections active at the same time.

This technological revolution brings great market and geopolitical competition, and the speed of its implementation will determine who will take economic pole position for the decade to come. It should be pointed out that the fifth generation is not just the next ‘G’ on this journey. Expectations are significantly higher – that it will enable different industries to innovate their business in a smart way and to interconnect different industries and ecosystems; 5G is seen as the basis and precondition for a smart society and the transformation of entire industries.

In order for all this to be supported and for end users to experience the benefits of the new technology, it is necessary to encourage innovative partnerships within the entire ecosystem, from mobile operators, infrastructure providers, equipment manufacturers, numerous local partners and start-ups, to improve

What will it take for Serbia to catch up with countries that are advanced in the development of their 5G networks?

As with the other operators, building infrastructure for the fifth generation of the network is in our focus, especially when the regulator announces a spectrum auction.

Bureaucracy is still a major challenge for all operators - obtaining permits for setting up one base radio station takes an average of over four months and the procedure is inconsistent. It is necessary to improve regulations in the field of environmental protection and establish a uniform practise, but also to gain the trust of citizens in the safety of this technology. Just as electricity reached every home in the middle of the last century, now high-speed broadband internet is the basis for accomplishing our needs and rights. The EU’s priority is for all its citizens to have access to the gigabyte network and for all populated areas to have 5G by 2030. We also endorse the projects of our Ministry of Telecommunications, which are leading Serbia in that direction. For starters, all schools will receive broadband via fibre optics that will bring high-speed internet connectivity to all rural parts of Serbia.

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ROMAN MENZ, MANAGING DIRECTOR OF MORAVACEM, A MEMBER OF CRH GROUP

We View Changes As New Opportunities Since August 2015, when CRH first arrived on the Serbian market, the company has recorded good business results, participated in significant national infrastructure projects and expanded its business in the segment of concrete production and distribution. After more than five years, this company, which owns the cement plant in Popovac and concrete plants in Belgrade, is changing its brand and logo to Moravacem Belgrade and a subsidiary company, Sapphire, which deals with waste disposal.

Choosing the name Moravacem testifies to our great respect for domestic values, laws and business ethics, but also for educated, professional and diligent people from Serbia.

We are proud of our roots and the history of the Popovac cement plant, which spans more than 100 years. We are accepting our past as a solid foundation for building a great future.

On the other hand, CRH is our parent company, based in Ireland. We will take the opportunity of being part of a very successful global family to share knowledge, innovations, experiences and good practices with it.

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hoosing the name Moravacem testifies to our great respect for domestic values, laws and business ethics, but also for educated, professional and diligent people from Serbia - says Moravacem MD Roman Menz in this interview for CorD Magazine.

Why did you decide to change the name of the company and its logo, considering the CRH brand’s established position on the Serbian market?

Our company is part of a large multinational company, CRH Group, which operates in 30 countries and employs close to 80,000 people. CRH Group has been present on the Serbian market since 2015, when it became the owner of the cement plant in Popovac and concrete plants in Belgrade. As part of our business, there are three concrete plants in

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Will there be any other changes, besides the company’s name and logo?

Actually, no. As a local company, we do not change our priorities: providing outstanding products and services to our customers, offering great career opportunities to our people, ensuring the highest standards of health, safety and environmental responsibility, and making a positive contribution to our local communities.

We do not anticipate any disruptions for our partners, customers, suppliers or distributors: for us, it is very much business as usual.

Can you tell us how your company used the crisis caused by the COVID-19 Pandemic to ensure your sustainable growth and development?

In any crisis, problems usually teach us to overcome challenges and adapt. We had to learn a lot of new skills and behaviour. It

is clear that the previous year was extremely difficult for everyone.

Despite the difficult circumstances, we managed to realise many projects. During 2020 we promoted the new brand of our subsidiary waste disposal company, Sapphire, promoted a new product, ZidoMal, launched a business segment through a new construction product - Construfil, maintained the smooth flow of production and sales of concrete and cement, and also conducted a large number of campaigns and actions related to the health and safety of our employees and their families. It can be said that we have done a lot, despite the situation in the country.

What are you planning for the current year; what will be in the company’s focus?

Unfortunately, the new year didn’t bring with it a return to the old normality. The fight against COVID-19 is still ongoing and the our company’s priority remains the health and safety of our employees, third parties, customers, suppliers and all other stakeholders with whom we work closely.

In addition to the change in the company’s brand, 2021 also brings with it some new prospects and goals in the business environment.

Our focus will continue to be on providing high-quality products and services to our clients, ensuring the highest standards of responsible behaviour in terms of health, safety and environmental protection, and making a positive contribution to the communities in which we operate.

DARKO JOVANOVIĆ, SENIOR PARTNER, KARANOVIĆ & PARTNERS

In Love With One’s Job Karanović & Partners, the leading legal practice in the region of Southeast Europe, has more than 100 cooperating lawyers in Serbia, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Montenegro and North Macedonia. They all work together as a single team and that is the secret of their success

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e have an obligation to invest in our people, in the continuous exchange of knowledge, a top educational programme and targeted training, in order for us to be able to provide the optimal support to our partners and the security, stability and predictability of their business ideas - notes Darko Jovanović, a senior partner at Karanović & Partners At the start you only had a vision of creating a world-class team, while today that team really exists. What is among everything that has marked the past 25 years?

A vision is certainly important, but it is actually a framework that can remain as nothing more than an idea without serious planning and commitment. And that’s why the last 25 years have been marked by precisely that – lots of planning, work and dedication. Behind us stands a lot of effort invested in understanding the business context and needs of clients, plenty of commitment to quality, the creating of a team of cooperating lawyers in Serbia, Slovenia, Croatia, BosniaHerzegovina, Montenegro and North Macedonia brought together around a common system of values, alongside the understanding of our engagement as representing opportunities to help our

partners, but also the community and environment in which we live.

How did the Karanović & Partners legal practice become a regional leader? What’s the secret?

Being in love with what we do and the idea that we can make our cities, villages and region a better place for us all. It certainly seems that we’ve succeeded in forming a really wonder-

We will all require lots of energy, patience and endurance, because the pace of change in the coming years will be incomparably faster than it was a quarter of a century ago ful team of colleagues in the previous period, which creates among all of us an additional obligation to continue investing in our people, in creating the best possible environment for their further professional and personal development, to enable the continuous exchange of knowledge, a top-notch educational and targeted training programme in order for us to be fully prepared to provide optimal

support to our partners and essential protection, stability and predictability of their businesses.

What do you think the next 25 years will look like and what will this period bring you?

It is interesting to consider how we viewed the world in February last year, what kinds of plans we had and what changes we had to the rules of the game. This experience confirms to me that we must be adaptable, even more serious in planning and more flexible in those plans themselves. Our calling also really implies the constant monitoring of economic and business trends, adapting and seeking ways to respond to the challenges placed in front of us and create the conditions that are essential for the development of business and our economies. It is clear that, in the coming years, the pace of change will be incomparably faster than it was 25 years ago. We will all require lots of energy, patience and endurance.

We will, of course, continue our investments in people, in the smart digitalising of work processes, in optimal analytical and IT infrastructure, in order for us to still be here in 25 years to help all those who want to do business, invest and live in these areas of ours.

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“When the regional program Dialogue for the Future had just begun, we could not even imagine that our future would be reshaped much faster and more dramatically. “ – FRANÇOISE JACOB, UN RESIDENT COORDINATOR IN SERBIA

REGIONAL NEWS ROMANIA

ROMANIA HAS 1.4 GW OF WIND FARMS IN THE PIPELINE Romania could get another 1.4 GW of wind farms in the next five years. The investments are estimated to as much as EUR 2 billion. Currently, the country has about 3 GW, which covers about 10% of electricity consumption.

Elsewhere in Southeastern Europe, Bulgaria has 700 MW in the pipeline, compared to at least 2.2 GW in Bosnia and Herzegovina and 2 GW in Serbia. Investors in wind farms in Greece applied for producer certificates for 8.7 GW in the December round alone.

NORTH MACEDONIA

EIB PRESIDENT HOYER AND PRIME MINISTER ZAEV AGREE TO BOOST GREEN INVESTMENTS The European Investment Bank (EIB) will continue to invest in the social and economic development of the Republic of North Macedonia, while supporting the faster economic recovery of the country’s economy and its backbone – small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) – from the COVID-19 pandemic.

EIB President Werner Hoyer and Vice-President Lilyana Pavlova welcomed North Macedonia’s Prime Minister Zoran Zaev, Minister of Finance Fatmir Besimi and Foreign Affairs Advisor to the Prime Minister Edmond Ademi.

The EIB presented plans to boost support from Team Europe, expand cooperation, step up its activities in North Macedonia and support the European Commission’s rollout of its Economic and Investment Plan for the Western Balkans.

CROATIA

PORSCHE RAISES STAKE IN CROATIA’S RIMAC AUTOMOBILI TO 24% German sports car manufacturer Porsche increased its stake in Croatian electric vehicle developer and producer Rimac Automobili to 24% from 15.5% after investing an additional 70 million euro ($83.2 million), Rimac said.

“We’re proud to work together on new exciting and electrified products and of the fact that Porsche’s trust in Rimac resulted in several rounds of investment, making Porsche an important shareholder of the company,” Mate Rimac, founder and CEO of Rimac Automobili, said in the statement.

Porsche purchased a 10% stake in Rimac in 2018 and increased it to 15.5% in 2019.

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DANILO ĆIRKOVIĆ, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR INSURANCE AND EXECUTIVE BOARD MEMBER AT THE SERBIAN EXPORT CREDIT AND INSURANCE AGENCY (AOFI)

Liquidity of Policyholders Preserved AOFI has been present on the Serbian market since 2006, as a pioneer in insuring receivables against the risk of payment defaults. It has been recognised since its establishment as an organisation that masters new products, such as the insuring of receivables and factoring. And AOFI has maintained its leadership position, despite the competition

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ecently, in cooperation with a commercial bank, we have developed a new product for insuring the export receyvables of banks in Serbia that arise from banks’ factoring operations. We hope that we will thus be able to additionally help to ensure the liquidity of the Serbian economy - announces AOFI’s Danilo Ćirković in this interview for CorD Magazine.

Despite the competition in credit insurance market, AOFI is still keeping its leading posi- tion. Could you compare the global financial crisis that lasted from 2008 to 2010 with the current crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic?

Shifts in the prices of metals are often taken as an indicator of the state of the global economy, and today we have the opposite situation compared to 2008. During the global economic crisis, we saw a significant drop in the prices of base metals, while during the last year we have seen a great increase in the prices of metals like copper, steel and

aluminium. And we estimate that this trend will last until the coming autumn at least.

Another difference between the two cri- ses is the movement in the value of stock exchange indices. The value of these indices was in a terrible decline in 2008, which is logical given that the former global crisis was caused by a crisis of financial markets, while stock market indices are reaching their maximums during today’s crisis.

The similarity between the two crises is their uncertainty, with regard to future develop- ments in the world economy. This uncertainty does hit exporters in individual economies the most. The role of export credit agencies like AOFI is to support the liquidity of the export economy through so-called trade finance instruments, such as the credit insurance and factoring. That is why AOFI’s operations during both crises have been greatly exposured in terms of risks taken in the international trading of base metals.

Since the establishment, AOFI has been recognized as an institution which introduced new products in Serbia, such as credit insurance and factoring. How satisfied are you with AOFI’s results in the area of trade credit insurance in 2020, and – with the exception of the pandemic – what else marked your operations over the past year?

AOFI insured what is for now a recordbreaking 824 million euros in the turnover of Serbian exporters in 90 countries on all continents in 2020. We paid claims in excess of 1.6 million euros buyers based on nonpayments of customers in six countries, thus helping to preserve the liquidity of our policyholders, which is our obligation and mandate provided by the Law on AOFI.

The result is obviously good. What is even more important is that we contributed to the stable operations of our clients and we are being approached by an increasing number of new clients, on the recommendations of existing ones.

Apart from the pandemic, last year and the start of 2021 have been characterised by more attempts at fraudulent scams, or the theft of the identity of creditworthy companies that are overseas buyers of Serbian exporters. Given the frequency of this, AOFI has been dealing with this specific issue since the outbreak of the pandemic, and we regularly inform our clients about the ways these frauds are carried out, striving to act preventative to protect the interests of our clients.

Do you have anything new to offer the Serbian market as a response to the crisis and the Serbian export economy’s need to secure its claims and protect its liquidity?

Recently, in cooperation with a commercial bank, we have developed a new product for insuring the export receyvebles of banks in Serbia that arise from banks’ factoring operations. We hope that we will thus be able to additionally help to ensure the liquidity of the Serbian economy. Specifically, banks will offer domestic exporters with so-called non-recourse factoring. This means that domestic exporters will not have an obligation towards the banks that bought the receivables in the case of the non-collection of those receivables, given that they will be insured by AOFI. This product, which we consider attractive for banks, has been available to all banks operating in Serbia since mid-March of this year.

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“Inflationary pressures will develop very quickly. I don’t think there’s any shelter here.” – MARK ZANDI, MOODY’S ANALYTICS

WORLD NEWS

JEEP PLANS TO GO FROM GAS-GUZZLING SUVS TO ‘GREEN’ OFF-ROAD ELECTRIC VEHICLES

ELON MUSK SAYS PEOPLE CAN NOW BUY TESLA WITH BITCOIN Tesla CEO Elon Musk announced that it is now possible to buy Tesla vehicles in the U.S. with bitcoin. The automaker last month revealed that it had bought $1.5 billion worth of bitcoin and that it would soon start accepting the world’s most popular cryptocurrency as a form of payment.

“You can now buy a Tesla with Bitcoin,” tweeted Musk, who was officially made the “Technoking of Tesla” this month.

A support page on Tesla’s website explains how customers can pay for a Tesla using the digital currency. The company’s electric vehicles typically cost between $37,990 and $124,000 before tax.

America’s quintessential SUV brand Jeep wants to change its reputation from gas guzzlers to “green” electrified vehicles to lure new buyers and maintain its off-road leadership amid an influx of new competitors.

Jeep is expected to be a key part of growth and electrification plans for Stellantis, its new parent company formed earlier this year through the merger of Fiat Chrysler and French automaker Groupe PSA.

EURO ZONE BUSINESS ACTIVITY GROWS FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 6 MONTHS Business activity in the euro area expanded in March, according to preliminary figures from the last week of March, but economies are bracing for a third wave of Covid-19 infections which could derail any recovery.

IHS Markit’s flash composite PMI for the euro zone, which looks at activity across both manufacturing and services, hit 52.5 in March versus 48.1 in February.

A reading above 50 represents an expansion in economic activity. The preliminary data points to the first economic expansion in the region since September and the largest increase since July.

J&J TO MAKE UP TO THREE BILLION COVID-19 VACCINES IN 2022 Johnson & Johnson’s chief scientist said the company expects to produce up to 3 billion doses of its COVID-19 vaccine next year, after the European Union approved the one-shot immunization.

The company is bringing on three manufacturing plants to produce the key drug substance. It also will have seven plants globally that will handle final production steps and bottling into vials known as fill and finish.

“All these will function together to deliver the 1 billion by the end of the year,” Dr. Paul Stoffels, J&J’s chief scientific officer, said in an interview.

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BOJAN SIMOVIĆ, HÖRMANN SERBIA CEO

Always for True Values and A Healthier Planet German company Hörmann has been synonymous with the quality of garage and house doors in the construction sector of Europe and on the world market for more than half a century, but this company also devotes a lot of its attention to developing products that enable customers to live and work in a comfortable and safe environment.

H

ere we discuss the importance - in addition to product quality of innovations and recognising the wishes of customers, but also awareness of the need to preserve the planet, with Hörmann Serbia CEO Bojan Simović

How would you evaluate the Serbian market, where you’ve been operating for more than a decade?

German companies are present in almost all of the most important branches of the Serbian economy, which includes construction, and this testifies sufficiently to the extent to which this market is recognised as a partner. Let me remind you that Germany has been one of Serbia’s main economic partners for the last twenty years, with investments that total over two billion euros and trade exchange worth 4.8 billion euros.

During the ten years it has been present in Serbia, our company has exerted great efforts to adapt to doing business in this market, but also to improve the way business is done. I can state unequivocally that it is today very similar to the market in Germany. Just like there, the quality of our products is also recognised in Serbia as the main motivation for purchasing them, so we are very satisfied that practically all major industrial facilities have some of our products, but also an increasing number of households.

How important are innovations and the following of trends in your line of business?

We are continuously implementing technical innovations in our products, because we also want to satisfy the wishes of those who are fans of the most modern ways of living.

The real challenge is the personalization of our products, as well as the ability to create products that are made according to the requirements and wishes of our customers obtained trough interaction with them. This

By choosing a Hörmann product, customers are choosing a product that has been created using “green energy”, and the further use of that product won’t endanger the environment became possible with Duragrain sectional garage door, which is available in eight new colours of the latest new colours and even enables clients to print their own photo on it. The finishing layer of this door is made of a high-strength protective varnish, which is extremely resistant to scratches and repels dirt. The timeless elegance of our products and their durability are very important segments that make Hörmann a worldwide recognized brand.

For Hörmann as a company, 2021 will be marked as the year of combating climate change. How important is that struggle and what does it represent to you?

We are witnessing great climate change and evironmental pollution, to which not only large factories and companies, but also individuals contribute. That’s precisely why we want to provide our own contribution to raising awareness of the fact that it is only by all of us acting together, through this constant struggle, that we can save our planet. We launched a campaign at the beginning of March for the complete reduction of carbon dioxide in production processes at our factories. We also want our customers to know this, because by choosing a Hörmann product they are choosing a product that has been created using “green energy”, and the further use of that product won’t endanger the environment in any way. Through the disseminating of such messages on the markets of Serbia, Germany and the world, we are contributing to the development of understanding and mutual recognition in the struggle for true values and a healthier planet. There are places on the market for all ideas, but the right ones are those that do not necessarily lead not only to higher profits, but also to sustainable development, with full respect for the customer, his needs and desires and which raise awareness of the importance of preserving this planet.

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Enterpreneur DR.TIMOTHY SPRINGER SCIENTIST, SERIAL ENTREPRENEUR & SOCIAL ADVOCATE

HARVARD PROFESSOR BECOMES BILLIONAIRE ON STRENGTH AND SURGE OF A SINGLE STOCK INVESTMENT

From A Professor

To A Billionaire 40

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Timothy Springer, Ph.D., is a professor at Harvard Medical School.

He’s an immunologist known for his pioneering work in discovering the first integrins and how these cell adhesion molecules function in the immune system. His research has paved the way for the development of therapeutic antibodies, known as selective adhesion molecule inhibitors, to treat autoimmune diseases.

S

pringer saw his first big break in making millions during the dot-com bubble of 1999. He sold his first venture, LeukoSite to Millennium Pharmaceuticals for $100 million. He took $5 million of his profit from that and invested it in pre-IPO Moderna, Cambridge, Massachusetts-based biotechnology company that was focused on drug discovery and drug development, which makes sense, based on his educational and career background. Springs is also the founder of biotechnology companies Morphic Therapeutic and Scholar Rock.

Springer is a professor of biological chemistry and molecular pharmacology at Harvard Medical School, where he began teaching in 1977 and currently mentors postdoctoral students in his lab. In his research as an immunologist at Harvard, Springer discovered lymphocyte function-associated molecules, which led to the development of several FDA-approved antibody-based.

Moderna, Inc, was founded in 2010 under than name, ModeRNA. It was based on Harvard University research by Derrick Rossi, who developed a method for modifying mRNA, transfecting it into human cells, dedifferentiating mRNA into stem cells, which then differentiated into the desired cell types. Rossi approached his fellow Harvard faculty member Tim Springer to become the company’s first investor and he did.

Springer did his undergraduate work at the University of California, Berkeley, and his Ph.D. at Harvard. Springer is Moderna’s

Springer saw his first big break in making millions during the dotcom bubble of 1999. He sold his first venture, LeukoSite to Millennium Pharmaceuticals for $100 million

fourth-largest shareholder and made $400 million from the company’s IPO. More recently, Springer (72), has ridden a 17,000% return in his Moderna shares, the biggest biotech IPO in history which has gained him entrance to the exclusive billionaire’s club. Shares of Moderna are up 162% by the end of last year on news of its work on a coronavirus vaccine. The company was one of the first to start human trials on a vaccine for COVID-19.

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Enterpreneur

Springer’s current projects include a non-profit to advance entrepreneurship and innovation in protein therapeutics and opensource antibodies and small molecules.

Much before Covid pandemic was even known, Springer understood the danger that viruses could potentially cause. So a decade ago, he came across Moderna. It was a biotech company that focused on drug discovery, drug development, and vaccine technologies. It wasn’t as exciting as electric cars or online shopping, but as a biology professor, he understands the importance of vaccines. So he decided to invest in this company. Currently, he owns 3.5 per cent of the company. Since Moderna is valued at around $30 billion dollars end of last year, his stake equals to around $1 billion, just from Moderna (according to Bloomberg Billionaires Index).

His current projects include a non-profit to advance entrepreneurship and innovation

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in protein therapeutics and open-source antibodies and small molecules. Next is a dual-acting malaria vaccine, to both protect humans from being infected, and to prevent mosquitos from transmitting infection.

Privately, over the years Springer has been inspired by the gongshi, or Chinese scholars’ rocks naturally sculpted rocks that have been treasured across China, Korea and

Japan for centuries, and even named one of his biopharmaceutical companies—Scholar Rock—after them.

After spending a decade learning about gongshi at various symposia and lectures, Springer was inspired to make a major acquisition when he began building a new house. He wanted to plant a monumental rock in the garden, tall enough to scale the height of his home’s second storey. And he wanted to choose it himself, in China. Over the years, he has bought thousands of rocks.

He started his collection in 1998, when he and his wife Chafen Lu, also scientist and Ph.D. went to an Asian art fair in New York. One stand featured an impressive waist-high rock. “I’d never seen anything like that before,” he says. He bought the rock and learned about gongshi at home in Cambridge, Massachusetts, primarily from Kemin Hu, a leading expert and dealer who lives just a few towns away.

Springer is more interested in the tradition of stone appreciation in China than in Japan, where these rocks are dubbed suiseki, or Korea, where they are called suseok, with one playing a supporting role in the recent Oscar-winning Korean film, Parasite. “The aesthetic of the Chinese is that there should be no visible work on the rock whatsoever,” Springer explains. “It should be totally natural.”

PROFILE

The Business of Inspiration It is the morning of February 18th 2021. We are gathered in the virtual meeting room while being physically dispersed around Southern California. We’ve been working from home for almost a year and have mostly interacted through video meetings. This certainly wasn’t the way I’d imagined Mars landing day. What I had imagined is fear and hope, as well as the success of landing, but also sharing these feelings with other people in the same physical space

DR DRAGANA PERKOVIC-MARTIN, TECHNICAL GROUP SUPERVISOR AND RADAR SYSTEM ENGINEER AT NASA JET PROPULSION LABORATORY

I

guess a lot of my life hasn’t turned out exactly as I imagined it would...

Growing up in Belgrade, I was a shy child, but I eventually found my voice through a drama club in primary school. This was the first time I felt I could overcome the fear of speaking up – I was acting, after all.

Realising that one can overcome fears and internal obstacles was a pretty big revelation at that age. It paved the way for some of the choices I made later and likely got me to where I am today.

Moving from Belgrade to Malta, and ultimately to the U.S., thrust me into unexpected situations and provided me with a wealth of diverse friendships and professional relationships that I enjoy to this day. Being surrounded by people of different cultures and backgrounds who I could learn from has become invaluable to my development. The Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) is a melting pot of experts from around the world. It is enjoyable to know that you can find answers

to almost any question by walking a few doors down the hall. At the same time, it is scary to realise how little you know and how many smarter people surround you.

This type of environment enables missions like Mars 2020, with its Perseverance rover.

When we are presented with a problem, we forget the differences that exist between us and concentrate solely on figuring out how to

The Mars 2020 mission came up and I was offered the lead role on the landing radar system engineering team. I doubted my abilities at the time, but I also knew that opportunities like this don’t come around often, so I jumped at it. Seven plus years later, we successfully landed using the information provided by the radar solve the problem in the most efficient way.

Being a woman in engineering teaches you that you must have a voice, and a strong one. I was always in a minority through my undergraduate studies, and even more so through my doctorate. However, I never al-

lowed myself to feel small or insignificant; I was able to persevere through the hard times when my colleagues did not understand my struggles. When it comes to the JPL, the ratio has changed for the better, and here one needs strength and perseverance to earn the trust of peers and mentors.

Upon starting my career at JPL, I had the luck of being able to work with and look up to successful women engineers.

Their stories, experiences and conversations inspired me to take on bigger challenges, some that I didn’t necessarily think I was capable of handling. I dared to start dreaming of getting to where they are, and even further. The Mars 2020 mission came up and I was offered the lead role on the landing radar system engineering team. I doubted my abilities at the time, but I also knew that opportunities like this don’t come around often, so I jumped at it. Seven plus years later, we successfully landed using the information provided by the radar and I found myself celebrating with the team in a virtual room, with my family by my side.

Next up, hopefully, is a mission to Venus, to discover the truth about the planet that started its life much like our beloved Earth. The VERITAS mission is led by amazing women scientists and engineers and I cannot wait to embark on this new journey with them, and to challenge myself once again. I pride myself on being in the business of inspiration.

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Art

Portuguese Painters You Need To Know About

ST. PETER BY VASCO FERNANDES (FROM THE COLLECTION OF GRÃO VASCO NATIONAL MUSEUM)

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Portugal has been home to many different styles of art over the centuries. The artists behind these works are still celebrated today, but with such a rich and varied pool of talent to peruse, where do you start?

Well have no fear, because here are 10 Portuguese artists and their work to get you started. Ranging from the 16th century to today, these artists explore different themes and techniques, but many of them are united in the sense of national identity that comes through in their art.

GRÃO VASCO Vasco Fernandes (c.1475–c.1542), better known as Grão Vasco (“The Great Vasco”), was one of the main Portuguese Renaissance painters. Born in Viseu, in northern Portugal, it was here Vasco began his career by joining the team of painters who created the main altarpiece of Viseu Cathedral (1501–1506). After working in the Lamego Cathedral and then the Santa Cruz Monastery of Coimbra, the artist returned to Viseu and executed a series of altarpieces for the cathedral, which are considered his main works.

Overall, Vasco’s paintings pay great attention to detail. Aside from the Italian influences, inspiration from the masters of Flemish painting can be found through the artist’s treatment of light and shadows.

NUNO GONÇALVES Nuno Gonçalves was a 15th-century Portuguese court painter for King Afonso V of Portugal. He is credited for the painting of the Saint Vincent Panels (Paineis de São Vicente de Fora). The panels depict the main elements of Portuguese

society in the 15th century: clergy, nobility, and common people.

Very little is known of his life, neither his birth or death dates are known, but documents of the time seem to indicate that he was active between 1450 and 1490. He is depicted, among several other historic figures, on the Padrão dos Descobrimentos (Monument of the Discoveries) in Belém near Lisbon.

POSSESSÃO I-VII BY PAULA REGO (FROM THE COLLECTION OF SERRALVES FOUNDATION)

PANELS OF ST. VINCENT BY NUNO GONÇLAVES (NATIONAL MUSEUM OF ANCIENT ART)

PAULA REGO Dame Paula Rego is a Portuguese-born visual artist who is known for her paintings and books based on storybooks. Her memories of growing up in Portugal often inspire her paintings, particularly the stories and fairy tales told by her aunt and grandmother.

She is fascinated by the darker side of human behavior, and her paintings often reveal disturbing narratives of love and cruelty, focusing on victims of circumstances beyond their control. She draws on her own experiences, fears, and motivations, and inevitably her subjects are often women. Rego studied at the Slade School of Fine Art, University College London and was an exhibiting member of the London Group, along with David Hockney and Frank Auerbach. She was the first artist-in-residence at the National Gallery in London.

AMADEO DE SOUZA CARDOSO Amadeo de Souza-Cardoso (1887–1918) was a Portuguese painter whose early works were stylistically close to Impressionism. Around 1910, influenced by Cubism and Futurism, he became one of the first modern Portuguese painters.

His style was vivid in form and color and, while

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Art

PARIA DAS MAÇÃS BY JOSÉ MALHOA

DAME BY AMADEO DE SOUZA CARDOSO (FROM THE COLLECTION OF MUSEU DO CARAMULO)

his works at first appear random and chaotic in their compositions, the artist has ensured the work is carefully balanced. Cardoso’s work remained almost unknown after his death, until 1952 when a room dedicated to his paintings at Municipal Museum Amadeo Souza-Cardoso gained public attention.

JOSÉ MALHOA José Vital Branco Malhoa, known simply as José Malhoa (1855–1933) was one of the leading names in Portuguese naturalist paintings in the second half of the 19th century. He often painted popular scenes and subjects, like his two most well-known works, The Drunks (1907) and Fado (1910). While Malhoa remained faithful to the naturalist style, in some of his works there are Impressionist influences.

Malhoa’s House, also known as the Dr. AnastácioGonçalves House-Museum in Lisbon, was originally built in 1905 as a residence and studio for the artist. It was bought by Dr. AnastácioGonçalves, an art collector, a year before the painter’s death and it became a museum in 1980.

It showcases several items from his collection,

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AFTERNOON NAP BY JOSÉ DE ALMADA NEGREIROS

namely works from Portuguese painters of the 19th and 20th century.

JOSÉ DE ALMADA NEGREIROS José de Almada Negreiros (1893 – 1970) was a Portuguese artist who was fascinated by the arts and set himself on a creative path early on. In 1913, age 20, he had his first individual exhibition, showing 90 drawings. He went on to explore painting, tapestry, engraving, murals, caricature, mosaic, azulejo and stained glass.

Almada Negreiros always called himself a futurist artist and the artist referenced the works of Pablo Picasso and Filippo Tommaso Marinetti.

However, his style encompassed far more than that and as such critics have always found it difficult to categorize his work. Many of his paintings and drawings showed common people in daily affairs or attitudes usual in socialist art. The artist

emrbaced color and enjoyed playing with reality by distorting the figures of his subjects so much they became abstract patterns.

JOAQUIM RODRIGO Self-taught Portuguese painter Joaquim Rodrigo began as a professor of agronomy in 1938. In 1951, he started showing his work in exhibitions of the collective Sociedade Nacional de Belas Artes (SNBA) (National Fine Arts Society). During the 1950s, after seeing work by Victor Vasarely and Piet Mondrian during a visit to Galerie Denise René in Paris, he quickly abandoned figuration for an abstract style.

He exhibited in the Primeiro Salão de Arte abstrata (First Salon for Abstract Art) at Galeria de Março in Lisbon in 1954, the 4th Bienal de São Paulo in 1957, and the Brussels World’s Fair (also known as Expo ’58). Rodrigo changed course in

S.M. (SANTA MARIA)

BY JOAQUIM RODRIGO

HENRIQUE POUSÃO Painter Henrique César de Araújo Pousão (1859–1884) belonged to the naturalist generation of artists, though it’s clear in his works that he was influenced by Impressionism as well.

When Pousão travelled to Paris, he was inspired

by Manet, especially in his use of black in equal proportion to other colors.

Some critics feel his landscape works, that appear looser and more expressive in style, are a prelude to modern art and abstraction. You can see this approach in the abstract planes of color and textures in his 1882 paintings Miragem and Fachada de Porta Soterrada. Some of Pousão’s best works were painted on small wood panels no bigger than 100mmx 60mm.

COLUMBANO BORDALO PINHEIRO Portuguese realist painter Columbano Bordalo Pinheiro (1857 – 1929) is usually referred to as Columbano. He is considered one of the greatest Portuguese painters of the 19th century, and has been compared to the likes of Wilhelm Leibl and John Singer Sargent.

Columbano was a master of realism and he specialized in portraiture. He painted portraits of some of the greatest names of Portuguese society and culture such as José Maria de Eça de Queiroz, Teófilo Braga, and Raul Brandão. What make his works stand apart from others, what Columbano’s

accuracy in conveying the personality of those he depicted. The artist was accurate in his interpretations but his brushwork was lively and managed to create a warmth in his pieces.

MARIA HELENA VIEIRA DA SILVA Born in Lisbon in 1908, Maria Helena Vieira da Silva was an abstract painter. After studying in Portugal, like many other artists she travelled to Paris in 1928 to continue her formal training by enrolling in Emile-Antoine Bourdelle’s sculpture course at the Académie de la grande chaumière.

While there, she absorbed a variety of influences such as the geometric abstraction of the group Cercle et Carré (Circle and Square) and the decorative style of Pierre Bonnard.

Vieira da Silva’s early paintings were influenced by each of these trends, and her style melds Cubism, Futurism, and Constructivism. Early in her career she began producing her characteristic works which were heavily impastoed, and overlaid with a complex arrangement of small rectangles.

In 1943, Vieira da Silva exhibited in Peggy

Guggenheim’s show Exhibition by 31 Women at the Art of This Century gallery in New York. By the late 1950s she was internationally known for her dense and complex compositions, influenced by the art of Paul Cézanne. She is considered to be one of the most important Post-War abstract artists although she is not a “pure” abstract painter.

THE VILLAGE OF ST. SAUVES BY HENRIQUE POUSÃO

THE GRUPO DO LEÃO BY COLUMBANO

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Source: Google Arts & Culture

the 1960s as Pop art took off in Europe and the United States, by developing a non-naturalistic, symbolic style that blended figuration and abstraction. Various critics have asserted the influence of aboriginal and other indigenous practices on Rodrigo’s works. In 1972 Rodrigo received his first solo show – a retrospective at the SNBA.

CITY IN RUINS BY MARIA HELENA VIEIRA DA SILVA

Art

Centenary of the release of the first issue of “Zenit”

Awaiting The New

Avant-Garde The story of Zenit and Zenitism is a world story whether people like it or not.

And the National Museum of Serbia missed a great opportunity to commemorate one of the most important dates of the Serbian avantgarde. And it could have created a remake of Irina Subotić’s wonderful 1983 manifestation “Zenit and the avant-garde of the twenties”.

That was Europe in the National Museum of Serbia!

T

he date of 1st February 2021 marked the hundredth anniversary of the release of the first issue of the “The International Review of Culture and Art” - “Zenit” [Zenith], founded and edited by Ljubomir Micić...

I find interesting the determining of the concept and poetics of this most important and most significant periodical of the Serbian and Yugoslav avant-garde: from issues #4 to #7 Zenit was “The International Review of New Art”, from issue #8 it was “The International Review of Art * East - West”, from issues #11 to #15 it was “The International Journal of New art”, and from the 16th issue Zenit became “The International Journal of Zenitism and New Art”, while in the so-called extraordinary-special edi-

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BY GOJKO TEŠIĆ

tion of 23rd September 1922 it was determined as being “The Zenitist Herald for Balkan Culture and Civilisation”. From 1924 until the cessation of publication it was “Zenit”, with the tag “International Journal”.

Zenit founder and editor Ljubomir Micić is the most controversial, most frequently attacked, most contested, most undermined and most tragic hero of Serbian culture on the one hand (among so-called intellectual circles of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes or the Kingdom of Yugoslavia), while on the other hand, in a global context, he is one of the most respected, renowned and esteemed personalities of the avant-garde movement of 1920s and 1930s Yugoslavia.

In these horrible times of the pandemic, on 1st February this year, the centenary of Micić’s “Zenit” was commemorated in the Belgrade branch of Art Gallery Rima, at 8 Pariska Street. It just so happened that I found myself in Belgrade in midFebruary, and quite by chance I found out from a bookseller called Vlada about the exhibition ‘Zenit Magazine (1921-1926)’. Although modest in the number of exhibits, it is nonetheless an important symbolic sign in terms of importance and value. I inquired about the large collection that had been prepared and edited by Irina Subotić and was told that hadn’t been released due to some problems that arose between Art Gallery Rima and the National Museum, which preserves Micić’s artistic legacy – a treasure of the world that was brought to that museum thanks to Irina Subotić, who is an exceptional and hard-working curator.

There is no way of forgetting the outbursts and transgressions of some who tried with all their might to dispute the worldwide moment of Zenitism: in one place could be found works of world avant-garde artists who had at some point exhibited in the Zenit Gallery of New Art (Archipenko, Moholy-Nagy, El Lissitzky, Kandinsky, Chagall, Tatlin, Zadkine, Charchoune, Rodchenko, Egon Schiele, Lozovik, Teige, Kasak, Černigoj, Petrov, Jo Klek, Gecan, Bijelić, Paladino, Prampolini et al), which the unfortunate Micić preserved in his pauper’s home.That was certainly an act that would, in every civilised culture, have placed Ljubomir Micić among the ranks of the greatest benefactors of not only Serbian but also European art.

However, when the facts are read literary-historically and artistically, they responsibly tell us about much more complex circumstances in the Serbian

Micić believed that the Balkans, as an as-yetunexplored territory, offered freshness, incorruptibility, the ability to regenerate the faltering Western European man. literature of the 1920s. The main figure devaluing everything that was new during those years was Marko Ristić, a key literary ideologue of the 1950s and ‘60s, who wrote about our tragic hero in the “Index” of his broadly acclaimed Literary Politics [Književna politika,1952], writing: “Micić, Ljubomir, Serbian writer, anti-talent and mystifier, editor of Zenit, founder of Zenitism, ideologue of barbarogenics, and so on: nothing”. It was a verdict calling for the complete expulsion of a creator of the world avant-garde movement from Serbian and Croatian literature.

But who actually was Ljubomir Micić? Born in Sošice near Jastrebarsko (Croatia), he was a poet, narrator, novelist, actor, editor (of Zenit magazine and Zenit Library), set up a gallery (Zenit-gallery), worked as a medic... He graduated in philosophy from the University of Zagreb. And he was an exile (he resided in Paris from 1926 to 1936). After returning to Belgrade, he and his wife, Anushka, also lived in exile of a kind, first at 69 Njegoševa

Street, then, in the post-war years, at 18 Prote Mateje Street – in the same street where his chief detractor, Marko Ristić, also lived. He died in a nursing home in Kačarevo (1971).

The Wikipedia page states that “Zenit was a magazine of an international character, in which many prominent artists of the period published their works in French, German, Dutch, Hungarian, Esperanto etc. It had particularly important links with Italian futurists, primarily with the founder of their movement Filippo Tommaso Marinetti, which testifies to the affirmative attitude of ‘Zenitists’ towards new technical and technological achievements.

On the other hand, following his break with the Expressionists, Micić began to advocate for different ideas, which became the foundation for the poetics of Zenitism: the idea of Barbarogenics, advocating for the Balkanisation and barbarisation of Europe. Such aspirations towards the primitive and primordial appeared after World War I, arising from disappointment in Western European values and saturation with Western European culture.

Micić believed that the Balkans, as an as-yetunexplored territory, offered freshness, incorruptibility, the ability to regenerate the faltering Western European man.

Despite all the contradictions, nationalism, on the one side, and cooperation with European artists on the other, despite contrasting collaborators and the desire to break with other avant-garde schools, Zenit remained focused throughout its existence on novelty and innovation, newer media and branches of art (radio, film, jazz), advocating

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Art

Centenary of the release of the first issue of “Zenit”

for anti-traditionalism and anti-militarism, with man at the centre of attention.

Driven by the ideas of Russian avant-garde artists, Micić represented a constructivist approach to creativity, which does not recognise inspiration and enthusiasm, rather a conscious work of art, programmatic creative with a clearly defined goal and intention.

He published the following books of poems: Ritmi mojih slutnja [Rhythms of My Hunches, 1919], Spas duše [Salvation of the Soul, 1920], Stotinu vam bogova [A Hundred Gods for You, 1922], which was censored and banned, then republished that same year under the title Kola za spasavanje [Lifebelt], and again banned, Aeroplan bez motora [Aeroplane Without an Engine, 1925] and Antievropa [Anti-Europe, 1926]. He published books in French: Hardy! A la Barbarie. Paroles zenittes d’un barbare européen (1928), Zéniton, L’Amant de Fata Morgana (1930), Les Chevaliers de Montparnasse (1932), Etre ou ne pas être and Après Saraïevo - Expédition punitive (1933), Rien sans Amour ( 1935), Barbarogénie le Décivilisateur (1938) - and this makes him one of the most famous Serbian avant-garde artists, alongside Moni de Bouli, in French literature (and was exceptionally well received among French critics).

• Thirteen issues of ‘Zenit’, from 1921 and 1922, spawned Serbian Dadaism (Dragan Aleksić), which would be manifested most radically in 1922 with the gazettes “Dada tank” and “Dada jazz” (editor and founder Dragan Aleksić) - that marked the point of separation and the start of polemics over who Dadaism belonged, which would culminate with the Zenitist anti-Dadaist magazine “Dada jok”, created

by Ljubomir Micić and Branko Ve Poljanski. At the same time, during those two years, ‘Zenit’ published prose and poetry by the most important creators of Serbian expressionism (Vinaver, Krakow, Rastko Petrović, Boško Tokin, Dragan Aleksić, Dušan Matić - the later surrealist poet and the only one to find himself in the Zenit “flock”!).

And even when the aforementioned creators left ‘Zenit’, its structure and content ensured that it remained exciting, provocative and decidedly polemical.

However, what renders ‘Zenit’ an international magazine is the fact that the so-called anthology issues - the most famous is the anthology issue “New Russian Art” (issues #17-#18, 1922) with articles

by Khlebnikov, Mayakovsky, Ehrenburg, Lissitzky,

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Pasternak, Malevich. Aseeva, Yesenin, Tairova et al. Then the so-called German issue #16, which published within it the “Categorical Imperative of the Zenitist Poetic School” and the Zenitist verses of Micić and Poljanski. However, when it was renounced by Serbian writers, the magazine gained diversity and internationality through numerous world creators: Raoul Hausmann, Franz Richard Behrens, Henri Barbusse, Fels, Jaroslav Seifert, Karel Teige, Pierre Albert-Birot, André Salmon, Adolf Hoffmeister, Paolo Bucci, Herwarth Walden, Max Jacob, Ruggero Vasari, Lajos Kassák et al.

• And to conclude with excerpts from the manifesto “Man and Art”, from the very first issue of ‘Zenit’, which was published in Zagreb in February 1921, by its owner and editor-in-chief Ljubomir Micić: “All us poets wear the blackness of darkness, and that is our great punishment, that we are poets today. We are all pushed into space and do not know ourselves whether we are crazy or above time.

We, as apostles of the crucified Man, preach faith in the New Man and await his revelation. We are no longer waiting for an emperor - we are waiting for Man! ... Man! ... Man! ...

The tragic power of new art lies in the desperate cry: Man! And that’s why today it is the furthest from ancient beauty and l’art pour l’art-ism. She is the New Spirit who creates, and the artist’s eternal urge is to create. Art, which in our meaning - expressionism is the strong will to create new values - new forms.

She has a strong yearning to be published. She is

yearning for eternity. She is the scream of our love.

She is a scream for salvation and for ascension.

Art is universal - omnipresent. And that is why there is no specific national art, much less class-based art.

We poets - the artists of this country - extend our arms to everyone who thinks like us, to everyone for everything above the shattered human skulls.

Our souls are stuffed with yearning for revelation.

And art is the great revelation of the Spirit and the great fulfilment of man’s yearnings. It is our eternal restlessness, eternal dynamics, movement, eternal anarchy, eternal revolution.There can be no dormancy in it. Our tragedy of unrest and dying has reached its Crni Vrh and determined a new direction for art.

Today is the Second Renaissance.

It was in expressionism that it found its strongest affirmation. Expressionism is the imperative of the soul for the strongest expression in a work of art.

Zenitism - as an incarnation of spirit and soul, is an imperative for the highest expression in a work of art.

Zenitism is striving to create the highest forms.

Zenitism is abstract meta-cosmic expressionism.

Zenitism and expressionism are mirrors in which we will see reflected our terrible inner pain - the drama of our soul.They will remain haunted mirrors for unborn generations that have them conceived in the blood.

Because they will not find themselves, but they will find - us. They will long seek themselves helplessly in the future, and again they will find us. And we, like terrible apparitions and phantoms, will wander with bloody hands through their dreams and nights.

We are the testament of future sons who should sacrifice themselves for the salvation of Man, and we leave them our Golgotha and the Mount of Olives in our works - who paves the way to the resurrection.

Our cry: MAN! Our faith: ZENITISM. • ‘Zenit’ (1921-1926) and zenitism a hundred years on: inspiration for some new avant-garde, or for the beginning of new quarrels, new misunderstandings, new adulterations – for a story about a new man, new values, new arts. Or for the story of some new hatreds, like the one from the beginning of this article that everything that belonged to Micić is tantamount to “nothing”. On the contrary, this is a great European story which, among impartial interpreters, becomes exciting material for new readings, and thus a new contextualisation - of both ‘Zenith’ and the zenitism of Ljubomir Micic - the most novelistic personality of the Serbian avant-garde.

My life

Petar ‘Peca’ Popović, rock music critic, writer

By Radmila Stanković

THE BEATLES CHANGED THE WORLD WITHOUT FIRING A SHOT

His biography confirms him as one of the greatest authority on rock ‘n’ roll in the former Yugoslavia, the writer of treasured books and the author of a documentary series on rock ‘n’ roll. He is the guardian of values that belonged to a bygone country, and which he calls his emotional homeland. And according to his healthcare chart he’s also a medical phenomenon: 13 stents, eight bypasses, seven heart attacks, eight coronography procedures and two clinical deaths!

B

orn in Belgrade, on Topčider Hill, he always signed his name with the Cyrillic script when abroad, and no one can ban him from saying that he was born in Yugoslavia. And to be most precise he was actually born in a house, and not a maternity hospital. That’s why he says of himself that he is a home-made product, and not a serial production model. The hospital only later became his destiny. His only homeland is the house where he was born, where he grew up, “where I grew old and where I’m awaiting death”. It was from that house – which is located in a street that was once called Šenoina Street and is today known as Vajara Đoke Jovanovića Street – that Petar ‘Peca’ Popović (71) saw grass for the first time, in his garden, and learned how

the sky looks when you’re looking up. That is his only homeland. He learned that home always costs too much, but that’s why it loves without limits. A house is just a building, while a home is a storehouse for indelible emotions. There every spring lasts for twelve months. And that’s been the case for decades.

Newcomers to Belgrade like to say that Topčider Hill and Senjak are actually part of Dedinje, because that sounds somehow more important to them, more elegant. They’ve heard about Dedinje because Josip Broz Tito and all the senior leaders of the former Yugoslavia lived there, as do those of today’s Serbia: “I understand that need of theirs, but they must also understand my need not to give up that piece of land, that yard. I’m responsible for

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My life

Petar ‘Peca’ Popović, rock music critic, writer

preserving that on behalf of my family. Three generations of Popovićs have never previously lived in that house, and now for the first time that’s being done by my Mira and I, my son Bogdan with his wife Maja and their son Petar.

In the Popović family it’s obligatory for two names to be passed down interchangeably - Petar and Bogdan. No Popović previously lived long enough to be with his grandson. I experienced that despite my failing health. And that’s why I must teach my grandson that this is our home and not just our house, because you can have dozens of houses while you can only have one home.”

That home of his is also his most important toponym. All his schools are there; it was there that he walked and played, it’s there that stands Topčiderska Church, the oldest church in Belgrade, where his parents were married, Peca and his sister were baptised, where he was wed to his wife Mira, and where his children were also baptised.

There is also the Topčider Cemetery, where he will be buried and where his parents also rest.

That is his micro world: “I have that problem that I’ve had to justify myself all my life because I was born and live in that area. My personal tragedy is that I’m now the only native in that street. That’s how much history has changed in 70 years. How challenging that part of Belgrade is for new winners? There’s no winner from any war or any coup who didn’t want to be legalised in that part of Belgrade.”

Peca also has his own emotional homeland, and that’s a space in which the same feelings function, are cultivated and understand one another, and those feelings can only be transmitted through language and humanity: “When I say emotional homeland, that means the homeland in which we grew up, in which we learned how to love, to respect people who differ from us. That’s the space where we didn’t want to give up everything that’s been done to us by history in the meantime; that’s the space we proudly carry with us when we go before God to confess. That is a space filled with wonderful memories, filled with wonderful people, filled with things about which we’re not ready to say we didn’t love and to just give up.”

Back in 1949, when Peca was born, Belgrade had 375,000 inhabitants, while today it is home to 1.7 million people. He played football in his street as a child, but today he can’t even traverse

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VLATKO STEFANOVSKI, JEFF BECK AND PETAR POPOVIĆ

I know that many people resent my theory that the mayor of Belgrade must be born in Belgrade. And they must! all the parked cars as he pushes his grandson in his pram: “Everything has changed, but something obliges one to defend that city in the way it was defended by our role models. And they defended normalcy. Belgrade, as the capital, must be an example. It must be an example in architecture, traffic, ecology, culture, behaviour; it must be an example in promoting values. Belgrade has never promoted as much rubbish as it does now.

Despot Stefan Lazarević didn’t deserve that, nor did Vuk Karadžić, as the first mayor in the liberated Serbia. That isn’t deserved by all of us who’ve lived in Belgrade for all these years and won’t abandon it.

“I know that many people resent my theory that the mayor of Belgrade must be born in Belgrade. And they must! Why? “If the mayor of Belgrade was born in Belgrade, when they brought a decision like “now I’ll erect a monument right here, now I’ll change the name of this street, now I’ll spend three years renovating an important city artery”, he would be called out by his grandparents, by those who’ve known him since he was born, who would say: ‘Hey, son, dear neighbour, what are you doing? How are you not ashamed?’ You can’t be the mayor of London or Paris if you weren’t born there. You have to understand the city, to understand its nature, not to come to that city just to treat your provincial complexes. History is not created through rape, because love by force is rape. History is primarily created through vision, reason and goodness.”

Just as he won’t surrender his beloved Belgrade, Peca also finds himself unable to give up Yugoslavia. He is unable to remain indifferent when he hears the national anthem ‘Hey. Slavs’.

He then recalls everything that was beautiful in that country. He recalls the geography and

We know the art of the 20th century according to soloists.

All the great artists were soloists. And the Beatles were the first time we got a collective creative core

STING AND PETAR POPOVIĆ

biology, and the wonderful experiences he had growing up: “Finally, I belong to a family that had houses in Crikvenica, Tučepi and Vodice. And no one can convince me that the Adriatic Sea isn’t my sea, that those Slovenian mountains aren’t also my mountains, that those Montenegrin lakes aren’t my lakes, that the Bosnian landscapes and all those winding roads aren’t my roads too. After all, by working on labour actions, by serving in the army, I also built something in that country.

I’m connected to it, and you can’t take a hammer or a mallet and knock that out of me. All of that makes me the kind of man I am today.

“I understand that the chiefs of these newly established tribes incite the people to forget that past. But there are some things they can never be separated, and they are emotions and language.

“If we cannot live like brothers, then we should live like neighbours. I’ve never abandoned my neighbours, nor my brothers.”

Peca’s family was fated to be scattered all over the world. That is how packages arrived from abroad on Topčider Hill, and that was his greatest joy back in the 1950s. He often

imagined how wonderful it would be if he was the pilot of a plane carrying all those packages.

When he travelled to all the countries that he’d imagined and dreamt of, he learnt that the real meaning of life is to go further and to explore why that world is so colourful and interesting.

This realisation was made possible for him by music, it was made possible by rock ‘n’ roll: “I had the good fortune of being one of that circle of self-taught people who got a chance to explain why the music we listen to is so important for the generation to which we belong.

That wasn’t a rebellion against those who were older. That was our way of saying: ‘well, we are like this and we see the world in this way’. That view of the world was invaluable in the second half of the 20th century. Without that view, today we wouldn’t have the most important writers, painters, musicians, directors, poets, filmmakers, designers etc. And, let’s be honest, the most important successors. Today, for the first time in the history of Belgrade, we have a 25-year-old boy whose song is number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in America. It is sung by Cardi B, a famous rapper from the Bronx, New York, the

song is called “Up”, and the author is a Belgrader called Ying Dza. Imagine someone having told you in 1966 – when we listened to Bob Dylan, the Beatles or Joan Baez – that someone from Belgrade will one day be number one?!”

It’s rare that you’ll meet someone with such a rock ‘n’ roll biography as Peca. He was editor-inchief of the two most successful journals in the history of Yugoslav rock periodicals. ( Jukebox and ROCK). He participated in the launch of two weekly magazines and a daily newspaper under the Politika brand (Intervju, ROCK and Sportski žurnal). He has also contributed to the staging of the majority of the biggest music events in Belgrade.

He seriously rolls the letter r, but is nonetheless the recipient of two annual awards of Radio Belgrade (1971, 1972) and one of Studio B (1978). He was the first music editor of the first music radio station in the Socialist Yugoslavia (Radio 101 RTB, 1989). He is the author of the longest-running documentary rock series of Television Belgrade (Rokumenti, 1995). He was also the editor of the first independent television company in the Socialist Yugoslavia - for the whole of one month (OK Kanal, 1989), until that TV company was banned: “I’m happy that I’ve used this hand to greet everyone I ever wanted to meet from the world of popular music. Thanks to music, I’ve met people whose posters I previously pasted on my walls, with whose songs I learned English and French.

That’s a wonderful feeling. And it’s an even better feeling when you know that you were close to some talented people from your own country, so I had the opportunity to encourage them, to push them, to guarantee with my name that the recording of some record wouldn’t be in vain, to participate in some important festivals… Well, I’m proud of that because I did it with the greatest conviction that that was quality that deserved to

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My life

Petar ‘Peca’ Popović, rock music critic, writer

MADONA AND PETAR POPOVIĆ

be recognised in this environment. My greatest satisfaction is the fact that I sleep with a clear conscience when I go to bed. I know that I never cheated anyone and I know that I did it without money being an issue. I’m glad that I was close to all the key career people in the former Yugoslavia who belonged to popular music.”

Peca often says that he was lucky to have met all five Red Star stars, that he lost games of chess to three world champions - Petrosian, Tal and Kasparov! That he met great stars of world film and music such as Harvey Keitel, Vanessa Redgrave, Ava Gardner, Tina Turner, Joan Baez, Lemmy, Nina Simon, David Byrne, Eric Clapton et al. He claims that you have to have luck and a dream that you want to realise.

Is it possible to present the greatest rock ‘n’ roll authority without asking him about the Beatles and immediately receiving an interesting explanation of the spectacular contribution of these Liverpudlian mop-tops to changing the very code of civilisation: “We know the art of the 20th century according to soloists. All the great artists were soloists. And the Beatles were the first time we got a collective creative core.The Beatles were the first to conquer and change the world without firing a shot. And that was the ideal of both

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We can’t enter a better future properly with people from the world of crime, war profiteers, instigators against other nations Stalin and Hitler, and all the great conquerors.

Despite there being no internet, the Beatles did it easily. There wasn’t a street in the world where the Beatles weren’t known. After them and their example, our world is not the same.”

How much freedom was there in the old Yugoslavia when it came to music; what did censorship look like during the second half of the 20th century? CorD’s interlocutor reminds us that we recently saw the commemorating of the 40th anniversary of the release of the album Paket aranžman [Package Tour], a compilation record of the Belgrade pop groups Šarlo Akrobata [Charlot the Acrobat], Električni orgazam [Electric Orgasm] and Idoli [The Idols]. When it was released in 1981, that record was taxed as being trash:

“Don’t forget that the best-selling record of Riblje čorbe, the song Mrtva priroda, released in 1981 (selling 531,000 copies in one gulp!), was also taxed as being trash, due to the verse “Fools die for ideals” and “Nothing new in the West”. The time of freedom has changed over past decades.”

Peca often says, quoting Confucius, that every society has the kind of music it deserves.

For him it is incidental that we today have that young man who currently has the world’s number one song, because that’s not a consequence of the cultural policy implemented here: “Don’t forget that we live in a country where a political press conference is broadcast on 13 channels, and I hear that now one television station has decided to make a show about rock music. And in 1967 we had the following situation. Nikola Karaklajić, together with Jovan Ristić, made the TV show Koncert za mladi ludi svet [Concert for the Young Crazy World].

This happened eight and a half years before Queen recorded Bohemian Rhapsody, which is considered the world’s first music video. And the show Koncert za mladi ludi svet was composed of music videos of domestic tracks that had been shot with a film camera by Jovan Ristić, aka Rica. The national television News Journal was moved to another slot due to that show.

That’s because Koncert za mladi ludi svet was broadcast on Mondays from 6.30pm to 7pm. In Yugoslavia at that time they couldn’t hold the sixth and final class of the school day, because all the children fled from school to get home in time for the show. In order to prevent that, they moved the show to 7pm and the News Journal from 7pm to 7.30pm. That’s what music was during those years, and its significance! And what about today?

“Today we have shows about ‘starlets’, about thugs from the streets and the national assembly, shows about criminals who confess their sins, while we don’t have a programme that would follow what’s being done by some young people do who believe that their song can change their neighbourhood, their school, Belgrade, the region, or their emotional homeland, who believe they can change the world. If we don’t enable children to be able to imagine, to be able to influence a change in values, then what is the perspective of a country? I believe deeply that it is the duty of every state with serious ambitions to think about

what its children are growing up to become.”

And we mustn’t forget, warns Peca, that we first had everything and only then lost it all. We had sanctions, wars in the surrounding area, we had bombing, we had different kinds of dictatorships, now we’re going through a pandemic: “Well, hold on, when will all the tribulations we’re going through come to an end? With what defects will we emerge from all of this, is anyone thinking about that? We can’t enter a better future properly with people from the world of crime, war profiteers, instigators against other nations.

We can only enter this world, ours or the global one, as educated carriers or benefactors of the values of civilisation. It’s no coincidence that fifty to sixty thousand educated young people leave here to go abroad for their real chance every year.

They’re seeking everything they don’t have here.

Once upon a time it was manual workers who went to seek the chance of a better life, but today it is the most educated who are leaving. And who is left to build the future of this country? That’s what concerns me.”

Peca had his first heart attack at the age of 32, and didn’t believe he’d live with the disease longer than he’d been healthy. For him, this is proof of how much medicine, cardiology, cardiac surgery, vascular surgery and interventional cardiology have advanced: “My father died of his first heart attack. Also dying of their first heart attacks were my uncles in Scotland and Canada, my grandmother and my uncle in Lika. My father lived to be 57, my uncles were 43 and 44… and I am proof that, despite everything, one can live to an undeserved old age.”

Knowing all of this, it comes as no surprise that Peca is also an honorary member of the Serbian Medical Association: “I think there are only four of us honorary members of the Serbian Medical Association.

I believe that I qualified thanks to my rich healthcare biography. There are few people in this environment who have 13 stents, eight bypasses, seven heart attacks, eight coronography procedures, two clinical deaths… Finally, all this is certified with Corona. So, I guess I deserved that honorary title? That was probably also a recommendation for me to have now been the president of the Association of Patients with Heart Weaknesses for two months. I care about encouraging people who are facing heart disease to see that this is not the end of the world. And

GORAN BREGOVIĆ, PETAR POPOVIĆ AND BORA ĐORĐEVIĆ

We can only enter this world, ours or the global one, as educated carriers or benefactors of the values of civilisation not to be ashamed of their illness. Do you know that in Serbia it isn’t shameful to be a criminal, it isn’t shameful to be a thief, but it is shameful to admit that you are sick. And it is very expensive to be sick.

“Let me tell you my example. I was released from the Bežanijska Kosa hospital in December last year. I took away wonderful experiences from there, starting from the doctors to everyone who works there without a break, providing careful treatment and where everything was free. From then until today [09.03.2021), I have spent more than 750 euros on post-Covid medicines.”

Behind everything Peca lives for and does, stands one woman – Mira Pantić Popović, a judge and then a lawyer, whom he met on 13th August 1974, and they’ve been together every day

since (except when one of them is in hospital!).

They were married on 2nd February 1980 and have two sons, Bogdan (1981), a lawyer, and Dušan (1984), a film director. Bogdan and his wife, lawyer Maja, gave them their grandson, Petar, in 2020.

The house and yard from the beginning of this interview have become legendary: many musical careers began there, rock bands were created, concerts were arranged, such as the historical one at the Hajduk Fountain in 1977, when Bijelo dugme definitely conquered Yugoslavia. Zdravko Colic’s debut at Marakana was designed there. The songs Računajte na nas [Count on us] and Lutka sa naslovne strane [Cover Page Doll] were first heard there, and it was there that many who are famous today had there first concerts, exhibitions, performances.

And the house contains enough material for an entire museum - magazines, books, photographs, records... When their son Bogdan was born, a three-day musical happening was held with Štulić, Bregović, Đorđević, Rundek and the members of Iron Maiden.

Today, from that yard, as the first Popović to work abroad, Bogdan is heading to Milan with his family, where he’s landed a good job at the headquarters of Unicredit Bank.

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CHILL OUT British Family Sell Rare Drawing By Vincent Van Gogh A British family has sold a Vincent Van Gogh drawing that was once looted by the Nazis for a record £7.4 million at a New York auction.

The sketch on paper of La Mousme, a famous painting from the Dutch artist in 1888, was plundered by the Nazis from its former German-Jewish owner during World War Two. The drawing of a French girl led an £18million auction of exquisite art work amassed by the Gibson family over the past 40 years.

Fascinating New Underwater Museum Off The Coast Of Cannes Jason deCaires Taylor is known for creating underwater museums that feature fascinating sculpture collections. He’s created aquatic sculpture gardens in locations such as Mexico, Grenada, the Bahamas, Lanzarote, the Maldives – though this one was partially destroyed after it was deemed offensive – Norway and Australia.

And there’s no let up. The British artist has now rustled up an underwater museum off the coast of Cannes – his first installation in the Mediterranean Sea. It opened in February having been commissioned by the Mayor of Cannes. It took four years to develop and features a series of six huge threedimensional portrait sculptures, each over two metres (six feet) high and weighing 10 tonnes.

Popularity Of Harry And Meghan Plummets In UK After Oprah Interview The popularity of Prince Harry and his wife Meghan has tumbled in Britain and has never been lower following their explosive interview with U.S. chat show host Oprah Winfrey, according to a poll on Friday.

During the interview, Meghan said her pleas for help while she felt suicidal were ignored and that one unnamed member of the family had asked how dark their son Archie’s skin might be.

Meanwhile, Harry, Queen Elizabeth’s grandson, also bemoaned his family’s reaction of the couple’s decision to step back from official duties.

The tell-all interview has plunged the 1,000-year-old monarchy into its greatest crisis this century, and according to a YouGov poll, the standing of the two royals has also taken a big hit in the aftermath.

It found 48% percent of the 1,664 respondents had a negative attitude of Harry compared to 45% with a positive view, the first time his net favourability rating had been negative, and a fall of 15 points from a week earlier.

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Netflix Users Furious After Platform Announces Crackdown On Users Who Share Passwords Netflix users are taking to social media to vent their rage following the streaming service’s crackdown on password sharing. Some Netflix are now seeing a screen saying ‘If you don’t live with the owner of this account, you need your own account to keep watching’. They’re then prompted to enter a code that’s been texted or emailed to the account owner to continue – which could cause a problem if they’re not in contact with them. Viewers can delay the verification and keep watching Netflix, but may see the alert again next time they open the app. Those Netflix users who have seen the alert have been going into meltdown on Twitter, with one saying rival Disney+ had ‘won the streaming wars’.

Beeple Digital Artwork Auctioned For A Record $69 Million Christie’s auction house in London had until now only sold physical works of art. Beeple’s digital piece has become the third-mostexpensive work sold by a living artist.

Art is always about the original. For many collectors, works of art are an investment, a prestige object — and also a tangible one.

For the first time, the renowned London-based auction house Christie’s auctioned off on Thursday a purely digital work of art — a collage of 5,000 pictures by US artist Mike Winkelmann, known as Beeple.

Back on 25 February, the starting bid was $100 (€84); after 10 minutes, that sum hat reached $1 million, and just five hours before the auction closed on 11 March, it topped $13 million. In the end, it was auctioned off for a baffling $69.3 million (about €58 million).

Twin Births At ‘All Time’ High The first ever comprehensive study on twinning rates shows that poorer countries account for the vast majority of the increased number of twins.

A new study published Friday in the University of Oxford science journal Human Reproduction revealed that more twins are being born around the world than ever before. It is the first comprehensive global twinning study ever carried out.

The research shows that 1.6 million twins are being born every year, which is almost one in 40 children. The record number of births is found in non-identical twins, which come from two separate fertilized eggs. Birth rates of identical twins have remained the same.

The sample size of the study comprised 165 countries between 2010 and 2015. Researchers also obtained data from 112 countries on twinning rates between 1980 and 1985.

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Spring

Bottega Veneta

is here

€231

How we get dressed can have a huge impact on how we feel, while also reflecting wider shifts in mood, and so it's not surprising given the current climate that for this season designers had to go step further!

Boglioli €709

Canali €327

Etro

Piaget

€243

Issey Miyake

€26,289

€340

Tom Ford

€546

Mulberry €1,348

Byredo €121

Christian Louboutin €903

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April

Tod’s €337

Maison Margiela €360

Chloe Sunglasses €268

Etro

€1,443

DVF Diana Von Furstenberg

Brunello Cucinelli

Victoria Beckham

€470

€314

€1,564

Gucci

€1,019

Brunello Cucinelli €3,364

Missoni €1,802

Manolo Blahnik

Valentino

Isabel Marant

€2,301

€601

€555

Gabriela Hearst

Gianvito Rossi

€580

€640

Missoni €661

April

59

Culture

calendar

FL’ART In The Museum BINA 2021

22 April – 20 May BINA is an event that aims to educate the general public, and the intention to contribute to the understanding, preservation, creation and improvement of a better urban space. Having that in mind, an important segment of the event is the BINA educational programs.

Within the educational segment of BINA, the program will include lectures “Contemporary Architecture” and “Women in Architecture” by Milena Zindovic, and a traditional seminar “Architects, designers, practitioners”, important for connecting practice and professional companies. Within this segment, a presentation of projects by young architects and a film program will be organized.

Visit www.bina.rs

Until 24 April, National Museum in Belgrade FL’ART in the Museum or how to promote the French language and culture in contact with works of art and their authors under the auspices of the National Museum in Belgrade.

The museum as a place of cultural exchange plays an important role at a time when physical distance as well as social exclusion make it impossible for us to access art and language learning.

The thematic workshop was designed with the aim of learning the French language through art and, above all, the beauty of French collections in the National Museum as a temple of culture. The discovery of the French language will be encouraged by direct contact with works of art and their creators. The ultimate goal of the workshop is to get closer to a language recognizable by its great literary, cultural and philosophical richness.

Visit www.institutfrancais.rs

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KIMONO DESIGN: AN INTRODUCTION TO TEXTILES AND PATTERNS Keiko Nitanai 2267 rsd

Belgrade Dance Festival - Alessandro Sciarroni Company 1 April, Atelje 212

As part of the 18th edition of the Belgrade Dance Festival, on the program from 6 March to 1 October, the Italian Institute of Culture in Belgrade presents the Alessandro Sciarroni company with the play “August”, of which he is the author, on Sunday, 1 April at 20.00 Atelje 212 in Belgrade.

Alessandro Sciarroni is active in the performing arts, with a long career in visual arts and theater research. His works are performed in Europe, South and North America, the Middle East and Asia. He is an associated artist of the cultural center CENTQUATRE-PARIS and is supported as a focus artist on the apap project - Performing Europe 2020. His plays are produced

by the Theater of the Italian region of Marche, in collaboration with numerous domestic and international partners. Among numerous recognitions, in 2019 he was awarded the Golden Lion for his life’s work in art.

SEE MORE: WWW.CORDMAGAZINE.COM

Kimono Design: An Introduction to Textiles and Patterns uses hundreds of photographs and a wealth of information on colors, fabrics and embellishments to paint a portrait of Japanese culture, art and thought. Lavish classical patterns, sweeping scenes, and the many motifs that have been woven, dyed, painted or embroidered into these textiles reveal a reflectiveness, a sense of humor, and an appreciation of exquisite beauty that is uniquely Japanese.

VOGUE AND THE METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART Hamish Bowles, Chloe Malle 6033 rsd

PAUL MCCARTNEY: THE LIFE Philip Norman 1660 rsd

The definitive Paul McCartney biography, written with his approval by bestselling biographer Philip Norman.

Since the age of twenty-one, Paul McCartney has lived one of the ultimate rock-n-roll lives played out on the most public of stages. Now, Paul’s story is told by rock music’s foremost biographer, with McCartney’s consent and access to family members and close friends who have never spoken on the record before. PAUL McCARTNEY reveals the complex character behind the façade and sheds new light on his childhood - blighted by his mother’s death but redeemed by the father who introduced him to music.

THE MOST BEAUTIFUL UNIVERSITIES IN THE WORLD Guillaume de Laubier, Jean Serroy 2430 rsd

An updated and expanded edition, covering the past five years of the Met Costume Institute’s exhibitions and galas through the lens of Vogue The Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute’s annual fashion exhibition is the most prestigious of its kind, featuring subjects that both reflect the zeitgeist and contribute to its creation. Each exhibition - from 2005’s Chanel to 2011’s Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty and 2012’s Schiaparelli and Prada: Impossible Conversations - creates a provocative and engaging narrative drawing hundreds of thousands of visitors. This updated edition includes material from 2015’s China: Through the Looking Glass, 2018’s Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination (the most visited exhibition in the museum’s history), and 2019’s Camp: Notes on Fashion.

The Most Beautiful Universities in the World invites readers to discover more than 20 hallowed halls of higher learning, from the University of Bologna; the Western world’s first university, founded in 1088, to the Sorbonne in France to Cambridge University in England to Yale University in the United States and many other architecturally significant universities in between.

Following his acclaimed books on the world’s most beautiful libraries and opera houses, photographer Guillaume de Laubier now turns his lens toward a new aspect of world heritage.

Sumptuous photographs showcase amphitheaters, libraries, reception halls and hidden gardens, while the text describes the history of each campus, its architecture, research disciplines and reference collections.

ROYAL GARDENS

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Throughout history and around the world, monarchies have overseen the creation of splendid gardens on the grounds of their royal palaces, leaving a legacy of incredibly gorgeous places rich with historical importance. These gardens were conceived not only for the pleasure of kings and queens but also as a sign of their power. In this lavishly illustrated book, photographer Jean-Baptiste Leroux takes us on an exclusive walk through some of the most beautiful gardens in Europe, the Middle East, and Asia - all of which have belonged, or still belong, to royal families. Author Stéphane Bern presents the intriguing history of these unforgettable landscapes, accented by personal testimonies of their owners.

The history of wine is the history of civilisation. It is the religious drink par excellence. In Greek mythology, references to wine abound. In the Bible, after the Flood, Noah plants a vineyard. In the Middle Ages, it was in the monasteries and churches that the syrupy drink of antiquity, unpalatable if not diluted, was transformed into the wine we know today. Wine expert Benoist Simmat and artist Daniel Casanave trace the story of wine from its origins in the Mediterranean to the globalised industry of the 21st century.

Taking in the innovations that have punctuated wine’s long history, from oak barrel aging to the invention of the bottle, Wine: A Graphic History will leave readers with a fresh view of our own drinking culture.

Jean-Baptiste Leroux, Stephane Bern 3685 rsd

Benoist Simmat, Daniel Casanave 2150 rsd

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&FACES PLACES 2/03/2021

“Alley Of Kazakh-Serbian Friendship” Opened In Belgrade The Embassy of Kazakhstan, together with the Administration of the City of Belgrade, participated in the environmental initiative “Tree for Belgrade”.

With the technical support of Zelenila Beograd, a tree alley was planted in New Belgrade near the monument to the Kazakh poet Žambil Žabajev.

This action was supported by members of the Club of Friends of Kazakhstan.

The planting of the Alley in New Belgrade is the first of three green initiatives that the Embassy of Kazakhstan will open in Serbia during this year.

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17/03/2021

DIDS 2021 Digital Conference Held For the first time since 2010 when the Foundation “Registry of the National Internet Domain of Serbia” (RNIDS) organized DIDS (Internet Domain Day of Serbia), this conference was fully realized online this year. The slogan “Servant. Lord. Internet.” According to organizers describe the role of the Internet in our lives and the way we do business in the past year.

The conference was officially opened

by Milan Dobrijevic, Assistant Minister of Trade, Tourism and Telecommunications, pointing out that today we use the Internet and telecommunications more than ever before. He praised the work of RNIDS so far on creating ecosystems for the normal and stable functioning of the Internet in Serbia.

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&FACES PLACES 18/03/2021

Webinar “Peacekeeping In The Francophone Space In The 21st Century” Within the Month of Francophonie, Embassy of Egypt in Belgrade, Conflux Centre and the Cairo International Center for Conflict Resolution, Peacekeeping and Peacebuilding (CCCPA) convened a webinar titled “Peacekeeping in the Francophone space in the 21st century”, for the third year in a row.

Speakers came from a diverse array of all relevant stakeholders including the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of Serbia and Egypt, the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Belgrade, the International Organization of the Francophonie, the Boutros-Ghali peacekeeping Observatory, the Gendarmerie Officers Application School of Romania, sharing their views on the current state of peace operations especially in the francophone space, reform of the United Nations peacekeeping architecture, while participants from training courses of Conflux Centre and (CCCPA) presented related case studies from the field.

The president of the Group of Francophone Ambassadors in Belgrade, Ambassador H.E. Amr Aljowaily, who chaired the webinar, stressed the need to integrate local culture, including multilingualism, into conflict resolution tools, whether creating peace, preserving or building peace. He recalled Egypt’s active role in previous francophone peacekeeping initiatives, including the first ministerial meeting in 2016, subsequent meetings with civilian capacity leaders held by the International Organization of La Francophonie, and the activities of Boutros Boutros-Ghali. Peacekeeping Observatories.

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25/03/2021

Meeting Of The Group Of Francophone Ambassadors With Serbian Minister Of Foreign Affairs Marking International Francophonie Day, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Serbia, Nikola Selaković, met with the Group of Francophone Ambassadors in Serbia, with whom he discussed the improvement of cooperation between Serbia and the International Organization of Francophonie.

Selaković pointed out that Serbia is committed to the values of Francophonie - the promotion of peace, democracy, human rights, intercultural cooperation, dialogue and solidarity, and expressed hopes that cooperation will be substantially improved with concrete proposals for the promotion of French language and Francophone culture.

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&FACES PLACES 25/03/2021

Traditional Event Of Vasilopita Cutting Held Online For The First Time The Hellenic Business Association of Serbia celebrated the 18th traditional event of Vasilopita Cutting, which was organized in the online format for the first time. The event presents continuity of online activities, but also an initiative of the Association to adapt the tradition of Vasilopita Cutting to the current working conditions.

The President of HBA Stylianos Zakof emphasized in his introductory speech that the Hellenic Business Association of Serbia is always available to its members, for any kind of assistance and support – especially today when it is very important that representatives of the Greek business community selflessly support each other.

25/03/2021

BREXIT And The Rebirth Of Identity In Europe: The Case Of Scotland The French Institute in Serbia, in cooperation with the French School in Belgrade, organized a series of lectures given by Florian Herber, professor of history at the French School in Belgrade, and Lisienne Grie, professor of history at the Leopold Cedar Sengor High School in Evreux.

This cycle is dedicated to illuminating those historical periods that dragged Europe into such abysses that it seemed impossible that they would ever stand up. What was the role of individuals in the revivals that still followed and marked the history of Europe? This cycle emphasized the importance of Eastern Europe for understanding European and world history, but also those forgotten tragic heroes adorned with strong humanity.

26/03/2021

6th Serbian Property & Infrastructure Development Conference In the first panel on 6th Serbian Property & Infrastructure Development Conference participants shared their experiences as investors and talked about the future of investment projects in Serbia.

Adir El Al, CEO of AFI Serbia, a speaker in the first panel, emphasized that infrastructure projects and infrastructure development are always the main incentive and motivation for real estate investors, as it shows the readiness an ability of the government to invest in the development of the country.

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COMMENT

Stay Healthy And Positive Serbia can count on Greece’s strong partnership support in the European integration process and on the implementation of all necessary reforms that contribute to the overall development of the country.

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reece tops the list of European countries when it comes to the number of people who’ve been vaccinated against the novel coronavirus. This is both the result of the commitment of the Greek leadership and health authorities, for the sake of the well-being of its citizen, as well as the contribution of Greece to the fight against the pandemic and the gradual return to normal life and economic activities in the greater community.

It was Greece’s idea to introduce a so-called “covid passport” and at present the EU has, at least partially, accepted it. People’s movements have been restricted for a long time now, and it is up to us to find safe but efficient ways to gradually restore our way of life as it used to be.

Indeed, that is also of tremendous importance to our economies, especially those with large service sectors.

The vaccination process is also underway in Serbia, as it is in Greece. We are all looking forward to progress on talks between the Greek and Serbian tourism ministers regarding the essential conditions required to open two countries’ borders to citizens during the summer season. Indeed, these talks represent one more

example of good bilateral relations between the two countries, which are based on sound foundations and mutual respect.

Let us remind readers that the two countries signed the Declaration on the Strategic Partner-

There are high hopes that a sustainable solution enabling people to travel freely will allow Greece to open its borders to tourists, while maintaining all necessary measures to keep both Greek tourism workers and visitors safe and healthy ship in December 2019, which further enriched our mutual cooperation. Although COVID-19 altered all diplomatic activities to a certain extent, both sides are looking forward to opportunities to work further on the partnership.

With this in mind, it is important to emphasise that Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has reiterated that Greece will remain committed to its position not to recognise the

independence of Kosovo. Greece also remains true in supporting Serbia’s EU accession process and is looking forward to Serbia joining the EU once all criteria have been fulfilled. As has been repeated on numerous occasions, Serbia can count on Greece’s strong partnership support in the European integration process and on the implementation of all necessary reforms that contribute to the overall development of the country.

Indeed, such advancements would also boost bilateral trade and increase investment opportunities for Greek investors who believe that, once such progress is achieved, Serbia will be one of the region’s most attractive destinations for investments. This would also have a positive impact on economic relations. As we already know, there is significant room for improvement in the sectors of agriculture, food and beverages, building materials, energy, and information and communication technologies.

Today, things may not seem like they are looking up overnight, but we have to maintain our optimism and work hard to overcome the challenges we’re facing, stay healthy, and look forward to a summer that might bring us some much wanted relief.

STYLIANOS ZAKOF, PRESIDENT OF THE HELLENIC BUSINESS ASSOCIATION OF SERBIA

We Can Do Better & More Quicker harmonisation with EU regulations, judicial reform, and the simplifying of procedures for obtaining various business permits, import and export procedures, would make Serbia one of the region's most desirable countries for investment

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he COVID-19 pandemic has put the world’s economy to the toughest test, and we are all handling the consequences of the difficult health situation in which we find ourselves. The business world is facing higher costs due to reduced operating revenues and falling demand for goods and services, but also hampered supply chains, including both domestic and foreign markets. We asked Stylianos Zakof, President of the Board of Directors of the Hellenic Business Association of Serbia, how Greek companies are coping with these troubles and how Greek-Serbian economic cooperation is weathering the challenges under these conditions.

How would you assess the operations of your member companies and how much of an impact did the measures of the Government of Serbia have on their business operations during the pandemic?

- When we are talking about Greek companies operating in Serbia, the service sector, and the hospitality and hotel industry in particular, have suffered the worst blow. The measures that were adopted by the government during the course of last year proved to be extremely useful and most of our members utilised this type of assistance. The measures are rightly aimed at preserving jobs and increasing the liquidity of companies, and it is very positive that the state is continuing its economic measures to support the economy. On the other hand, uncertainty is the biggest challenge for many sectors at the global level, which is why it will be essential to modernise and introduce new ways of working, an accelerated digital transformation process, as well as the good harmonising of assets and liabilities. In this sense, it will be very important to have coordinated cooperation between the private and state sectors at all levels.

Your association was very active in the dialogue with the Government of Serbia around the introduction of the first package of measures for the economy. How important is cooperation between business associations and the government when it comes to creating an economic environment in which it is possible to adapt business operations during a pandemic?

- I must express my satisfaction with the cooperation we have had to date with the representatives of Serbian institutions, because they have always shown a readiness to provide us with answers to questions that concern the operations of our members, as well as to support us in organising of various business gatherings. During March last year, bilateral foreign

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SOLIDARITY

COOPERATION

SUPPORT

We are very glad that Greek companies have once again displayed their socially responsible awareness and solidarity with Serbia in the struggle against COVID-19

Serbian institutions have always shown a readiness to provide us with answers to questions that concern the operations of our members

For both the government and the private sector, it is extremely important for there to be open dialogue and mutual support that will stimulate the business environment during this uncertain time

chambers of commerce and organisations, including the Hellenic Business Association, sent a joint open request to the Ministry of Economy to implement additional measures to support small and medium-sized enterprises, which the Serbian government supported.

Business associations represent the voice of the private sector, which is an important stakeholder in economic growth and employment. For both the government and the private sector, it is extremely important for there to be open dialogue and mutual support that will stimulate the business environment during this uncertain time. The economy will have to adapt its operations to new trends, because we are witnessing a time in which current economic recovery policies will shape the new economic and social system.

What questions are you asked most often by members? What are the biggest challenges they’re facing in their work today?

- The Greek business community in Serbia is well developed and we strive to selflessly support each other. Most of our existing members, but also future ones, seek help with information on entrepreneurship in the country and clarifications regarding bureaucracy.

During the previous year and this one, we have received a large number of inquiries related to border crossing procedures as a result of the pandemic, which is why we regularly inform our members about all newly adopted measures and regulations of both the Serbian and Greek governments. The challenges we continue to face are problems that arise on the path to European integration for any country in the region, including Serbia. Long-term harmonisation with EU regulations, judicial reform, and the simplifying of procedures for obtaining various business permits, as well as import and export procedures, are definitely the biggest challenges not only for Greek companies, but also for other foreign companies that would like to expand their activities to the Serbian market. Solving these

In the previous period we organised a series of webinars on topics related to ways of doing business during the pandemic, including topics linked to accounting, legal and customs issues, marketing and HR problems would inevitably make Serbia one of the region’s most desirable countries for investment.

Under conditions of working online from home, how possible was it for the HBA to respond to the needs of members and what were the most important activities that you organised during the last year?

- Like all other stakeholders in the Serbian business community, the Hellenic Business Association has also adapted to the new business conditions dictated by the pandemic.

Video conferencing and virtual events have never been more important to business than they are now. In that sense, we organised a series of webinars on topics related to ways of doing business during the pandemic,

including topics linked to accounting, legal and customs issues, as well as topics in the fields of marketing and HR. Among the significant activities carried out prior to the outbreak of the pandemic, I would single out the meetings with Greek Finance Minister Christos Staikouras and Secretary General for International Economic Affairs at the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs Gregoris Dimitriadis, at which we discussed current issues related to bilateral economic and trade relations between Greece and Serbia, communications between Greek businessmen abroad and the Greek Ministry of Finance, as well as problems faced

by Greek companies operating in Serbia.

Among the traditional events, I would single out the Cutting of Vasilopita and the Greek Weekend on Kopaonik.

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According to your assessment, how did this situation impact on the trade exchange between Serbia and Greece, and in which sectors do you see the possibility to improve that exchange?

- Total Greek direct investment in Serbia is estimated at around 1.5 billion euros, while direct and indirect investments made over the past 15 years have exceeded 2.5 billion euros. Despite the fact that Greek companies are interested in investing in Serbia, and the good relations nurtured by the two countries, Serbia and Greece have yet to explore the possibilities of economic exchange in many sectors. In that sense, the existing pandemic has not had a significant impact on foreign trade, which has modest results, despite its potential. The potential that would contribute to growth is reflected in sectors like agriculture, food and beverages, construction materials, energy and information and communication technologies etc.

of promoting those companies. Last year’s edition promoted support for doing business in Serbia and the strengthening of relations between countries endangered by the COVID-19 pandemic. The HBA last year joined forces with two other European chambers and prepared a joint publication.

Last October you once again organised the now traditional break intended for members

Serbia and Greece have yet to explore the possibilities of economic exchange in many sectors, such as agriculture, food and beverages, construction materials, energy, information and communication technologies etc. of the Greek community in Serbia and their families to get acquainted and interconnect.

How valuable are such events to “recharge the batteries“ and strengthen links between members?

- The Greek family weekend on Kopaonik has become a traditional event that was organised for the fifth consecutive year in a row in cooperation with our member company, Hotel Junior on Kopaonik. Informal meetings between representatives of Greek companies are particularly important for our association.

These kinds of events strengthen mutual relations between representatives of the Greek business community, and thus also contribute to the deepening of business cooperation.

Specifically, this original three-day break to meet and develop interconnectivity between members and their families was accompanied by relaxation, entertainment, several family

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sports, and live Greek music. This event receives positive comments from our members every year and attracts an ever-increasing number of participants.

During 2020 you also published a new edition of the “Member to Member” publication. What is the aim of this publication and how does it connect members of different business associations?

- The publication “Member to Member”, which the Hellenic Business Association has already been publishing for years, is intended to promote the products and services of member companies to the wider business community and contains special offers and discounts for companies in various sectors. It is conceived in such a way as to provide opportunities for interaction and support between companies, as well as to represent an effective means

How have HBA member companies contributed to protecting the health and safety of their employees and Serbia’s citizenry?

- Corporate social responsibility has become an integral part of today’s business operations, given that companies are expected to take care of employees, clients, and the community, but also the environment. This fact reflects the importance of the business sector in today’s society, but also the responsibility that arises from that importance. In the spirit of a tradition that dates back centuries, Greece and Serbia have always shown mutual solidarity.

We are very glad that Greek companies have once again displayed their socially responsible awareness and solidarity with Serbia in the struggle against COVID-19, not only as they would towards any host country, but also as a traditional friend and business partner. In accordance with this trend, HBA members donated basic funds for the work of the Serbian healthcare system, while at the same time helping local communities with financial and material contributions.

What are your plans for the remainder of 2021?

- Considering the uncertainty of implementing public gatherings, the Hellenic Business Association will continue to be a socially responsible member of the community and in that sense, we are planning to organise online activities. New legal and accounting factors, as well as training in various sectors, can be presented to the employees of member companies in a very correct way, in the webinar format. We are also planning to continue our dialogue with state institutions, with the aim of informing our members about current topics regarding the Serbian economy.

Additionally, during the course of this year, we plan to connect more actively with other Greek associations and chambers operating in the Balkans, but also to continue cooperating with other European chambers operating in Serbia.

“IT’S NOT THAT I’M SO SMART, IT’S JUST THAT I STAY WITH PROBLEMS LONGER” ~ ALBERT EINSTEIN

March

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STYLIANOS TSOKTOURIDIS, MANAGING DIRECTOR, ALUMIL YU INDUSTRY A.D.

Our Investment Plans Support Market Demands As the largest group for the production of aluminium extrusions in Southeast Europe, Alumil remains determined to invest more in Serbia and continue supporting the local economy and the development of the domestic industrial sector

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e have acquired land and plan to start the construction of a new industrial building. This investment plan will double our capacity and that translates to at least 60 to 100 direct job positions - says Alumil Yu Industry MD Stylianos Tsoktouridis in this interview

The Serbian construction sector has been experiencing a major expansion. Is this trend set to continue and what does it mean for Alumil?

- We are experiencing continuous growth in the value of construction projects in Serbia that started in 2019, when the value of the projects increased by 35% compared to 2018, and that continued in 2020. Specifically, according to the statistical office, GDP from construction in Serbia increased to 82,934 million dinars in the fourth quarter of 2020, from 66,827.20 million dinars in the third quarter of 2020.

In the real estate market, despite ever-increasing prices, sales are growing and most buyers are looking to buy apartments in new buildings. Belgrade has become one of the most attractive locations in Europe to invest in the construction sector, according to reports by Radio Television Serbia (RTS).

According to other media reports, there are 55,000 active construction sites in Serbia, four times as many as there were in 2015. The World Bank has ranked Serbia among the top 10 countries in terms of the speed of issuing of building permits in the last five years.

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This information is an indicator of a dynamically growing and healthy market, which Alumil has focused its efforts on supporting better by further improving its services, in terms of local just-in-time production and delivery, technical and engineering support and, most importantly, through its product portfolio, in order to meet

The value of projects in Serbia increased by 35% in 2019 compared to 2018, and that continued in 2020 and even exceed the expectations of architects, investors and construction companies.

The market is becoming increasingly demanding, while competition is ever stronger.

How do you overcome the challenges?

- Alumil is dedicated to providing solutions for our esteemed customers, on time and at competitive costs, by continuously investing in production and distribution facilities in Serbia, inventories of products ready for delivery, trained and expert personnel, marketing activities and our showroom. The Serbian market is changing rapidly and new demands are born every day. Modern buildings require the design and construction of fenestration systems with high standards. By always focusing on the specifications and requirements of the

most advanced markets worldwide, Alumil has created a product portfolio that incorporates innovative products and responds perfectly to modern building needs. The needs of our customers are quite broad, and so is our product portfolio. Each of our products was designed with one thing in mind: how to provide the best possible solution and maximise the value for our customers.

How far have you progressed on the implementation of your investment plan? Does this also mean new jobs?

- Although our investment programme has slowed down due to the COVID-19 situation, we remain determined to invest more in Serbia and continue supporting the local economy and the development of the domestic industrial sector. As of today, we have acquired land and plan to start the construction of a new industrial building. According to the updated plan, provided the crisis caused by the pandemic abates, the installation of the new extrusion line should be completed within the next two years. There is a third phase to our investment plan, to be implemented at a later stage, that includes the installation of an anodising line in a building that was already completed during the previous year. Of course, this investment plan will double our capacity and that translates to at least 60 to 100 direct job positions, many of which require highly educated, specially trained personnel.

March

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PETROS GEMINTZIS, DIRECTOR, HELLENIC SUGAR

Setting The Bar Even Higher

Low sugar prices on our domestic market also hit the industry, but Hellenic Sugar in Serbia survived those extremely difficult times and, for the second consecutive year, is increasing its production and looking forward to reaching full capacity in 2022 and 2023

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e are now setting the bar even higher, as the rebalance of sugar production in the EU has led to Serbia becoming the biggest sugar producer in the whole of Southeast Europe, with significant exports to the region, explains Hellenic Sugar Director Petro Gemintzis in this interview.

Since 2017, when the EU abolished its sugar quotas, there has been overproduction, falling prices and the closure of many sugar mills. What has changed on the market in the meantime?

- The EU’s policy of abolishing quotas for sugar production among member states caused turbulence on the European markets, both inside and outside the Union, particularly in Serbia. Production of sugar in Serbia has been declining since 2017, with prices falling drastically, by up to 50%, the area under beets is decreasing, while sugar beet prices remain high. Until 2017, sugar beet was cultivated on an area of about 60,000 hectares, but that area has decreased to below 40,000ha in the last two years. Higher production and lower sugar prices in the EU have also led to the reduction of our exports to both EU and CEFTA countries, due to strong competition and dumping prices.

Low sugar prices on our domestic market also hit the industry. In order for the sugar industry to recover, the area under sugar beets needs

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to increase to at least 50,000ha, while sugar prices need to recover significantly to previous levels, primarily on the domestic market.

Hellenic Sugar in Serbia has survived these extremely difficult times.

Can you finally be satisfied with the results recorded by Crvenka? And what is happening with the sugar mill in Žabalj?

- The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has had a huge impact on the global economy, and we

We see an opportunity to activate our mill in Žabalj in 2022, to invest more, modernise and deal with a lot of challenges are fortunate that the “Crvenka” sugar mill was able to contribute during these challenging times. Not only have we achieved higher production of sugar, but also of its by-products – molasses and beet pulp – from which yeast and alcohol are produced. We were therefore able to respond to the sudden spike in demand for alcohol sanitizers at the right time, which again underlined the importance of the sugar industry.

We are aware of the negative effects that lower sugar prices have had on the global market and

that many mills in Europe have closed, including in neighbouring Croatia. However, we see an opportunity to activate our mill in Žabalj in 2022, to invest more, modernise and deal with a lot of challenges, especially environmental ones. We will respond to those challenges with new investments in saving water and energy, and making our production more eco-friendly.

Serbia has huge potential when it comes to agricultural production and the processing of agricultural products. Is this our biggest trump card and the area of the economy in which the most needs to be invested?

- World market prices for major food commodities like grains and vegetable oils rose significantly during the last year, which is a solid indicator of the importance of agricultural markets worldwide. Therefore, Serbia should utilise its potential and invest more in agriculture, and we are willing to help in achieving that. We clearly see this opportunity and that’s why Hellenic Sugar has invested in production facilities in Serbia. We are now setting the bar even higher, as the rebalance of sugar production in the EU has led to Serbia becoming the biggest sugar producer in the whole of Southeast Europe, with significant exports to the region. A challenge still lies ahead, since our current production remains beneath the level of demand and we are determined to invest further in this direction.

March

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Two Centuries Since A Struggle For Independence Began

The celebration commemorating the 200th anniversary of the launch of the struggle for Greece's liberation was marked by a major military parade that citizens watched on television.

Marching through the streets of an empty city were troops from land, air and naval forces, members of the police, fire service and coast guard, as well as a cavalry unit

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reedom or death! - was the slogan of the uprising against Ottoman rule that Greece had been under for almost 400 years, ever since the Ottoman Turks attacked and took the then capital of Constantinople. Isolated uprisings in 1821 escalated into a war of all-encompassing proportions that culminated in the establishing of the independent Kingdom of Greece in 1832.

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The 200th anniversary of the start of the Greek struggle for independence was marked on Thursday, 25th March 2021. Greeks traditionally celebrate this date as the turning point in the history of the modern Greek state and the beginning of a new era for Europe. Over the course of these two centuries of fighting for its right to be independent, the Greek nation has come a long way. It has never shied away from international struggles to

defend freedom and human values, including its participation in both world wars. Greece thus became a solid pillar of democracy and stability in the Balkans and the wider Mediterranean region, a trusted ally and dedicated member of the European Union over the past 40 years , which contributes actively to promoting the EU’s core values and priorities.

MILITARY PARADE THROUGH THE DESERTED STREETS OF ATHENS The celebration of the 200th anniversary of the launch of the struggle for Greece’s liberation from Ottoman rule was held in Athens. However, the pandemic led to the cancellation of everything but the military parade, which citizens watched on television. The military parade was held without people, without children, without fluttering flags, applause and enthusiastic sighs. Parading through the city of an empty city were a cavalry unit, troops of ground, air and naval forces, and members of the police, fire service and coast guard. Apart from military planes flying over the Acropolis, there were also members of the Evzones unit, an historical elite unit in the uniforms of Greek soldiers who fought against the Turks during Greece’s occupation by the Ottoman Empire and during the war for independence.

And everything had been conceived and planned to unfold very differently ...

There were dreams of village celebrations, school parades and celebrations attended by numerous guests from all over the country and around the world.

There were dreams of a celebration marked by pride, with plenty of joy and optimism for the future. But the global pandemic disrupted everything.

PRINCE CHARLES DIDN’T MISS THE CELEBRATION It was initially decided to reduce celebrations to the military parade alone, but permission was subsequently given for the holding of several appropriate events, including a performance at Agia Lavra, one of the oldest Greek monasteries. There actors dressed in the garb of Greek revolutionaries repeated the legendary oath “Freedom or Death!”. This was the slogan of the uprising against Ottoman rule that Greece had been under for almost 400 years, ever since the Ottoman Turks attacked and took Constantinople, the then capital of the Byzantine Empire, in 1453. Isolated uprisings in 1821 escalated into a war of all-encompassing proportions which, aided by the intervention of Britain, France and Russia, culminated in the establishing of the independent Kingdom of Greece in 1832.

It was precisely because of this intervention that the Greek government and Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis considered that they should invite representatives of the UK, France and Russia – as the three powers that helped the Hellenes on their path to true freedom – as honorary guests of the 25th March anniversary. Russian President Vladimir Putin and Queen Elizabeth II immediately rejected the possibility of coming, while French President Emanuel Macron initially confirmed the visit, only to cancel after introducing a strict lockdown in his country. Nonetheless, after the laying of wreaths at the tomb of the unknown soldier in front of the Greek Parliament, the parade was attended by the UK’s Prince Charles and his wife Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades, Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin and French Defence Minister Florence Parly.

ANNIVERSARY OF INDEPENDENCE CELEBRATED WORLDWIDE Many countries used lights representing the colours of the Greek flag to illuminate their most important or most popular buildings on 25th March, as part of the celebration of Greek independence. Blue and white lights were, thus, installed to light up the Sydney Opera House, parliament buildings in Bucharest and Warsaw, the Olympic Tower in Munich, the Rhine Tower in Düsseldorf and Niagara Falls, while Belgium dressed its famous Manneken Pis (Little Pissing Man) sculpture as a Greek insurgent.

It was tough for the citizens to abandon plans for a spectacular celebration of the great jubilee that would include the participation of the entire nation,

In honour of Greek independence, many countries used lights representing the colours of the Greek flag to illuminate their most important or most popular buildings because they have just ended a difficult and painful period. Greece emerged in 2018 from the biggest recession in its history, which had left behind painful austerity measures, poverty, unprecedented levels of unemployment and the departures of more than half a million citizens in search of work and a better life abroad. And just as the economy was beginning to recover, the world was hit by the COVID-19 pandemic and Greece again fell into recession, though Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis is determined in his intention to move the country forward courageously.

It was back in 2019, when the government was formed, that the prime minister announced a major celebration of the anniversary of the start of the Greek struggle for independence, as a sign that normality is returning to life in Greece. He considered certain dates in history as symbolically marking a break with the past, which is particularly important for young people.

Now we only need to consign the novel coronavirus to the past, just like the Ottomans once were, and move forward resolutely.

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FANINA KOVAČEVIĆ-POPAZ, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE HELLENIC BUSINESS ASSOCIATION

We Embraced The Online Format And Succeeded The Hellenic Business Association has successfully adapted to working online and plans to continue such activities, considering the uncertainty that the economy is facing. Even the traditional cutting of Vasilopita, which represents the central event during the course of a year, was organised in an online format, to the satisfaction of HBA members

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an a business association function successfully under the conditions of working online? Fanina Kovačević-Popaz, executive director of the Hellenic Business Association, considers that the answer is yes, and here she shares with our readers HBA’s recipe for success.

“The outbreak of the pandemic caused changes in the way of work, with an emphasis placed on safety and preserving the health of employees. Greek companies in Serbia, as well as the most of our members, continued their operations through a system of working from home, conducting business activities through tools of digital communication. The newly emerged situation demanded that we adapt quickly and have good coordination. The shift in the focus of work – from the organisation of events that imply public gatherings, to the intensified exchange of information relating to the impact of the pandemic on the operations of our members, as well as transitioning to a regime of online activity, proved crucial to the successful work of the association in an altered business environment,” explains our interlocutor.

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How possible was it to fulfil the plans that you set in 2020 and how much were they adapted, given the situation?

- We are very glad that, immediately after the outbreak of the pandemic and the declaring of a state of emergency, the HBA responded to the needs of members in a timely manner and took on the role of an information hub. We informed members about all the measures taken by the government during this period, and also provided relevant data related to the course of the pandemic and its impact on the regular operations of companies in Serbia. We regularly informed members about the regime for crossing borders between Serbia and Greece, given that we received lots of inquiries on this topic. We are still sharing this type of information with our members. Already during the first months of last year we participated in a joint initiative of 12 chambers of commerce, which was launched as a response of the business world to the market changed by the pandemic. These chambers used this occasion to send a joint letter to the Ministry of Economy, with the aim of combatting the negative consequences of the pandemic on the work of companies. In addition

to this, planned activities that didn’t necessarily require the physical presence of members were redirected to online implementation, while we adjusted the work plan.

Which online activities would you single out as being the most important and how do you organise them?

- During the previous period, in cooperation with our members, we had an opportunity to organise webinars. Specifically, we organised a webinar on the topic of the legal environment for doing business during COVID-19 with the Rokas office, a webinar on the topic of strategic communications with V+O Communication, as well as an internet seminar on the topic of current tax issues with Eurofast Global, as well as other similar activities.

Among last year’s activities, I would single out the online dialogue with the customs administration on the topic of the new customs law, which was jointly organised in cooperation with the Belgian-Serbian Business Association and the Swiss-Serbian Chamber of Commerce. We also participated in the realisation of the first online Speed Business Meeting, with the aim of directly acquainting and improving cooperation between three business associations: Hellenic, Belgian and Slovenian.

- As a result of the pandemic, many regular and traditional events cannot be organised in the way we are used to experiencing them. That’s why the HBA decided to embrace technology and support its tradition. The cutting of Vasilopita, which is the central event during the course of the year, and which brought together the largest number of members under pre-pandemic conditions, was organised in an online format.

The board of directors used this occasion to address members from a fully equipped studio for internet events, belonging to our member Congress Rental. In the continuation of the event, we presented traditional awards to companies that marked the tenth anniversary of their membership in the HBA, and we organised a raffle for the nomination of this year’s “lucky” member, who received a gold coin.

Under these conditions, how much interest was there in Greek investments in Serbia and establishing new business contacts between Greek and Serbian companies?

- During times when the organising of meetings, business gatherings and marketing activities is limited, business associations represent a unique platform for exchanging business contacts, through communication channels that are already developed. The number and diversity of We expect this year's sectors in which Greek companies, - our members What are the most important lessons you’ve Member2Member publication to operate, also attracts Serbian companies that drawn for 2021, and what topics and activities be realised soon, as well as the join our association. In that sense, we recorded will you focus on this year? holding of our regular general new members even during last year, including - The inability to organise business gatherings, both Serbian and Greek companies that clearly as well as their complete exclusion from the assembly recognise the importance of connecting through programme of activities, represented one of membership during the pandemic. Despite this the biggest challenges that we faced. Quickly new crisis, new Greek companies still registered their business presence adapting to a system of working online imposed itself as the only solution in Serbia during the previous period. for the unhindered continuation of activities related to the provision of support to members in business and their mutual interconnection. Taking into consideration the uncertainty faced by the economy, we are planning to Which of the HBA’s upcoming activities would you like to share with continue such activities. And during the course of this year we’ll continue to our readers? inform our members about all factors relevant to doing business in Serbia, as - We are looking forward to the online business meeting with the reprewell as about factors related to the pandemic, the influence of which – judging sentatives of other Greek business associations from the Balkans, at which by current estimates – will continue to change business trends and habits. We representatives of management boards will discuss current economic will also remain focused on providing support to the companies hardest hit by topics in each individual country, as well as the work of the associations the crisis, and they include small and medium-sized enterprises. We will also themselves. We believe that this meeting, which is expected to be held focus on more intensive exchanges of contacts and marketing promotions soon, will provide a good foundation for the further interconnection of the of members within the association itself, through internal communication Greek business community across a broader geographical area. We plan channels, but also through cooperation with similar associations. to continue online activities in the period ahead, and to organise online seminars that relate to legal, accounting and tax issues in the country.

Cooperation with other associations and chambers will certainly be an You recently organised the traditional cutting of Vasilopita in an online important aspect of improving and exchanging business contacts. format. How satisfied are you with the implementation of this event?

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TOURISM

Greece is Everything You Desire It is known for its unique rocky landscapes, beautiful pristine nature, endless shores and beaches, as well as 1,400 indescribably beautiful islands. Yes, it's Greece! Apart from a rich history, sun and sea, tourism represents a basic characteristic of this amazing country's past and present

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e hope that we will open the door to foreign tourists from 14th May, under the condition that they’ve either been vaccinated against COVID-19, or have antibodies or a negative test - said Greek Tourism Minister Harry Theocharis, inviting visitors from all over the world as he highlighted the slogan “All you want is Greece”.

“This year and forever, all you want is Greece. To put a smile back on your face again, with the hope that you will take back life, all you want is Greece,” said Greek Tourism Minister Harry Teocharis, speaking in his address to the ITB 2021 international tourism exhibition, which was held in an online format.

Addressing potential visitors, Theocharis stressed that Greece is ready to welcome them from 14th May, provided they meet one of three conditions: that they’ve been vaccinated, have antibodies or have a negative COVID-19 test. The country’s borders should open for Serbian citizens as of 1st May, under one of these three conditions.

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The Greek tourism sector relies almost entirely on foreign visitors, with the highest numbers of guests coming from Germany and the UK, because Greece and the Greek islands are known for three things: ancient civilisation, amazing landscapes and well-established tourism.

TOURIST NUMBERS EXCEEDED 31 MILLION PRIOR TO THE PANDEMIC Greece is among the main tourist destinations and attractions in Europe, thanks to its rich culture and history, which are reflected in its 18 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and thanks to it having the longest coastline, beautiful islands and even more beautiful beaches. That’s why it’s no surprise that in the pre-pandemic year of 2019 it welcomed more than 31,300,000 visitors, which ensured Greece was one of the most visited countries in Europe and worldwide. Tourism in modern Greece began flourishing in the 1960s and ‘70s, when a huge number of hotels and other accommodation and infrastructure

facilities were built. Events of planetary importance held in Athens, such as the 2004 Summer Olympics and the 2006 Eurovision Song Contest, had a great impact on strengthening the country’s tourism industry. But the turning point came back in 1994, which was the first year that the number of people opting to visit Greece and its islands exceeded 10 million.

ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES REVEAL THE PAST Greece boasts hundreds of archaeological and historical sites that provide perfect depictions of the country’s past. Greeks are particularly proud of their culture and are very passionate when speaking about their country, with their feeling that the culture of Greece is the very definition of their national and ethnic identity. This means that, if you want to understand this country, you must acquaint yourself with its traditions, religion, music, language, food and wine during your visit. Greece is so rich in culture and beauty that you will never explore it fully, no matter how many times you visit. That’s one of the reasons why this country is included on the list of the world’s 20 best holiday destinations. Everything that exists in Greece – from its nature, beaches and inhabitants, to local specialities – compels people to return again and again to this wonderful country every summer.

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The most remarkable beaches are Myrtos Beach on Kefalonia, Navagio Beach on Zakynthos, Porto Katsiki Beach on Lefkada and Super Paradise Beach on Mykonos

IT HAS 1,400 ISLANDS, EACH MORE BEAUTIFUL THAN THE LAST The country has a population of around 11 million, four million of whom live in the capital of Athens. This mountainous peninsula is located on the eastern side of the Mediterranean Sea. Encompassing a total area of 130,800km2, the country is surrounded on three sides by the sea, while its northern side borders other Balkan countries. Thanks to its many islands in the Aegean and Ionian Seas, as many as 1,400 of them, around 200 of which are inhabited, Greece has the longest coastline in Europe and the fifth longest in the world.

Some of the most popular island resorts include Mykonos, with its cosmopolitan character, Santorini, which offers the world’s most romantic sunset, and

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March

Rhodes, an island of medieval castles, sun and butterflies. There is also Crete, with its revolutionary spirit, Ios, with its wild nightlife, Corfu, with its Venetian style, and Ithaca, the homeland of Ulysses. Other obligatory destinations include Samos, the greenest of all Greek islands, and Skiathos, with its long, sandy beaches. And these are just a few examples of its heavenly bathing areas.

Greece is world famous for its amazing beaches. Whether sandy or pebble, popular or hidden, beaches in Greece will satisfy even the most discerning tourists. The most remarkable beaches are in the Cyclades and Ionian Islands, such as Myrtos Beach on Kefalonia, Navagio Beach on Zakynthos, Porto Katsiki Beach on Lefkada and Super Paradise Beach on

Mykonos. Greek beaches are ranked among the most beautiful and cleanest beaches in the world every year.

DON’T FORGET TO TOUR ITS WONDERFUL VILLAGES Apart from beautiful beaches, Greece also has traditional and picturesque villages with architecture that varies depending on the geographical location.

For example, the villages of the Dodecanese islands have a medieval style, while the villages on the mainland have an earthen hue. Regardless of how they look, every Greek village is well supplied with basic necessities, while tourist centres can boast of having all kinds of shops – from mini-markets

and small shops with traditional products to branded outlets with expensive items and designer collections. Apart from not being able to resist swimming, sunbathing and shopping, tourists also can’t help but try some Greek specialities. The cuisine of this country is comprised of dishes dating back to the time of the ancient Greeks, based on olives, figs, cheese and honey, traditional dishes like moussaka and roast lamb, but also modern cuisine.

Although Greece is primarily the number one summer destination, with tourists flocking there to swim, sunbath, enjoy beautiful beaches and tour cities and archaeological sites, this country is a wonderful place to visit 365 days a year.

Admit it ... all you want is Greece, right?

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March

MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

GREEN SERBIA 2021

SAFETY, SUSTAINABILITY AND RESPONSIBILITY ARE CORE VALUES OF OUR BUSINESS

Transparency in everyday work and communication, respect for the individual, local community and society, passion for quality and corporate social responsibility are the core values of HEINEKEN Serbia.

HEINEKEN is the most international beer producer worldwide and has a leading role in the development and marketing of premium beer brands and ciders. HEINEKEN Serbia is a producer of beer and cider in Serbia which actively operates in two breweries. While the brewery in Zajecar is proud of its long lasting tradition and expertise in beer production that lasts for more than 125 years, the brewery in Novi Sad is one of the most technologically advanced breweries in the region.

HEINEKEN Serbia has been entitled the recognition of the Serbian Chamber of Commerce, which is yearly awarded to the companies which have been recognized for their work and engagement and which achieved good business results and success on the Serbian market.

Zajecar beer is the holder of the right to the Čuvarkuća trademark, as a confirmation of the quality and domestic origin of the product, within the project by the Serbian Chamber of Commerce “Created in Serbia”, which is aimed at supporting domestic products and producers.

The Global Strategy “Brewing a Better World” places sustainability as a core imperative and an integral part of the entire business and it focuses on six key areas.

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TOGETHER FOR MEALS SERBIA 2021 Proudly nurturing theGREEN tradition of philanthropy, the company HEINEKEN Serbia, through Zajecarsko brand and in cooperation with Food Bank, launched “Together for meals” campaign.

With strong consumers’ support, 100,000 free meals were provided for the most vulnerable residents of Serbia. A great contribution to this campaign was made by all employees of the company who additionally collected basic food necessities and donated them together to the Food Bank for those who needed it the most.

RESPONSIBLE CONSUMPTION Through every activity and business step, HEINEKEN Serbia strives to draw attention to all the consumers and the general public about the importance of responsible consumption and the harmfulness of excessive alcohol use and always points out that beer, if consumed in moderation, may be a part of a balanced lifestyle.

EVERY DROP MATTERS Water is a vital natural resource and essential in the process of beer production. HEINEKEN Serbia undertakes a number of activities every year in order to reduce the consumption of water and aims at preserving water resources and balanced water use.

DROP THE C In 2018, HEINEKEN launched a global strategy to reduce carbon dioxide emissions, through the Drop the C project, with a focus on energy efficiency and the use of electricity and heat energy from renewable sources throughout the whole value chain - from production and distribution to packaging and refrigeration.

100% of the fridges that HEINEKEN places on the market are green and have a very high level of energy efficiency, all with the aim of further reducing CO2.

Ide uz deo kruga o CO2 SOURCING SUSTAINABLY HEINEKEN Serbia supplies about 90% of its raw materials for production from local suppliers in Serbia. In addition to stimulating the development of the local economy and improving the practice of local sourcing of raw materials, the company has a significant role in the economic and social development of the domestic community and economy. All suppliers of the company have signed the Code of Business Conduct, confirming that they operate in accordance with the highest standards, respecting human rights and the environment.

„ZAJEČARSKO” BUILDS CRAFT CENTER OF THE SOUTH SERBIA HEINEKEN Serbia recognizes the importance of preserving the old Serbian heritage and for all craftsmen from the south of Serbia and all those who preserve customs of the old crafts, Zajecarsko raises funds in a humanitarian campaign to provide space for their work, education and presentations of their deeds. In order to preserve and revive the cultural heritage of this region, all consumers of Zajecarsko beer, by buying specially designed returnable bottles of Zajecarsko, are supporting to build a Crafts Center in Nis this summer that will include workshops for education and requalification of craftsmen.

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GREEN SERBIA 2021

COMMENT

How Green

IS OUR GRASS? It is said that the “grass is always greener on the other side”. However, by joining the Green Agenda and taking steps to fight climate change, Serbia is looking to create its own greener, safer and more sustainable future

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t was back in November 2020 that Serbia and its neighbouring countries signed the Green Agenda for the Western Balkans.

And by so doing they agreed to commit themselves to adhere to the numerous principles contained in the European Green Deal.

Carbon pricing instruments and market-based support schemes for renewables are just two of the instruments to look out for. Yet the most important issue, from the perspective of the citizenry and environmentalists, is that the region agreed to phase out coal subsidies and gradually become carbon neutral.

The signing in Sofia also meant that the Western Balkan region endorsed (at the time) the EU’s draft Climate Law. In that respect, creating a greener future means walking step by step with the EU towards a better climate policy and reformed energy and transport sectors, which are currently among the worst polluters.

Indeed, this terrain is dynamic. Minister of Environmental Protection in the Government of the Republic of Serbia, Irena Vujović, welcomed the signing of the Declaration on

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the Green Agenda for the Western Balkans, which was signed by Prime Minister Ana Brnabić, confirming that the Green Agenda will be among her priorities.

Among those priorities for this year are important investments in establishing wastewater treatment plants in all major cities, with the help and support of international institutions and funds, improving people’s

will have a positive impact on the health of citizens and economic development.

The Ministry of Environmental Protection believes that this new legal framework will lead to strengthening the society’s resilience against the negative effects of climate change, especially in the sectors of water management, forestry and agriculture. The law regulates the country’s planned adaptation to climate

The Green Agenda translates into innovation, green energy and job creation, but also confirms that Serbia is firmly on the European path quality of life by establishing a solid waste disposal system, as well as strengthening the fight against air pollution.

Serbia also recently adopted its own Law on Climate Change, thereby joining other countries in the global fight for a sustainable environment. By the same token, adopting this law also confirmed the state’s responsibility towards its citizens. The Law provides the basis for the establishment of a system for limiting greenhouse gas emissions, which

change and the establishment of mechanisms for reporting to the international community, i.e. the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in the context of its Paris Agreement.

The Ministry is also obliged to prepare a low-carbon development strategy, in cooperation with other institutions, thus bringing the country closer to the standards and requirements of the European market, as well as membership in the European Union.

GREEN SERBIA 2021

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GREEN SERBIA 2021

INTERVIEW

IRENA VUJOVIĆ, SERBIAN MINISTER OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

Significant Investments In

A HEALTHIER ENVIRONMENT

We have at our disposal a budget of 8.3 billion dinars, which is a clear indicator that this will be a year of investment in environmental protection. But that's not all - Serbia is strongly committed to basing its future economic growth and development on innovation, green energy and the creation of green jobs.

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lthough we were awaited by problems dating back decades and the general concern of the public regarding pollution, we didn’t sweep those problems under the carpet, but rather got to work to start solving them immediately, as soon as I took the helm of the ministry.

We began by identifying three priority areas - air pollution, the proper treatment of wastewater and solving the problem of illegal dumps. This year we’re planning to invest significant funds in projects related to those areas, and I expect that, once they are implemented, the ecological picture of Serbia will be much healthier - says Environmental Protection Minister Irena Vujović in this interview for CorD Magazine.

Caring the environment is, as she notes, is an obligation of her ministry, but also an obligation of society as a whole, and a positive result cannot be lacking if every actor contributes.

You’ve said that this year will be marked by major investments.

What first steps have you taken in that regard?

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The first steps have already been taken in each of the aforementioned areas and we are now moving forward. When it comes to air pollution, we’ve allocated funds to subsidise electric or hybrid vehicles, and secured 400 million dinars for local government projects aimed at improving air quality.

We plan to build wastewater treatment plants on the territories covered by 28 local governments, with an accompanying sewerage network. The first steps have already been taken in terms of project design, while financing has been secured through the line of credit provided by the Council of Europe Development Bank, amounting to a total of 200 million euros.

We’ve also called on cities and municipalities to map the illegal dumps located on their territories, in order for us to help in their remediation. And what is particularly important, and represents a more enduring solution to this problem, are the regional centres where waste would be treated according to European standards. Plans include the building of eight such

GREEN SERBIA 2021

PRIORITIES

STANDARDS

FINANCING

Combating air pollution, the proper treatment of wastewater and solving the problem of illegal dumps are currently the Ministry's three most important priorities

It is our common objective to move closer to European standards with every year, when it comes to issues of decarbonisation, energy transition and green energy

We are negotiating with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development on investment to build eight regional centres that would treat waste according to European standards

regional centres, and we are negotiating for 100 million euros to invest in these projects with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.

When one takes into account that the Ministry I head has a budget for this year that amounts to 8.3 billion dinars, it is clear that this will be the year of investment in environmental protection. But that doesn’t mean we’ll stop there. We’re also planning new projects aimed at achieving the same goal, and that goal is a healthy environment.

Citizens are increasingly highlighting the problem of huge air pollution in Serbia. What is the Ministry’s response; what can be done in the short term and what are your long-term plans?

We must solve the problem of air pollution together, through measures to mitigate the situation that will contribute to solving it. Reducing air pollution is something I insisted on from the moment I took over the ministry.

I’m proud of my team, which responded quickly, and under the shortest possible deadlines we announced competitions for cities and municipalities to replace heating boilers and household fires, and to implement afforestation projects. I expect the effects of this investment to be visible by the next heating season.

Competitions for replacement heating boilers and household fires were announced for the first time, and through those two public calls we made 300 million dinars available to lo-

cal self-governments. We have also secured another 100 million dinars for afforestation.

The local governments that reacted quickly and prepared projects are worthy of all praise.

The contracts have already been signed, and it is now up to them to launch implementation.

In the next period, We also plan to announce competitions for eco parks in the period ahead, and I expect local governments to react with equal speed and responsibility, and for this competition to be successful.

This is our swift response to

most important projects in this area?

Forests are our natural wealth, the main producers of oxygen and oases of beauty. We are cofinancing afforestation projects together with 38 local governments in Serbia, in a total amount of 100 million dinars. What makes me particularly happy is the fact that significant funds will go to projects on the territory of Vojvodina, which is in dire need of greening projects. I believe this precise way is fitting for cities and municipalities, with the support of the state, to plant forests or

We will support cities and municipalities in replacing heating boilers and household fires, as well as in implementing afforestation projects. I expect air pollution to be reduced by as soon as the next heating season the problem of pollution, which is always more intense during the heating season, because fuel oil and coal are mostly used as fuel for heating in our country. Viewed over the long term, it is necessary to increasingly introduce gas and other “cleaner” sources of energy, but also to renew the technology installed in heating plants. When it comes to reducing pollution from road and public traffic, it is necessary to increase the extent to which vehicles that are in line with the latest European norms are represented, but also the number of electric and hybrid vehicles.

Serbia doesn’t have enough forests. What are the Ministry’s

conduct the greening of public areas on their territory, by forming parks and greening schoolyards, children’s playgrounds and the like.

I would remind readers that the International Day of Forests was marked worldwide on 21st March and provided an excellent opportunity to remind ourselves how necessary it is to strengthen society’s awareness of their importance and for each of us, as individuals, to contribute to the conservation of nature. The Ministry that I head is dedicated completely to that.

The Ministry of Environmental Protection and the Ministry of Mining and Energy agreed to

form a joint working group that will contribute to closer and more operational cooperation on current projects, but also on the defining of common goals for attaining EU standards in the domain of environmental protection. What does that mean in practical terms?

The Ministry of Environmental Protection overlaps with other ministries in numerous areas, and we have particularly close common challenges and goals with the Ministry of Mining and Energy. The development of energy sources and the preservation of the environment are inextricably linked, and it is our common objective to move closer to European standards with every year, when it comes to issues of decarbonisation, energy transition and green energy. That’s why the formation of this working group is a solution that is expected to establish a constructive dialogue and a targeted approach to solving our shared problems.

I would also add that, with the adopting of the Law on Climate Change, we have created good foundations to prepare an integrated plan for energy and climate.

Statistics of the Republic Hydrometeorological Service of Serbia from 1951 until the end of 2019 show that 13 of the 15 warmest years in Serbia have been recorded since the year 2000, and it seems that the year ahead will again be among the warmest. How is Serbia coping the consequences of climate change?

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GREEN SERBIA 2021

that will make society more resilient against altered climatic conditions over the long run.

The adoption of the Law on Climate Change provides us with an excellent starting point to – for the first time as a society – systemically, systematically and with joint force fight the challenges of climate change in continuity Scientists believe that ever more common extreme weather conditions – such as heavy rains, flooding, droughts, a lack of snow in winter, ever more frequent heat waves and cold snaps, and wildfires – are actually consequences of climate change. Some analyses show that climate change is becoming increasingly evident in Serbia and is endangering the health, but also the earnings, of the population.

In the period since 2000,Serbia has sustained damage related to climate change that exceeds seven billion euros. In the fight 8

against climate change, we are all important actors, whether that’s citizens themselves, the economy, institutions, the nongovernmental sector and the academic community.

The first significant step was taken with the recent adoption of the umbrella Law on Climate Change. The adoption of this law provides us with an excellent starting point – for the first time as a society – to systemically, systematically and with joint force fight the challenges of climate change in continuity. This law prescribes a series of measures

The Law on Climate Change should contribute to establishing a system for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. What are the main benefits of this law?

It is certain that Serbia is strongly determined to base its future economic growth and development on innovation, green energy and the creation of new, green jobs. The law is an important link in that sense. It will contribute to the establishing of a system for limiting greenhouse gas emissions, while at the same time increasing the resilience of the entire society against the negative effects of climate change, especially sectors such as health, water management, forestry and agriculture.

The law will also provide a good base for the planned adaptation of all relevant sectors to a changed climate, and will establish reporting mechanisms with which will fulfil our obligations towards the international community, i.e. the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and its Paris Agreement.

What is very important is that the application of the Law will have a positive impact on economic growth and development, the increased competitiveness of our economy, attracting investments, especially in accordance with the standards and requirements of the European Union market.

How would you rate the implementation of climate agreements and activities that Serbia is included in, and to what extent is Serbia succeeding in fulfilling its obligations under the Paris Agreement?

Serbia has been a member of the Paris Agreement since mid2017, and the goal is to reduce emissions of greenhouse gas to a level that will contribute to limiting global temperature rises to below 2°C. And ideally up to 1.5°C. According to scientists, that is the limit of safety, and climate change will become easier for us to adapt to if it is achieved.

The signatory countries, including Serbia, are obliged to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases by 2030. It was in 2015 that Serbia submitted its goal of reducing GHG emissions by 9.8% (compared to 1990 levels) by 2030. The Law on Climate Change envisages the development of strategy documents, the implementation of which will help us achieve the established goals.

Considering everything that’s already been done, Serbia is today on the right track to fulfilling its obligations under the Paris Agreement.

How challenging is it to implement projects under the conditions of a pandemic and has that influenced the dynamics of their implementation?

The pandemic is a challenge for every sector and impacts all of our lives. It is up to us to do everything we can under the given circumstances, to respect the measures, to get vaccinated, when the state has even allowed us to choose the vaccine manufacturer we want. And, of course, for us to keep working despite the virus, because that’s the only way to move forward. After only four months at the helm of the Ministry, I’m proud to be able to say that our projects did not suffer because of the virus, nor did other initiatives that are aimed at leaving an ecologically cleaner Serbia for our citizens and our children.

GREEN SERBIA 2021

GIZ

BUSINESS

The Digital Approach To Preserving

THE ENVIRONMENT

Fighting climate change and preserving the environment for future generations is one of the greatest challenges confronting humanity. Scientists worldwide are working around the clock to find solutions that will give people a chance for a safer future. However, given that environmental sustainability is an extremely complex goal, achieving it requires the involvement of the wider community and cooperation between different actors, such as the private, public, and civil sectors design, all with the aim of transitioning to a circular economy.

Changes have been noticed on the market over the past 12 months, with consumers having started to change their habits and become increasingly aware of the impact that companies have on the environment. The Smart Can Collection System project primarily strives to raise citizens’ awareness of environmental protection through a socially responsible

Today, in the midst of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, Serbia has gained a completely new, digital approach to recycling through an innovative software solution. With further digitalisation, the emergence of new business models is expected, assisted by artificial intelligence and shaped by the need for a new, ecological design, all with the aim of transitioning to a circular economy campaign, stimulating them to contribute to a better future with their actions, while at the same time setting an example of corporate social responsibility.

For the first time, smart can collection systems have brought a smart system for packaging waste recycling to our market, with game elements and data analysis of recycled material integrated into the loyalty programme of a supermarket in the region, which was fully developed by a domestic company – the startup Solagro. This start-up has thus shown that

Photo: GIZ/Miodrag Bogdanović

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n example of such cooperation is the project Smart Urban Can Collection System, which represents a joint venture of companies Solagro, Mercator-S and Ball Packaging Europe, within a development partnership programme with the private sector develoPPP.de, supported by the German Development Cooperation, implemented by GIZ through the Open Regional Fund for Southeast Europe - Modernisation of Municipal Services.

Recognising inadequate waste management as one of the factors contributing to environmental pollution, as well as the great potential of the recycling of aluminium cans as an excellent model for the circular economy, these companies have teamed up to encourage consumers to recycle, using innovative digital solutions. Additionally, citizens who recycle cans using smart devices will have the opportunity to get discounts at IDEA stores through the Solagro.app application, while the most successful recyclers can expect numerous valuable rewards. Now four smart presses for recycling cans at IDEA stores have been installed on the territory of Belgrade, while it is planned to install these devices at 10 other locations within the scope of the project. The project envisages the development of a portal for presenting data, as well as the development of a business model.

Today, in the midst of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, Serbia has gained a completely new, digital approach to recycling through an innovative software solution. With further digitalisation, the emergence of new business models is expected, assisted by artificial intelligence and shaped by the need for a new, ecological

young innovative companies in Serbia not only keep up with new technologies and trends in the field of recycling, but also set them themselves.

Aluminium cans are 100% recyclable and represent the most sustainable type of packaging.

They can be recycled indefinitely without loss of quality, so the process of recycling them is a closed circle and brings great savings, while at the same time reducing environmental pollution significantly. Recycling cans reduces the consumption of natural resources, as well as the amount of waste dumped in landfills.

As a society, we have shown great readiness to accept new and bold ideas and initiatives, often led by companies that selflessly invest their significant resources, time and knowledge.

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GREEN SERBIA 2021

INTERVIEW

ALEKSANDRA IMŠIRAGIĆ, ASSISTANT MINISTER, MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

Good Environmental Governance

REQUIRES TEAMWORK Ensuring good governance in the domain of environmental protection is our common concern and responsibility that requires the participation of various actors and stakeholders. Numerous “ecological problems” mostly arise from ourselves – from our way of life, consumer priorities in the industrial world and a natural balance that's disrupted under the influence of various activities that we are most commonly not even aware of initially. By using nature and its resources, man is constantly changing and influencing that nature, sometimes to the point of degradation, so the biosphere that we inherit and the technosphere, which is a product of many activities, often find themselves in conflict.

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aking care of the environment implies teamwork.

Even small changes that can come about through the individual actions of each of us, as well as our joint future steps, can contribute to changing the general state of affairs and cause a shift in environmental protection. With high-quality cross-sector cooperation, as well as cooperation with citizens, aimed at implementing activities necessary to improve the current situation and implement tangible measures to reduce pollution in the environment, as well as raising environmental awareness, we can contribute together to creating a better future and a better quality of life for the citizens of Serbia, but also for the entire region of the Western Balkans.

In the domain of environmental protection, a multidisciplinary and scientific approach to problems and continuous cooperation are required, as well as exchanges of opinions and experience on modalities and the

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confronting of challenges, with consideration given to examples of domestic and international best practice, which can certainly contribute to improving the quality of the environment.

Cities and municipalities can be an invaluable resource in terms of perspectives and the need for potential development and capacity building in environmental protection. The development of expert services for environmental protection at the local level would contribute to even better communication and the defining of crucial problems, as well as contributing to improving the implementation of environmental projects and more quickly resolving environmental problems at the local level.

By recognising the need to cooperate closely with units of local self-government in solving environmental problems, the Ministry of Environmental Protection formed – as the first step in the development of that cooperation – the first ever Department for Cooperation

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with Local Communities, within the Sector for Environmental Governance. With this step we demonstrated that our priorities are teamwork, good cooperation, constant and open communication directed towards the local level and citizens in understanding the problems and finding a route to solving environmental problems. It is thus essential, in the coming period, to work with commitment, as a team and in synchronisation, at both the national and local levels, on capacity building and establishing the necessary conditions, with the aim of implementing tangible measures for improving the state of the environment.

UBSIDIES LEADING TO S CLEANER AIR The start of this year saw the Ministry of Environmental Protection launch the first activities in the form of concrete measures for reducing air pollution, which were set as a high priority. A public competition was announced for the allocation of funds for co-financing the implementation of projects to reduce air pollution in Serbia originating from individual sources, as well as a public competition for cofinancing the implementation of projects for the procurement, replacement, reconstruction and rehabilitation of heating boilers in 2021. This enables heating plants and other public institutions, as well as households, to switch from the use of coal and fuel oil to more environmentally friendly energy sources. Funds for co-financing the project to reduce pollution from individual sources were allocated to 10 local self-government units, amounting to a combined total of approximately 100 million dinars, while funds for co-financing the

With the aim of increasing afforestation on the territory of the Republic of Serbia, the Ministry has allocated approximately 100 million dinars for units of local self-government to co-finance the procurement of seedlings and implement works on the afforestation of land with indigenous species of trees and shrubs, with these projects to be implemented in 38 Serbian municipalities and cities implementation of projects for the procurement, replacement, reconstruction and rehabilitation of heating boilers in 2021 were allocated to 24 cities and municipalities, amounting to a combined total of approximately 200 million dinars.

Among the measures aimed at improving air quality is afforestation. With the aim of increasing afforestation on the territory of the Republic of Serbia, the Ministry has allocated approximately 100 million dinars for units of local self-government to co-finance the procurement of seedlings and implement works

on the afforestation of land with indigenous species of trees and shrubs, with these projects to be implemented in 38 Serbian municipalities and cities.

Given the fact that only sustainable systems and the greater representation of vehicles with alternative propulsion systems can reduce pollution from the transport sector, the Ministry of Environmental Protection subsidises purchases of new vehicles with electric motors and vehicles with hybrid drives.

These subsidies are granted to both private individuals and registered entities. Considering

that traffic in urban areas has a significant impact on air pollution, it is necessary to motivate citizens to switch to more environmentally friendly modes of transport, which the Government of Serbia is helping to ensure by subsidising the purchase of lower emission vehicles.

Among the ministry’s continuous activities in the domain of air protection is the issuing of approvals for Air Quality Plans and short-term action plans, as well as the initiating of local self-government units to also develop, adopt and implement these plans at the local level. The Ministry insists, in particular, that local self-governments be included in everything that the ministry does with the aim of improving air quality, as well as applying provisions of the laws that are under their jurisdiction.

A draft National Air Protection Programme with an action plan will be prepared by the end of this year and will define goals for improving air quality, as well as measures for achieving those goals, providing the basis for the further development and adoption of by-laws and the continued implementation of European legislation in the area of environmental protection.

The drafting of the National Air Protection Programme with its associated action plan is among the activities being implemented intensively within the project “EU for a better environment – development of a framework for harmonisation with EU legislation in the fields of air, chemicals and horizontal issues” IPA 2014, which represents one form of good cooperation and support, or the continuation of EU institutions’ technical assistance to the Republic of Serbia in the European integration process.

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INTERVIEW

MAJA ŽIVKOVIĆ, GENERAL MANAGER, STEEL IMPEX LTD

Waste Is A Valuable

COMMODITY Steel Impex is a leader in the region when it comes to waste management, and at the same time the only recycling centre in Serbia that deals with the storage and treatment of various wastes.

Steel Impex has 450 suppliers and treats them with a lot of respect and care endless source of goods that are being traded daily - from deepsea cargos to small local companies. Its existence on the stock market defines its impact on the world economy.

How far have you progressed on the implementation of your latest investment, which relates to the purchase, installing and obtaining of permits for waste rubber/tyres?

We are known as a company that invests constantly in recycling centres, new machines… Our tire recycling facility is now

We can proudly say that we did not close any job positions, but instead, we opened new ones and hired more people to work full time

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aja Živković, General Manager, said that 2020 results show that their decisions were good. She is pleased to announce that Steel Impex is currently developing and investing in their 3rd recycling facility and collection point in the industrial zone in Belgrade You realised two decades ago that waste can be a valuable commodity, and you treat it as such. What does waste mean for the Serbian state, but also for us, as citizens?

Although waste is a commodity for us, it is a sum of everything from old to new, 12

from surplus to remains, from people or companies. Currently, waste for Serbia is a project in development, but still not fully using its potential. Promotion of primary sorting in households, implementation of knowledge about environment protection has to happen simultaneously with green investments and environmental solutions for existing issues. With the aim to reach the full potential of our knowledge and investments, our laws, regulations and rule books must be synchronised with EU laws. We must not forget about the socioeconomic aspect of recycling. Waste is an

completely operational. We did have some setbacks, due to the pandemic of Covid-19, related to delivery and commissioning delays. By reusing ferrous fractions from the treatment in our ferrous division, an additional value is brought for us. We are satisfied that our projected investment has proven to be a success – as we’re able to close the loop by creating the final product from the waste.

Is it easier to handle the competition on our market, where the rules of the game aren’t completely clear, or on the European market, where some of the world’s largest companies dealing with waste collection and processing operations?

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It’s more challenging to compete in big markets as there are more strict rules, regulations, paperwork, and internal rules to be presented and followed, which are not mandatory in Serbia. Also, it’s definitely easier to operate in markets where rules are clear and there are no grey zones. Put simply, when rules are followed possibilities for mistakes are minimal.

With the absence of steady local demand and secure payments, we are mostly exportorientated. We have vast supplies of waste, but unfortunately not enough local buyers.

Otherwise it would be most economical to sell locally without paying the cost of transpor,t as it accounts for 10 – 15% of the value. Because of this, we are encouraging all local buyers to be more open towards local suppliers, to more closely cooperate with them, listen to their needs and always follow global market prices.

As a member of the biggest recycling and environmental bodies, such as EURIC (European Recycling Industries Confederation - Brussels), ISRI (Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries- Washington), BIR (Bureau of International RecyclingBrussels), NALED (National Alliance for Local Economic Development - Belgrade), we are attending workshops, webinars, and annual conferences. This is enabling us to stay informed, follow the newest changes in the sector, and to push ourselves to be more competent in this market.

It is important for every business to have a good network of partners and suppliers, but in your business it’s almost crucially decisive. Is it thanks to them that you operate excellently throughout Serbia, the Balkans and the EU? Our company, Steel Impex, has 450 suppliers. We treat our suppliers with equal respect, and by doing this we ‘ve made sure that during our growth they have also grown. Even though our internal rules are overly strict for this market, our supplier network is not decreasing, on the contrary, it is constantly expanding. Our suppliers know that by cooperating with us their business is safe. We have a reputation as a prompt and steady payer, a fair market competitor, and there is a big fleet of trucks

at their disposal.

Serbia is a great country with huge potential for waste management – based on a good geographical position in the European continent. Although Republic of Serbia is an inland country, it’s extremely well connected with land, air, and river. Considering all these advantages, we ourselves are promoting and open-handedly welcoming new companies in our industry. By following our vision, we are inviting more companies to our sector to strengthen our industry and the economy.

Small strong companies are the ones that are building up the whole economy.

The Republic of Serbia is a great country with huge potential for waste management, based on a good geographical position in the European continent The global pandemic has on the one hand, reduced the amount of waste available, while, on the other hand, demand for recycled materials has also fallen. How did it impact on your work? Have you fully

adapted to doing business under these altered circumstances?

Just like the rest of the world, we have also been affected by the pandemic - in something completely unknown. Our business didn’t stop, but it certainly had some setbacks. In the beginning, when there was a curfew, it was logistically quite challenging to organize all the daily operations, including collections, loadings, and deliveries. From our side, we did our best to protect our workers and to make a safe environment for work. We can proudly say that we did not close any job positions, but instead, we opened new ones and hired

more people to work full time. Our 2020 results show us that our decisions were good.

As previously mentioned, we have completed an investment in the tyre recycling line in Kraljevo. Additionally, we’ve expanded our Novi Sad operation by adding a facility of 7,000 m² in which we invested 750,000 euros by purchasing new Lefort 600t scrap shear, handling equipment and additions to the fleet. Lastly, and very gratefully, we are pleased to announce that we are currently developing and investing in our 3rd recycling facility and collection point in the industrial zone in Belgrade.

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OAK TREE 14

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INTERVIEW

JASMINA JOVIĆ, ASSISTANT MINISTER OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION FOR NATURE PROTECTION AND CLIMATE CHANGE

What The Law On

CLIMATE CHANGE BRINGS US The last five years were the warmest since records began in Europe, according to EU data.

Climate change, embodied through heat waves, droughts and fires, is being witnessed by all of us, and its impact - on health, the environment and security – is not negligible. shown scientifically that it is necessary to limit the growth of the global average temperature to less than 2°C by the end of the century, compared to the level prior to the industrial revolution, while continuous global action is also necessary in order to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases (GHG). According to the analyses, if GHG emissions were to be stopped completely, their effect on climate change would still exist, and would last for decades.

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rom the aspect of climate change, Serbia belongs to one of the world’s hardest hit regions. Climate change is primarily characterised in our country by rising temperatures, but also changes in precipitation patterns, in terms of annual distribution and intensity, as well as increasingly frequent extreme temperature events and periods of extreme climatic conditions. The growth tendency of the average annual temperature in Serbia is higher than that of the average 16

global temperature, which has been particularly noticeable in the period after 1980.

The ten warmest years since meteorological records began in Serbia have all come after 2000. Analyses show that we can expect the further breaking of temperature and precipitation records in the future.

For ethical and economic reasons, in order to secure further economic growth and insure the future of the planet, it is essential to limit temperature rises at the global level. It has been

THE GREATEST GLOBAL CHALLENGE Combating climate change is currently the greatest global challenge, and every country is obliged to give its maximum to solve this problem. The leading organisation in this area is the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. However, the Convention may define the goal, but it doesn’t define the ways of achieving that goal. The Paris Agreement, which was adopted in 2015, defined obligations for all of the Convention’s member states regarding, among other things, reductions in GHG emissions for the 2020-2030 period. These obligations are based primarily on so-called Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) to reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, which Member States regularly submit to the Convention.

Unfortunately, it has been established that even if all of the goals set to date were implemented, that still wouldn’t be enough to limit the global temperature rise to the level of the scientifically defined maximum of 2°C compared

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to the pre-industrial revolution level.

Testifying to the importance of joint action in the fight against climate change is the fact that the Paris Agreement was adopted through the consensus of as many as 195 countries.

This is a rare example in any area during the recent history of the world. The Conference of the States Parties to the Convention and Agreement should be held at the end of this year, when the most important decisions will be made, and Serbia has been assigned a great role and has the honour of being the meeting’s co-chair.

ERBIA HAS ADOPTED CLIMATE S CHANGE LAW The EU is today among the leaders in the struggle against climate change and is endeavouring to become the first climate-neutral continent in the future. Serbia, on the other hand, has the obligatory task of harmonising its legislation with EU regulations. With the adopting of the Law on Climate Change, Serbia has primarily confirmed its responsibility towards its citizens and the international community.

However, perhaps even more importantly, it is supporting the development of our economic branches, which are sustaining major material damage. The total material damage caused by extreme climatic and weather conditions in Serbia since the year 2000 is estimated at around seven billion euros. And more than 70% of losses are linked to drought and high temperatures, while floods represented the other main cause of significant losses.

As a result of climate change, it can be expected that the agricultural sector alone will experience major losses if measures for adapting to altered climatic conditions are not applied, with yields of corn and wheat expected to be hardest hit by 2030.

The Law on Climate Change prescribes the development of a Programme for Adaptation to Changed Climatic Conditions, in order to identify their impact on sectors and systems and determine adaptation measures where necessary. In order for this programme to be significant to everyone, the Law stipulates that public policy documents in the worst effected sectors, as well as planning documents of the autonomous province and units of local self-government, must be prepared with consideration for the planned goals. The

deadline for adoption is two years from the law’s entry into force.

DEVELOPMENT CHANCE The adoption of the Law on Climate Change should primarily be viewed as a chance for development, green jobs and the emergence

investments. Reducing emissions will encourage modernisation and innovation in sectors that emit GHGs, such as energy, transport, industry, agriculture and waste management.

That’s why one of the goals of the Law is to establish a system and the basis for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The law calls for

With the adopting of the Law on Climate Change, Serbia has primarily confirmed its responsibility towards its citizens and the international community. However, perhaps even more importantly, it is supporting the development of our economic branches, which are sustaining major material damage of new companies. The struggle against climate change should include everyone – citizens, the economy, non-governmental organisations and the scientific community. This law makes it possible to unify all actors towards the common goal of the green and clean economic development of the country, while it offers the chance for us to leave behind a more beautiful Serbia than the one we found to the generations that are yet to come. The adoption of this law enables us, as a society as a whole, for the first time, systemically, systematically and jointly, to get to grips with many decades of challenges in the struggle against climate change.

That’s why it’s important for us to see the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions as a chance for economic development, increasing competitiveness and attracting foreign

the preparing of a Strategy for Low Carbon Development with an accompanying action plan. This strategy will be prepared by the relevant Ministry, in cooperation with other competent ministries and relevant state institutions and bodies, in order to determine the strategic direction of action and public policies related to the limiting of greenhouse gas emissions.

The Ministry of Environmental Protection is continuing to work on meeting obligations related to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and its Paris Agreement, through the preparing of regular periodical reports, i.e. revisions of the Nationally Determined Contributions, the submission of which is expected to come before the Glasgow Conference (COP 26).

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INTERVIEW

BOJANA PERIĆ, GENERAL MANAGER OF EKOSTAR PAK

Can A Circular Economy Exist

WITHOUT PRIMARY SELECTION? We sought an answer to this question, but also the question of which direction it would be desirable for changes in our area to progress, from Bojana Perić, the general manager of Ekostar Pak, one of the leading operators in the system of managing packaging waste

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he primary objective is to replace the current “take – make – use – discard” system with a future model of the circular economy, in order for us to reduce the amount of waste dumped in landfill sites. In other words, when we talk about the integrating of economic interests and the system of waste management we are actually talking about the circular economy concept.

How does the system of managing packaging waste function on our market?

The system of packaging waste management in Serbia is based on the extended responsibility of the producer. It implies that the producer is responsible for a product’s entire life cycle, and thus also that prod18

uct’s packaging. They can take care of the packaging independently, within the legal framework, or transfer their obligation for the packaging placed on the market to an authorised operator in the system.

The System Operator takes on the obligation on behalf of companies that place packaging on the Serbian market, organising the collection, reuse and recycling of packaging waste. This ensures the fulfilment of the prescribed national goals. That goal increases every year. The general goal for this year is 62% of the total quantity of packaging. As such, it is an encouraging fact that 1,935 companies transferred their obligation to System Operators in 2019.

How are the results of the current system and where do you see the biggest challenges confronting the invigorating of the circular economy concept in the packaging waste management segment?

According to the latest report of the Environmental Protection Agency, system operators achieved a recovery rate of 61.9%, or a recycling rate of 59.2%, take care of 228,546 tons of packaging waste through their system. This result has been rated as very good in our area. Significant results have been achieved in the system employed to date, in terms of the collection of packaging waste that’s generated by industrial and commercial activities.

A segment where it is necessary to make significant steps to advance the system is primary selection, through cooperation with units of local self-government. We are witnesses to the existence of good projects for waste separation that we have launched.

However, the statistic showing that only 28% of municipal packaging waste has been included in the system indicates that

The best advancement comes when synergy exists between the economy and the state, and it is on this basis that I see a systemic solution as a common model between the System Operator and units of local self-government entrusted with the collection of municipal packaging waste we must take more decisive action, make more serious decisions and launch significant investments. We are often contacted by citizens who ask us where and how they can recycle their waste. Unfortunately, this question doesn’t have a simple answer today.

A strategic solution to this serious problem is expected to start primarily in larger cities, such as Belgrade and Novi Sad ...

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In your opinion, what might a solution leading to change in the current linear economy look like?

The best advancement comes when synergy exists between the economy and the state, and it is on this basis that I see a systemic solution as a common model between the System Operator and units of local selfgovernment entrusted with the collection of municipalpackagingwaste.SystemOperators are there to invest in the installing of adequate infrastructure when it comes to primary selection and secondary waste separation.

It is desirable for the support of units of local self-government to come through a system of collecting separated amounts of packaging waste and increasing the quantities that are recycled through joint work.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency’s 2019 report on waste management, a total of 2.35 million tons of municipal waste was generated. The percentage of packaging waste in total municipal waste is estimated at around 14-20%, which represents an average of 400,000 tons of waste or, to categorise it better, resources that we can use. On the other hand, informal collectors are responsible for the collecting of most secondary raw materials from households.

Between 35,000 and 50,000 people work as informal waste collectors. Under the model for building an efficient system for the primary collection of packaging waste, additional collecting and recycling jobs could be created, thus creating the possibility to integrate informal collectors into the formal collection system.

A large number of cities/municipalities in our country have their own dumps – landfill sites. These are mainly dumps that are envisaged for remediation and closure, in accordance with the Waste Management Strategy, because the capacity of existing landfills has been reached in most municipalities. Most of them fail to satisfy even the minimum technical standards.

A total of 2,305 illegal landfill sites have

redefined goals state that it is necessary to reuse or recycle 55% of municipal waste by 2025, 60% by 2030 and 65% by 2035.

By the specified year, the total amount of municipal waste disposed of in landfill sites must be reduced to 10%, or less, of the total amount of generated municipal waste. On the basis of this, amendments to the legal framework are required, with the clear prescribing of obligations for

Just as extended responsibility provides the basis for a circular economy, so the introduction of the circular economy concept cannot be imagined without the establishing of sustainable primary selection also been recorded. Another worrying fact is that waste is often – in over 90% of cases – re-deposited in the same location following the cleaning of an illegal landfill site. These facts are serious indicators that we must focus on the development of primary selection as soon as possible.

I would also highlight the misinterpreting of the deposit system as representing an alternative to primary waste selection.

The deposit system implies an additional payment for packaging when buying drinks, with a refund paid when that packaging is returned to the point of sale of said packaging. I would like to emphasise that primary waste selection is the first essential step.

The deposit system represents a form of upgrading primary waste selection and only comes after the establishment of a serious primary selection system.

The package of directives for the circular economy was adopted in 2018. The

everyone in the chain of responsibility for the establishing of primary selection.

It is essential to the development of the circular economy concept to establish a sustainable system that will function in its entirety, which can only be done with the support of the relevant ministries.

I believe that the establishing of partnerships between the System Operator and units of local self-government would create a certain path to a circular economy. Just as extended responsibility provides the basis for a circular economy, so the introduction of the circular economy concept cannot be imagined without the establishing of sustainable primary selection. And that brings us back to the question from the beginning of this interview. To the best of my knowledge, there is no alternative to primary selection when it comes to the establishing of a sustainable system of packaging waste management.

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INTERVIEW

SANDRA DOKIĆ, ASSISTANT MINISTER AND HEAD OF THE CIRCULAR AND GREEN ECONOMY GROUP AT THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

EU Directives And

SERBIA'S ADAPTATION It was on 21st January 2020 that the Government of the Republic of Serbia adopted its negotiating position for EU Accession Negotiation Chapter 27, which deals with the environment and climate change, together with 14 accompanying documents. And that document was officially submitted to the Council of the EU one week later.

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he documents supporting Serbia’s negotiating position represent specific plans for the implementation of EU directives in the fields of water and waste management and the area of industrial pollution. They also contain estimates of the costs accompanying the implementation of the directives, as well as a proposal for available additional sources of funding and a preliminary proposal for required transition periods.

Alongside specific plans for the implementation of directives, the negotiating position also contains a multi-annual investment and financial plan for the implementation of projects in the field of the environment. It additionally contains an action plan for the development of administration in the field of the environment, which determines administrative capacities at the national, provincial and local levels and highlights employment requirements in this area. It also contains an explanation for biogeographical regions and technical adaptations to the annexes of Directives on habitats and birds.

MONITORING PROGRESS On the basis of Serbia’s submitted negotiating position, the

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European Commission drafted the Common Position for Chapter 27, which it presented to European Union member states on 24th November 2020, within the scope of the COELA process.

Following the submission of the negotiating position, Negotiating Group 27 established a system to monitor the progress of transposing and implementing the regulations presented in the negotiating position. This enabled the identifying of the legislative acts that it is necessary to adopt in order for the transposition to be complete, and the current status of those acts. An action plan was also developed for the implementation of each regulation provided in the negotiating position, as well as a detailed explanation of their status and planned future steps.

ORK UNDERWAY ON AIR W PROTECTION PROGRAMME With the support of the IPA 2014 project, work is underway on the development of the Air Protection Programme with an associated action plan, the preparing of eight specific implementation plans (DSIPOV) for six directives and two regulations, five of which relate to the air protection sector, one

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to the INSPIRE directive and two specific implementation plans for regulations in the field of chemicals management. With the support of this project, the multi-year investment and financial plan will be upgraded in accordance with the new financial data from the planning documents under preparation.

Given that the COELA process has begun, Negotiating Group 27 is expected to prepare information in the coming period on questions to be submitted to them by the European Commission, which relate to the negotiating position for Chapter 27, but also an intensive period of transposing and implementing EU regulations.

NEW METHODOLOGY According to the EU’s new methodology, Chapter 27 will be classified in Cluster 4 – the Green Agenda and sustainable connectivity, together with Chapters 14, 15 and 21.

In anticipation of clear instructions on how the new methodology will influence the future process of negotiation in each of the chapters, and based on the recommendations provided in the European Commission’s Annual Progress Report, investment determinants in the Western Balkans economic and investment plan and the Sofia Declaration on the Green Agenda for the Western Balkans, Chapter 27 will determine priority activities in the period ahead, in order for progress to be made within the framework of this negotiating chapter.

The Declaration on the Green Agenda for the Western Balkans was adopted by the economies of the Western Balkans at the Sofia Summit of 10th November 2020.

Considering that the drafting of an action plan is expected in the period ahead, in order to enable the Regional Cooperation Council

and the European Commission to implement the Declaration, the Ministry of Environmental Protection has prepared an analysis of the goals contained in the Green Agenda, in order for Serbia to be fully prepared to contribute to that document in an adequate way.

OOPERATION WITH C DONORS Cooperating with donors on the process of harmonising standards in the environmental sector with those of Europe is very important and key to everything that has been achieved in the previous period, but also for the challenges that await us. Alongside the European Union, as one of the key donors, a significant role in this process is also played by the Government of the Kingdom of Sweden, which has directed its assistance to the environmental sector through several projects.

Two of these are crucial and provide the basis and foundation for the negotiation process and the application of defined measures to meet specific requirements and standards in the advancing of environmental protection.

The project “Preparations for negotiations in the process of the accession of the Republic of Serbia to the European Union, in the field of environmental protection 3” (Environment Accession Project 3; ENVAP 3), which is being financed by the Government of the Kingdom of Sweden, responds to the challenges confronting Serbia’s EU accession in the domain of environmental protection.The aim is to strengthen the capacity of the Ministry in the area of managing EU accession processes and to prepare effectively for, and participate in, EU accession negotiations under the framework of Chapter 27.

The second project that’s being financed the Swedish Government,

With the support of the IPA 2014 project, work is underway on the development of the Air Protection Programme with an associated action plan, the preparing of eight specific implementation plans (DSIPOV) for six directives and two regulations, five of which relate to the air protection sector, one to the INSPIRE directive and two specific implementation plans for regulations in the field of chemicals management “Environmental Infrastructure Support Programme, Phase 2” (EISP 2), aims to help and support the efforts of the Ministry in improving sub-sectoral policy, as well as its implementation via investment projects. The goal is to support the Ministry in developing the national policy, financial framework and its own capacities to manage and direct work on the list of priority projects and, of course, to do so in accordance with the national strategies and rules governing the use of EU funds. This

project also endeavours to define Chapter 27’s short-, medium- and long-term processes for financing and investing, which will result in the development of a list of priority projects. That list will be updated to represent the real situation on the ground and changes to national planning and negotiations.

Other projects funded by Sweden support the individual sectors assessed as being the most challenging, such as industrial pollution and issues related to the management of chemicals.

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INTERVIEW

KSENIJA KARIĆ, COUNTRY GENERAL MANAGER AT SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC SERBIA AND MONTENEGRO

SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC - WHEN IT COMES TO SUSTAINABILITY, WE NEED TO CHANGE THE WAY WE THINK

The Digital Era

HAS ARRIVED “The digital age is here and it's time to use its full potential”. This is how our conversation for CorD began with Ksenija Karić, Country General Manager at Schneider Electric Serbia and Montenegro, which was declared the world's most sustainable company by Corporate Knights, in competition against more than 8,000 other companies. decisions that add value in real time. “These are actually ‘smart factories’ that represent the industry of the future. One such factory is ours in the Bulgarian city of Plovdiv, where 65% of processes are automated and which has implemented systems for facility manage-

Ksenija Karić emphasises that “sustainability is an imperative of today’s business,” pointing out the need to embrace new technologies that are fully aligned with this goal

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chneider Electric has saved 120 million tons of CO2 emissions over the past 15 years, while providing approximately 30 million people worldwide with access to energy. And the company doesn’t plan to stop there, because its operations, as Karić explains, “are dependent on the decision to become carbon neutral by 2025, to stop emitting carbon dioxide by 2030, and to reach a net-zero supply chain by 2050”.

She emphasises that “sustainability is an imperative of today’s business,” pointing out the need to embrace new technologies that are fully aligned with this goal. They enable plants and processes to be optimised for efficiency and savings, utilising predictive technology and easy-to-understand analytics to make smart 22

ment and maintenance using the technology of augmented reality,” explains Karić.

The pandemic has massively accelerated automation processes that bring significant savings, but awareness of the use of renewable energy sources has not yet reached the level required to have an impact on climate change and reduce the carbon footprint.

Electricity accounts for 20 per cent of energy consumed, and that trend will double over the next 20 years.

“The potential of solar panels or wind farms in the production of electricity is, unfortunately, not exploited sufficiently,” says Karić, explaining that instability exists in providing sufficient amounts of energy, in terms of a lack of wind to power turbines, but that it is possible to control and optimise consumption with the help of smart devices. “The goal is to increase production from renewable sources, but also to make savings and become more energy efficient by digitalising

operations. These savings in consumption are not theoretical – they are very measurable, the implementation of one of our EcoStruxure solution is paying off after just a few years”.

Karić sees the first step towards the desired transition in the electrification of buildings and the decarbonisation of cities. Cities today contribute almost 70% of global CO₂ emissions and consume 78% of the planet’s energy, while the combining of efficient, fully electrified and digitalised distribution networks, distributed generation, energy storage and electro-mobility will help improve the system’s overall efficiency.

Digital retrofitting is the process of connecting all energy-consuming devices in one building, enabling them to communicate with each other. This means that they can be controlled automatically or with the help of artificial intelligence, for example by turning off heating, air conditioning or lights when a space is not in use, monitoring temperatures in a building and alerting maintenance services when adjustments or repairs are required. Such a system can exist at the level of a single apartment or a large complex of buildings, and today it can also use wireless technology. “Once this is done”, notes Karić, “the user generates savings”.

We cannot solve climate change without transforming our cities and buildings. This is a challenge, but at the same time it is a promising area for innovation, explains Karić, before concluding: “If we really want to behave responsibly, we cannot limit our activities to their current effect and the current moment. We must consider what kind of environment we are leaving behind for future generations.”

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TIJANA KOPRIVICA, CHIEF BUSINESS SUSTAINABILITY OFFICER, DELTA HOLDING

BUSINESS

Villages Are Becoming

GOOD PLACES TO LIVE Delta Holding has spent a full three decades setting world-class business standards, which imply protection for the environment, but also investing in local communities, and has won numerous awards for its huge contribution in the domain of sustainable development and for its CSR activities

Photo: Miodora Bozar

dealing with the management of packaging waste and consultants in the fields of the environment, chemicals and the transport of dangerous goods.

It performs these tasks for the members of Delta Holding, but also for external clients, and operates according to the principles of social responsibility and sustainable development, which are principles that it shares with its clients and business partners. Furthermore, in accordance with its mission, Delta Pak also implements a number of projects that aim to support the community in improving the area of the natural environment and raising environmental awareness.

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onsidering that Serbia is traditionally an agricultural country and that it has good conditions for cultivating fruits and vegetables and developing livestock and dairy cattle breeding, Delta is planning to extend its “Our Village”project.

Delta Holding’s business implies an emphasis on concern for the natural environment. Is this something you do in order to comply with binding legal norms?

Delta Holding has, for 30 years already, been introducing innovations to the market and setting world-class standards of doing business, which also imply protecting the environment.

We can state unequivocally that we respected environmental principles even before the adoption of legal provisions, and we always strive to ensure that our contribution to environmental protection exceeds legal norms.

Operating within the framework of Delta Holding is also the company Delta Pak. Can you tell us more about this enterprise?

Delta Pak provides services for operators

Your project “Naše selo” [Our Village] is unique not only in Serbia, but also further afield. What makes it specific, special and important?

We launched the “Our Village” project in 2018 with the goal of renewing villages in Serbia. The

We’ve renovated schools and improved social facilities and cultural contents in both of the villages near Zaječar that are included in the “Our Village” project project includes 40 farmsteads from two villages in the vicinity of Zaječar, for which we’ve devised a development plan and organised numerous professional lectures and visits to Delta Agrar’s farms and estates. We’ve also secured loans from Erste Bank for investment, on which Delta Agrar is paying interest, while support has also been provided to young parents, with the Delta Foundation providing a donation of 100,000 dinars for newborn children and Erste Bank opening savings accounts with an initial deposited amount of 250 euros. We’ve renovated schools and improved

social facilities and cultural contents in both villages. This project is very important because it has the long-term goal of elevating Serbian villages to the level of modern European villages and prompting the repatriation of inhabitants who’ve emigrated. That’s why we plan for the extension of the project to include more villages.

Do you think the development of agriculture and the renewal of villages could contribute to accelerating Serbia’s economic growth?

I’m certain that the development of agriculture and the renewal of villages would contribute to the faster development of our country. Serbia is traditionally an agricultural country and that it has goodconditionsforcultivatingfruitsandvegetables and developing livestock and dairy cattle breeding.

With the transferring of modern knowhow, we ensure that small producers achieve products of export quality and generate higher earnings for themselves and their families, which also benefits the residents of villages and the state of Serbia.

Delta Holding has received a large number of awards for its contributions in the area of sustainable development and for its CSR activities. Which of those awards make you particularly proud?

All the awards that we’ve won are important to us and represent great recognition for our contribution to the sustainable development of communities. Among the awards that are dearest to me are the three consecutive SAM [Serbian Association of Managers] awards for socially responsible company of the year, the Virtus Award for contributions at the national level, as well as the national award of the Serbian Chamber of Commerce & Industry for socially responsible operations.

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INTERVIEW

FILIP ABRAMOVIĆ, ASSISTANT MINISTER OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, DEPARTMENT OF WASTE AND WASTEWATER MANAGEMENT

Commited To Fulfilling

AMBITIOUS PLANS The Ministry of Environmental Protection has identified – in addition to air pollution – proper waste management and resolving the improvement of wastewater collection and treatment systems as priority areas and the biggest problems confronting the environment

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he systemic resolving of these issues is crucial for Serbia, as it represents an investment in the future of all of us and our environment.

Resolving these issues begins with the adopting and applying of the best legislative regulations and proven technological solutions, which is one of the basic jobs being dealt with by the Ministry of Environmental Protection. Minister Irena Vujović has noted repeatedly that, since she took over the ministry, we have been committed to this work than ever before, both when it comes to waste management and wastewater treatment, but also when it comes to the wider area of protecting water from pollution generally.

EGIONAL WASTE R MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS When it comes to waste, one of the key directions in the proper management of waste is the establishment of modern regional systems for waste management in those parts of the country envisaged in the Strategy of Waste Management. The Ministry of Environmental Protection plays an active role in the implementation of this work – not only in the legislative domain, but also in the segment

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of implementation. We started this work by preparing all essential documentation for the constructing of regional waste management systems, which also implies securing a financial package for the actual construction of eight new regional centres that will, according to the plan, start being built in 2021.

These centres satisfy the highest national and international criteria in the field of waste management and environmental protection, and their use will bring an end to negative waste disposal practises, whilst ensuring the proper treatment of waste and its more widespread use as a resource.

The Ministry of Environmental Protection finances and assists units of local self-government in preparing projects for the remediation of old, unsanitary municipal and city dumps/landfill sites. We also support cities and municipalities when it comes to financing or co-financing works on the actual closure and remediation of landfill sites, where we should emphasise in particular dumps in Čačak, Kraljevo, Trstenik and Prijepolje. Work has already begun at these landfill sites, some of which are already at an advanced stage of preparations for closure and reclamation.

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RANSFER STATIONS AND T RECYCLING It is also important to mention the design and construction of transfer stations [or resource recovery centres] for local governments, in order to ensure the proper treatment of waste. Using such stations will enable local governments to bring an end to the dumping of waste at old, unsanitary dumps, because they will be able to adequately and economically justify the transporting of such waste to sanitary landfill facilities and new regional centres that treat waste in an appropriate way. Distinguishing themselves in that role in particular are, for example, the transfer stations in NovaVaroš, Knjaževac and Požega.

Viewed over the long term, the goal of the Ministry is for there to be modern waste treatment and recycling centres regionally, but also in every city and municipality, as well as developed systems for waste collection and separation for all citizens. The goal is to create such a system that ensures not a single gram of waste ends up dumped in the natural environment, rather that waste is treated in accordance with the highest world standards and reused.

Another major topics in Serbian is the management of hazardous waste. Representing one of the Ministry of Environmental Protection’s extremely important projects in 2021 is the removal of hazardous historical waste and hazardous waste dumped inadequately in the natural environment.

E’RE SOLVING W THE PROBLEM OF WASTEWATER The Ministry’s activities are also aimed, in the same way and with full focus, at resolving the problem of wastewater, by expanding the collection system

and building wastewater treatment plants.

The Ministry has also done great work on identifying and analysing the current situation and establishing priorities in the area of wastewater. We can state with pride that we’ve managed to prepare and financially support the preparation of complete project documentation for, or in coordination with, more than 30 units of local self-government, and then also to prepare for the implementation of these projects on the ground.

With the securing of a financing package from the Development Bank of the Council of Europe, the Ministry has also provided the necessary funds for the construction of treatment plants in the municipalities and cities where preparation works have been done, which are planned for construction in 2021. The construction of wastewater treatment plants will represent a revolutionary result in the domain of environmental protection. And this is especially so if we consider that our goal is not only to build plants for the existing network, but also to construct a parallel sewerage network. The objective is to bring sewage connections to every user in the cities and municipalities where these plants are being built, and for all wastewater to be treated.

LONG-TERM PLAN Our plans are ambitious, but we have no intention of stopping there. The design, preparation and construction of these systems will represent an enduring activity and long-term plan of the Ministry in the period ahead, and will remain so until the completion of the process of developing systems for collecting and treating wastewater in all cities and municipalities in Serbia.

The construction of wastewater treatment plants will represent a revolutionary result in the domain of environmental protection. And this is especially so if we consider that our goal is not only to build plants for the existing network, but also to construct a parallel sewerage network The activities mentioned herein represent a great challenge, because most of this infrastructure is being introduced to Serbia for the first time, and multidisciplinary factors, as well as many technical, legal and operational issues, exist for each of them. However, with an awareness of the importance of the work we do, both for the state

and society, but also for the health of our environment and all of us, we are ready to exert continuous efforts to conclude this great job as soon as possible. Our goal is to successfully implement the aforementioned plans as soon as possible, and to resolve all problems – as we’ve done to date – with maximum efficiency and professionalism.

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INTERVIEW

DEJAN FURJANOVIĆ, ASSISTANT MINISTER OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, SECTOR FOR SUPERVISION AND PREVENTATIVE ACTION IN THE ENVIRONMENT

Preventative Approach For More

EFFICIENT APPLICATION The prevention and control of environmental pollution, protection against pollution for natural resources, land and water, waste management and protection against chemical accidents at Seveso plants, analysis, risk management and preventative action, as well as adapting the work of environmental protection inspections at all levels in the Republic of Serbia to the requirements of the European Union, are just some of the tasks being dealt with by the Sector for Supervision and Preventative Action in the Environment

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hThe activities of inspections are not primarily aimed at punishing offenders, but rather also impy the educating of all stakeholders, especially companies, with the aim of preventing violations of regulations. During the last year alone, the Environmental Protection Inspectorate and the Fisheries Inspectorate acted preventatively and performed 55 preventive inspections. The educative and preventive approach taken during the first regular inspection controls of companies helps to achieve more efficient application of legal regulations. The entities under supervision are made particularly aware of the competencies of inspectorates regarding environmental protection at the municipal, city, provincial and national levels, as well as to their obligations related to the application of the provisions of current legal regulations. The preventative action of inspectorates is achieved partly through informing the public about the work inspections, by publishing the Inspection Oversight Plan

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and checklists from various areas of environmental protection and fisheries. Inspectorates also conduct official advisory visits, with the aim of implementing preventative measures and other activities aimed at encouraging and supporting the legality and safety of operations, as well as actions to prevent occurrences of harmful consequences for the environment.

Official advisory visits are conducted on the basis of requests from supervised entities to operators seeking certain clarifications regarding environmental protection and their obligations in this area. The role of the inspectorates, in accordance with the annual plan and at the request of enterprises, is to provide timely and detailed information to supervised companies regarding the application of provisions of the Law on the Protection of Nature and by-laws adopted on the basis of this law. Preventative inspections, as well as official advisory visits, are also performed with managers of protected areas and operators dealing with trade in protected plant and animal species, all with the aim of determining the legality of operations.

HE CHALLENGE OF T PRESERVING NATURE AND PROTECTED AREAS The COVID-19 pandemic led to a large number of citizens seeking their peace and “salvation from the virus” in the naturally beautiful and protected areas of the Republic of Serbia. The unconscionable behaviour of tourists in protected areas, as well as in fishing areas where it is possible to disturb natural flows, often leads to the endangering of the environment. Such situations represent a challenge to implementing obligations that

The unconscionable behaviour of tourists in protected areas, as well as in fishing areas where it is possible to disturb natural flows, often leads to the endangering of the environment arise from the legal regulations of the warden service of protected area managers, users of fisheries areas, but also the inspectorates for environmental protection and fisheries. Through the joint actions of all actors in the protection and preservation of nature and habitats of plant and animal species, the previous period has seen the preventing of possible broader negative consequences of the human presence in protected areas, which could have developed into a greater danger for both citizens and the economy. One danger is certainly the possibility of forest fires caused by the uncontrolled lighting of campfires on the territory of forest complexes, which can have unforeseeable ramifications for biodiversity. In that sense, we can cite good examples from the practise of preventative actions of the competent services aimed at protecting and improving natural resources

in the form of the organised and joint actions of inspection bodies and services. Representing an additional problem is municipal waste and refuse dump by tourists in protected areas after their visits and the “consumption of nature”. Although this may be a matter of personal upbringing and the culture of living, it is still necessary to raise the awareness of individuals in order for them to treat nature more responsibly.

This anomaly can boil down to a reasonable measure of preventative action, but also permanent education with a more rigorous penal policy. Competent institutions also have a legal obligation to monitor the state of nature, such as the Institute for Nature Conservation of Serbia, which as a professional organisation that performs activities related to the conservation of nature in accordance with positive legal regulations. The activities of this Institute relate, in particular,

to monitoring the status and assessing levels of nature conservation and the level of threat posed to wild species and their habitats, ecological corridors, keeping records on methods and volumes of use, as well as factors that endanger protected and strictly protected wild species, in order to confirm and monitor the state of their populations.

It is important to continue comprehensive work and activities on raising the awareness of citizens and the responsibility of companies to preserve a healthy environment. That is an obligation of every individual and society as a whole, while the primary task of inspection bodies is to use a preventative approach, and then the application of punitive measures, to influence adherence to legal regulations, because it is only in this way that we can preserve nature and ensure a healthy environment for future generations.

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BY URSULA VON DER LEYEN, PRESIDENT OF THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION AND WERNER HOYER, PRESIDENT OF THE EUROPEAN INVESTMENT BANK/ PROJECT SYNDICATE

A Global

GREEN DEAL

By strengthening its emissions-reduction targets and investing heavily in clean energy, greentech, and research and development, the European Union has positioned itself as a global climate leader. It now must continue to lead by example while also doing more to help others achieve their climate ambitions

I

n Europe, we have heard the warnings about climate change. We know that if our industrial, energy, transportation, and food systems do not change, we could face a catastrophic temperature increase of more than 3°C this century.

As we approached the end of 2020 – Europe’s hottest year on record – we in the European Union made a collective decision to reduce our greenhouse-gas (GHG) emissions by at least 55% from 1990 levels by 2030. The European Commission now is following through on this commitment with concrete policy changes, and the European Investment Bank is backing the effort with its financial power.

The current decade is a make-or-break moment for our planet. To confront the im30

mediate challenges that lie ahead, our two organizations have convening governments, international institutions, and investors on March 24, 2021, for a landmark event: “Investing in Climate Action.”

The event brought world leaders together to share their plans for implementing the necessary policies at home and ensuring international coordination. And it sought to help investors and business leaders to improve their understanding of the policy environment in which they will operate for at least the next decade.

Climate action requires far-reaching structural change and tremendous levels of investment around the world. In Europe alone, meeting the new 2030 emissions-reduction target will require an estimated €350 billion

($417 billion) of additional investment annually. However, this figure pales in comparison to the costs of doing nothing.

To tackle the investment challenge, the EIB, the world’s largest multilateral lender, has become the EU Climate Bank, aligning all of its activities with the objectives outlined in the Paris agreement. Among other things, the EIB has committed to supporting €1 trillion of investments in climate action and environmental sustainability in the next decade.

But funding alone won’t get us to where we need to go. We also need a roadmap, which is why the European Commission introduced the European Green Deal in December 2019. As Europe’s new growth strategy, it aims to transform the EU into a fairer, more prosperous society by guiding

GREEN SERBIA 2021

representing half of the world’s GHG emissions have adopted “net-zero” targets, and others will surely follow. They will all need European technology and investment to get there. Clean hydrogen, offshore renewable energy, and energy storage solutions all can become vibrant EU export sectors.

Finally, we need to embrace the idea of a “circular economy.” As matters stand, we are taking more out of our planet than it can afford to give us, and the effects of this overreach will become increasingly dramatic and destructive with each passing year. We

To keep the increase in global temperature as close to 1.5°C as possible, we must support decarbonization efforts beyond our borders. That is why we need a Global Green Deal

the transition to a more resource-efficient, competitive economy. Ultimately, the goal is to achieve net-zero GHG emissions by 2050.

The EU, however, represents less than 10% of global emissions, so European action alone will not be enough to slow global warming. To keep the increase in global temperature as close to 1.5°C as possible, we must support decarbonization efforts beyond our borders.

That is why we need a Global Green Deal.

To this end, we have set ourselves three investment priorities. First, we need to ensure that the most advanced clean technologies are embraced everywhere. Despite good progress on renewable-energy deployment, 40% of the world’s electricity is still generated by coal, the dirtiest energy source. With economic development comes higher demand for electricity, and thus a

responsibility to adopt greentech solutions and plug the world into clean grids.

Europe is ready to invest in everything from green electrification programs in Africa and industrial decarbonization projects in Asia to battery deployment in Latin America.

And we have climate-adaptation expertise to share, along with flood-control technologies, advanced weather forecasting tools, and resilient infrastructure. With both the financial means and the knowledge to support climate-adaptation efforts, the EIB will use its resources to leverage more privatesector investments in this critical area.

Our second priority is to invest in breakthrough green technologies like never before. Such research and development is both necessary and an enormous market opportunity. Already, a group of countries

must urgently reduce the environmental and carbon footprint of the goods we consume.

To do so, we need to invest in circular technologies that reuse resources, rather than constantly producing or importing new goods and extracting ever more raw materials. The circular economy has huge potential not only to reduce our dependency on scarce resources, but also to create jobs.

As Europe continues to show, the Green Deal is not just an environmental policy; it is an economic and geopolitical necessity.

Five years ago, 196 countries came together and signed the Paris agreement, committing to keep the average global temperature within 2°C – but preferably 1.5°C – of its pre-industrial level. So far, this commitment has yet to be matched by sufficient action. It is time to raise our ambitions and accelerate progress. That was our message to the world at “Investing in Climate Action” on March 24.

We all must come together – not just governments but also businesses, cities, financial institutions, and civil society – to confront the climate challenge. Europe has the tools, the skills, and the knowledge to lead by example. We must translate our climatepolicy leadership into market leadership to secure a Global Green Deal.

Let’s get to work.

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NEWS

Serbia Striding

TOWARDS THE EU Serbia allocates unacceptably low levels of funding for environmental protection, which is why it is lagging far behind the rest of the world. In the coming years, most money should be invested in establishing environmental standards in the areas of water management, landfill site maintenance and waste management, but also in finding solutions for polluted air.

Fortunately, socially responsible companies, international institutions and organisations, the nongovernmental sector, the governments of EU member states and others are coming to the rescue in areas that the state doesn't manage to reach.

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LAW ON CLIMATE CHANGE ADOPTED

Members of the Serbian National Assembly adopted the Law on Climate Change in mid-March, which Environmental Protection Minister Irena Vujović says represents the first step in a decisive fight against climate change.

“Climate change is a global problem that unites us all, and that’s why the Republic of Serbia is continuing to provide its contribution to this global struggle with the adopting of this umbrella law, while at the same time confirming its responsibility towards our citizens. When it comes to climate change, Serbia has shown that it is striding determinedly towards the European Union. One of the priorities of the Green Agenda is the adoption of a European climate law, and the European Commission has adopted a legislative proposal for this law. With the adopting of this law, Serbia confirms that it is on the road to Europe,” said Vujović.

ADDITIONAL CONTAINERS FOR GLASS PACKAGING

Following last December’s start of the arrival of 1,000 recycling containers for glass packaging in the region, the project “Management of Glass Packaging in the Western Balkans” has been expanded to encompass eight more municipalities. Alongside Sombor, Niš, Bihać, Novi Travnik, Shtip and Ilinden, these containers will also be distributed in Kragujevac, Varvarin, Konjic, Ilidža, Skopje, Bitola, Gevgelija and Tetovo.

Launched by GIZ - the German Organisation for International Cooperation, in cooperation with companies Sekopak, Pakomak and Ekopak, one of the main goals of this project is to increase the amount of glass packaging collected in these municipalities by 20% and achieve profitability in glass recycling. With the financial support of Apatin Brewery and German development cooperation, worth a total of 300,000 euros, Sekopak and NALED will allocate 300 recycling containers for Niš, 150 for Sombor and 120 for Kragujevac, while the citizens of Varvarin will have 30 such containers at their disposal.

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JUST SIX WATER INSPECTORS NATIONWIDE

Strengthening the capacity of inspections is essential, because there aren’t even local environmental protection inspectors in small communities, while the lack of national inspectors raises a question about the extent to which they can protect the health of citizens.

“This year we expect the hiring of 28 new national inspectors, because the problem of communal and industrial waters that are discharged without prior treatment and represent the main polluters of water surfaces is currently taken care of by a total of just six national inspectors across the entire country. And given that this increase still won’t resolve all the problems, competencies should be transferred from national to local inspectors, at least conditionally, in cities and municipalities where there are enough inspectors and funding for their work,” says Olivera Kikanović of the Network of Inspectors of Serbia (MINS). ŠABAC WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT REPRESENTS GOOD PRACTICE EXAMPLE

Under the auspices of the reform campaign “Month of Water”, which was launched by the 3e Association and the Network of Inspectors of Serbia (MINS), together with NALED, representatives of the association visited the wastewater treatment plant in Šabac in order to familiarise themselves with the system’s working model and share examples of good practice with interested local governments.

The Šabac plant is actually an example of good practice that can also be applied in other cities and municipalities. It demonstrates how a local government can also help the local economy with its investments.

Instead of having to construct entire systems for the treatment of wastewater, companies from Šabac and the surrounding area can now merely install pre-treatments for wastewater, which reduces the costs of investment markedly.

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BELGRADERS TO PAY FOR TRANSPORT WITH PET PACKAGING

According to the tender to operate and maintain the system for charging tickets and managing vehicles in Belgrade’s public transport sector, which was announced by the City of Belgrade at the beginning of the year, the plan is to introduce a recycling machine that will enable users to receive discounts on public transport in exchange for waste deposited.

“We are launching a completely new system of recycling, or waste separation, in the city. We are creating 17 recycling yards and will install automated collection machines throughout the city, where citizens will be able to insert PET packaging. Instead of receiving money in return for that packaging, they will be able to press a card against the machine and receive money that they will be able to use for public transport services or some other discounts,” said Deputy Mayor of Belgrade Goran Vesić.

KONRAD ADENAUER FOUNDATION TO HELP SERBIA WITH GREEN AGENDA

Serbian Environmental Protection Minister Irena Vujović has held discussions with Norbert Beckmann- Dierkes, director of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation in Serbia, on cooperation and joint action aimed at raising awareness of the number one topic in Europe : the European Green Deal and the Green Agenda for the Western Balkans.

According to Minister Vujović, cooperation was agreed with the Konrad Adenauer Foundation and is reflected in the provision of support on the implementation of key aspects of the Green Agenda and exchanges of experience and the knowhow of German experts in the fields of waste management, wastewater and air quality, as well as on the preparation of projects that will be jointly implemented by the Ministry of Environmental Protection and the Konrad Adenauer foundation.

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MINISTRY OF CONSTRUCTION TRANSPORT AND INFRASTRUCTURE

CONSTRUCTION, TRANSPORT AND INFRASTRUCTURE 2021

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CONSTRUCTION, TRANSPORT AND INFRASTRUCTURE 2021

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CONSTRUCTION, TRANSPORT AND INFRASTRUCTURE 2021

CONTENTS

FOR 06 UNSTOPPABLE GOOD

OF EVERY 22 PROUD METRE OF ROADWAYS

BEAT THE 10 BUILDERS VIRUS

BEACON OF THE 23 ROADWORKS INDUSTRY

COMMENT

TOMISLAV MOMIROVIĆ, MINISTER OF CONSTRUCTION, TRANSPORT AND INFRASTRUCTURE

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PEOPLE FORM THE HEART OF THIS COMPANY

DENIS MILENOVIĆ, BRANCH DIRECTOR AT PUT INŽENJERING

STOJAN RANGELOV, DIRECTOR OF PUTEVI IVANJICA

NENAD TOMIĆ, DIRECTOR OF THE HIGHWAY INSTITUTE

WE HAVE BOTH 26 VISION AND IMPLEMENTATION

VELJKO KOVACEVIĆ, ASSISTANT MINISTER IN CHARGE OF WATER TRANSPORT & NAVIGATION SAFETY

REVIVED BY TRANSFORMATION 28 PORTS 36 STRONG ECONOMY IN THE TIME OF PANDEMICS VUK PEROVIĆ, DIRECTOR OF THE PORT GOVERNANCE AGENCY

NIKOLA MALBAŠA, GENERAL MANAGER OF CONSTRUCTION COMPANY JADRAN

CONSTRUCTION 29 PORT EXPERTS BUILDINGS 40 GREEN FOR GREEN LIVES UNVEILING THE NETWORK OF 32 REPUBLIC OF SERBIA’S 42 COOPERATION AND NEW SPATIAL PLAN DEVELOPMENT EHTING

ĐORĐE MILIĆ, ASSISTANT MINISTER FOR SPATIAL PLANNING AND URBANISM

COMPANY FOR THE 34 NEW MILLENNIUM HIGH STANDARDS FIRST & FOREMOST

MILLENNIUM TEAM DOO

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ANITA DIMOSKI, ACTING ASSISTANT MINISTER FOR RAILWAYS & INTERMODAL TRANSPORT

CLEAN 48 DRIVERLESS, AND EQUITABLE FUTURE OF TRANSPORTATION

BEGINNING OF A NEW 20 THE JOURNEY FOR BELGRADE AIRPORT

IS A HUGE 50 SERBIA CONSTRUCTION SITEE

FRANÇOIS BERISOT, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, BELGRADE AIRPORT

ART DIRECTOR Branislav Ninković b.ninkovic@aim.rs

PROJECT MANAGERS Biljana Dević b.devic@aim.rs Vesna Vukajlović v.vukajlovic@aim.rs Mihailo Čučković m.cuckovic@aim.rs

PHOTOS Zoran Petrović

OFFICE MANAGER Svetlana Petrović s.petrovic@aim.rs

COPY EDITOR Mark Pullen mrpeditorial@mail.com

EDITORIAL MANAGER Neda Lukić n.lukic@aim.rs

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MORE EFFICIENT, 46 FASTER AND SIMPLER PROCEDURES ALEKSANDRA DAMJANOVIĆ, STATE SECRETARY

CORRIDORS ARE KEY TO REVIVING PASSENGER AND CARGO TRAFFIC

EDITOR IN CHIEF Ana Novčić a.novcic@aim.rs a.novcic@cordmagazine.com

BILJANA VUKSANOVIĆ, SECRETARY OF STATE AT THE MINISTRY OF CONSTRUCTION, TRANSPORT AND INFRASTRUCTURE

NEWS

FINANCE Dragana Skrobonja finance@aim.rs GENERAL MANAGER Maja Vidaković m.vidakovic@aim.rs PUBLISHER Ivan Novčić i.novcic@aim.rs DIRECTOR Ana Novčić

a.novcic@aim.rs a.novcic@cordmagazine.com PRINTING Rotografika d.o.o.

Segedinski put 72, Subotica CONSTRUCTION, TRANSPORT AND INFRASTRUCTURE 2021 Published by: alliance international media Prote Mateje 52, 11111 Belgrade 17, PAK 126909, Serbia

Phone: +(381 11) 2450 508 Fascimile: +(381 11) 2450 122 E-mail: office@aim.rs; office@cordmagazine.com www.aim.rs; www.cordmagazine.com No 26 ISSN: 2560-4465 All rights reserved alliance international media 2021 The views expressed in this publication are those

of the presenter; they do not necessary reflect the view of publications published by alliance international media THIS PUBLICATION IS FREE OF CHARGE

CONSTRUCTION, TRANSPORT AND INFRASTRUCTURE 2021

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CONSTRUCTION, TRANSPORT AND INFRASTRUCTURE 2021

COMMENT

Unstoppable

FOR GOOD Unlike many other sectors, which were crippled by the pandemic, the construction sector proved unstoppable, including when it comes to major infrastructure works on transport corridors, due to the dedication of workers, good organisation and the interest of investors in respecting deadlines, with the exceptions of minor challenges. Apart from contributing strongly to GDP growth, the works being implemented on major roads and railway lines along trans-European corridors are also paving the way to future progress.

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erbia is one of the countries that has a key position on the map of transEuropean transport corridors and is the only non-EU members country – besides Switzerland and Norway – to be included as part of the so-called network of European Rail Freight Corridors. While this was an underexploited privilege for a long time, the tremendous work put into this large endeavour is now bearing fruit. Serbia is increasingly approaching its ultimate goal of full inclusion in the trade flows of Europe.

This will, in turn, bring more investments and underpin regional development. This is important to underline today, when many believe that Serbia could benefit from the trend of global value chains looking to relocate their operations closer to home. Good infrastructure and ease of transportation will be of the utmost importance in decision making.

Serbia has understood well from the very start that the story doesn’t end with the completion of Corridor X, but rather every development story has to take into account the bigger picture that encompasses the development of transport infrastructure both within the country and throughout the Western Balkan region.

Indeed, as we have witnessed, with better roads, and better infrastructure in general, the basic preconditions have been set for the arrival of major investments, not only in Belgrade or Novi Sad, but also in smaller cities like Pirot, Leskovac, Kruševac, Kraljevo and others.

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Massive works, such as those on major road and rail corridors, take a long time, but also bare fruit over the long term. Serbia will soon be ready for its full inclusion in European trade flows, which will bring more investments and underpin regional development The Moravian Corridor, the Fruška Gora Corridor, the highway connecting Serbia with Bosnia-Herzegovina, the planned Vožd Karađorđe Highway, as well as numerous works on the reconstruction of regional roads, are also either in the pipeline or envisaged. All these projects will eventually lead to the full utilisation of the country’s transit capacity.

And, more importantly, they will establish the framework for economic growth in the future.

Roads are indeed only one part of the story. A well-developed railway network, modern ports and intermodal terminals are also needed if Serbia is to enable its economy to produce and export efficiently.

The most important project is undoubtedly the reconstruction of the aforementioned railway branch of Corridor X, extending from

the Hungarian border all the way to the border with North Macedonia. However, there are also other important railway routes, such as those from Niš to Zaječar, Bor and Prahovo, which are important from the aspect of the further development of industry. And important progress has also been achieved here, despite the pandemic.

Furthermore, Serbia’s real estate sector also performed well in 2020. According to the insights of the Ministry of Construction, Transport and Infrastructure, the construction of residential and commercial properties is also experiencing an upward trend. It is therefore safe to say that foreign investors are demonstrating their expectation that Serbia will continue to represent an attractive market after the pandemic has abated.

Gradient d.o.o., Belgrade Address: Vuka Vrčevića bb Tel: +381 11 3295 811 | Fax: +381 11 3295 814 office@gradient.rs | www.gradient.rs

CONSTRUCTION, TRANSPORT AND INFRASTRUCTURE 2021

GRADIENT – YOUR PARTNER FOR CONCRETE Gradient is a renowned concrete producer and presents on the market since 2008. It participated in a large number of big infrastructural and residential projects but also in smaller projects as well, in Belgrade and all around Serbia.

The company’s main activities are: Production and distribution of fresh concrete Providing services of transport and pumping of concrete, Production and transport of natural river aggregates, a mixture of crushed stone river aggregate 0-31mm with an annual capacity of 700.000 t.

Gradient is very experienced in the production of high quality and most versatile types of concrete (compressive strength of up to 100 MPa) and owns a well-equipped laboratory which is under the patronage of the Institute for Testing Materials of Serbia (IMS) for many years.

We offer services of transport and pumping of concrete 00-24h.

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CONSTRUCTION, TRANSPORT AND INFRASTRUCTURE 2021

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CONSTRUCTION, TRANSPORT AND INFRASTRUCTURE 2021

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CONSTRUCTION, TRANSPORT AND INFRASTRUCTURE 2021

INTERVIEW

TOMISLAV MOMIROVIĆ, MINISTER OF CONSTRUCTION, TRANSPORT AND INFRASTRUCTURE

Builders

BEAT THE VIRUS I believe the construction sector will prove decisive in ensuring good GDP results at the end of this year, because it's working wonderfully even under these conditions. I'm proud of the implementation of current projects, from the Belgrade airport, where VINCI is investing more than 700 million euros in its expansion, to the launch of the mass project to construct and renovate communal infrastructure and the start of construction of the metro rail system.

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I’m convinced that Serbia will emerge from this crisis stronger and more prepared for all future challenges,” says Construction, Transport and Infrastructure Minister Tomislav Momirović. Work is continuing unabated in the construction sector, despite the pandemic, and there’s no doubt that this sector will represent one of the drivers of GDP growth. In addition to major works that have already started, the launch of construction of the Belgrade metro rail system, which has been the dream of every construction minister for decades, has been announced for the end of 2021. “The Ministry of Construction, Transport and Infrastructure will provide all the essential assistance needed to ensure the unhindered implementation of each segment of the Belgrade Metro, which is one of the most complex infrastructure projects in Serbia and the region,” says Minister Momirović, who expects works to commence towards the end of this year.

Until then, plenty of hard work will be underway on many construction sites and, judging by the Minister’s announcements, there will be no idling throughout the remainder of the year.

How’s the situation on the major construction sites in Serbia today, and will the situation be any easier in 2021, considering the prolonged threat of COVID-19?

The situation on the largest infrastructure projects in Serbia, as well as the smaller

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PRIORITIES

PROGRESS

EMPLOYMENT

The priorities for this year are the completion of the high-speed railway to Novi Sad, the largest part of the Belgrade Bypass and the highway to Požega

Serbia is a country of cranes, and the upward trend has continued when it comes to the construction of residential and business space

From engineers to tilers, you'll struggle to find a person linked to construction in Serbia who's currently without a job

ones, is more than satisfactory, and I’m very proud of the fact that their implementation has not stopped for a single day, despite great challenges. It is difficult to predict what 2021 will be like, because we have yet to declare a final victory against the virus, but I’m sure of one thing – works will not be interrupted, because we promised that to the citizens of Serbia and because we must create a more beautiful and modern state.

According to the analysis of your Ministry, how has the construction sector traversed the crisis to date, when it comes to the implementation of works and the number of employed people?

The implementation of works is at a very high level, as are plans for some new projects. Construction in Serbia is experiencing a boom and I don’t think anyone’s currently unemployed in that sector. From engineers to tilers, you’ll struggle to find a person linked to construction in Serbia who’s currently without a job. We haven’t recorded departures of foreign investors, the entire sector is very optimistic and, with the launch of massive infrastructure projects, I think the construction sector will prove decisive in ensuring good GDP results at the end of this year.

Which of the government’s measures from the assistance packages to date have been the most important for the departments that you head?

Alongside the two assistance packages for citizens and enterprises last year, the Government of Serbia has decided, due to the continuation of the crisis caused by the pandemic, to distribute a new assistance package this year. The new package of measures includes, among other things, the payment of three times half the minimum salary for micro, small, medium-sized and large enterprises. In the transport department, we have earmarked 600 euros of assistance per bus for the bus/coach transport

The Belgrade metro is a dream that has been dreamt for generations. We have an incredible honour, but also the responsibility to start works during our mandate, and I’m sure that everyone – from the City of Belgrade, the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Construction, Transport and Infrastructure – will give their all during implementation

sector. Generally speaking, the construction department is working wonderfully even under these conditions and I’m proud of the implementation of projects, from the project to expand the Belgrade airport, where VINCI is investing more than 700 million euros, to the launch of the mass project to construct and renovate communal infrastructure.

If we were to compile a calendar of the most important objectives when it comes to the building of road corridors, what would it look like?

The priorities for this year are more than clear: completion of the high-speed railway to Novi Sad, the largest part of 11

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prepared for all future challenges.

The developed countries of Western Europe are increasingly deciding to up the prices of road tolls for vehicles that emit more exhaust fumes. Is your Ministry considering such a measure?

The price of road tolls in Serbia is determined on the basis of the amount of kilometres travelled and that will remain the case. I’m clear on the “ecological” side of this issue and I believe we all want Serbia to be cleaner, but economic conditions, the level of social development and the state of the economy don’t allow the introduction of similar measures for the time being.

the Belgrade Bypass and the highway to Požega. Alongside these three projects, we have clearly charted objectives for each of the large projects and are in constant control and communication with contractors, supervisors, local governments, to ensure there are no delays.

We’ve heard that there’s hope that the railway to Novi Sad will be completed by the end of 2021. What about the rest of this section in Serbia? How are plans on the Hungarian side?

Implementation of the other part of the high-speed railway project, from Novi Sad to Subotica, will be launched next year.

Our Chinese partners have given us assurances and I’m convinced, on the basis of our positive experiences to date, that they will complete the work within the deadlines set.

When it comes to our Hungarian partners, the Chinese Eximbank has signed an agreement regarding the financing of their share, and there are thus no financial obstacles to investment and the project’s realisation.

How has COVID-19 impacted on revenues from road, rail and water transport?

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It is difficult to predict what 2021 will be like, because we have yet to declare a final victory against the virus, but I’m sure of one thing – works will not be interrupted, because we promised that to the citizens of Serbia and because we must create a more beautiful and modern state What measures are available for the ministry to respond in each of these cases?

This crisis caused by the pandemic has hit the whole world and the transport sector is experiencing a major crisis lobally. The state has set aside for all companies in Serbia, as well as for citizens, financial assistance the likes of which even developed European countries weren’t able to provide for their companies. We are carefully monitoring the development of the crisis, the situation with vaccination and global movements of capital, and I’m convinced Serbia will emerge from this crisis stronger and more

The construction of office space was in full swing in the previous period. What is the situation like in this sector now, and what does that indicate when it comes to foreign investments in this area?

Serbia is a country of cranes, and the upward trend has continued when it comes to the construction of residential and business space.

We have witnessed that foreign investors haven’t withdrawn, but rather have continued their operations, believing in the future of the Serbian market and its capacities.

One major job that has yet to be developed is the construction of a metro rail system in Belgrade. What is it realistic to expect on this front in 2021?

We have an incredible honour, but also the responsibility to start works during our mandate, and I’m sure that everyone – from the City of Belgrade, the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Construction, Transport and Infrastructure – will give their all during implementation. The Belgrade metro is a dream that has been dreamt for generations. The Ministry of Construction, Transport and Infrastructure will provide all the essential assistance needed to ensure the unhindered implementation of each segment of the Belgrade Metro, which is one of the most complex infrastructure projects in Serbia and the region. Construction will commence at the end of this year on Makiško polje, or in November, and we’ll start constructing the first line very soon after that, and after that, in 2022, we’ll start constructing the second line.

CONSTRUCTION, TRANSPORT AND INFRASTRUCTURE 2021

DENIS MILENOVIĆ, BRANCH DIRECTOR AT PUT INŽENJERING

INTERVIEW

People Form The Heart Of

THIS COMPANY

Put Inženjering emerged from its beginnings as a small company specialising in the transport of goods, while its core business was the construction of roads. Within the company today are several sectors: production of crushed stone and ready mix concrete, ground works, hydro construction and precast concrete construction as a small company specialising in the transport of goods. The core activity was initially the construction of roads, hence the name of the company [Road Engineering]. The company’s development journey has been long and difficult, but always with a clear goal. There are several sectors in the company today: production of crushed stone and ready mix concrete, ground works, hydro construction and precast concrete construction. The construction sector, under the MOBECO brand, represents our greatest success, while our three production plants – in Niš, Nova Pazova and Krško (Slovenia) – make us the absolute leader in the region, with annual production of 300,000 - 400,000 sqm.

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e are proud of the launching a new line for the production of double walls and Omnia ceilings for residential and commercial buildings. Production on this line is planned to start in the first half of this year at our Nova Pazova plant - announces Put Inženjering Branch Director Denis Milenović, speaking in this interview for CorD Magazine.

When you celebrate 30 years of your company’s existence next year, what will you be particularly proud of, apart from your position as a market leader?

Alongside our state-of-the-art technology for the production of prefabricated concrete elements, the latest equipment, machinery, vehicles and tools, the number of completed projects and the years that we’ve been present on the market, we will be most proud of our team of people, who form the heart of Put inženjering as a company.

Put Inženjering emerged from its beginnings

It is very important to monitor technological achievements and market demands in your area of business. Is that actually why you created your prefabrication sector?

The advantage of prefabricated constructions, apart from fast construction, is in the use of high-performance materials and incomparably better finishings The prefabrication sector was created more than 10 years ago, with the start of the new industrialisation of the country, when a need for that appeared on the Serbian market.

Foreign investors most often required new, more modern production buildings that had to be built in a short period. The advantage of prefabricated constructions, apart from fast construction, is in the use of high-performance materials and incomparably better finishings,

because all production processes take place in the factory, under strictly controlled conditions.

Our company works according to EU standards, so our concrete elements are installed in many EU member states, such as Austria, Slovenia, Croatia, Bulgaria, Sweden etc.

What specifically is meant by ‘a high degree of automation’ on the new line of double walls and Omnia ceilings? Whose technology have you implemented and is this the future of construction?

The complete process of manufacturing walls and ceilings is carried out automatically, while the human role is more like that of a supervisor, as well as an executor of some operations that machines or robots cannot perform. Heavy physical labour, as well as the possibility of human error, has been reduced to a minimum. The daily production capacity is far greater than in manual production processes.

Alongside production, the software independently creates a plan for production, transport and installation works, while production data itself is obtained from the BIM project. Various inserts, such as electrical equipment, windows, etc., are incorporated at the factory.

We’ve implemented German technology that represents the very peak of progress in this segment of the industry. Automated lines have been used around the world for 15-20 years and have improved massively since then. This technology was not previously applied in our country due to the high cost of implementation and the relatively low costs of labour, but we are currently facing the biggest problem in the form of an insufficiently qualified workforce, so this is a logical advance in the development of construction.

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www.putinzenjering.com 14

CONSTRUCTION, TRANSPORT AND INFRASTRUCTURE 2021

Niš / Ruzmarina 25, Donja Vrežina, 18103 Niš, Serbia

Nova Pazova / Prva centralna radna 3, 22330 Nova Pazova, Serbia

Krško / Velika vas pri Krškem, 8273 Leskovec pri Krškem

Telephone/Fax: +381 18 215 355 +381 18 576 600 +381 18 575 574

Telephone/Fax: +381 22 215 22 25 +381 22 215 22 26 +381 22 215 22 27

Telephone/Fax: +386 8 20 10 375 +386 8 20 10 376

office@putinzenjering.com

mobeco@putinzenjering.com

office@mobeco.si

The largest precast company in Serbia and Slovenia We have the most optimal solution for every investor All in one place: Design | Production | Transport | Assembly Reference: Nestle Lidl Milšped CTP Delta Agrar

Al dahra Henkel Boysen Sport vision Yaskawa

Kaufland Lesnina Zumtobel Kuehne Nagel Yura…

Three decades on the market.

We are building across the region!

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CONSTRUCTION, TRANSPORT AND INFRASTRUCTURE 2021

INTERVIEW

ANITA DIMOSKI, ACTING ASSISTANT MINISTER FOR RAILWAYS & INTERMODAL TRANSPORT

Corridors Are Key To Reviving

PASSENGER AND CARGO TRAFFIC

Due to the nature of investment in the railway sector, it is necessary to have patience in order to see the effects of the implemented reform process. However, there's no doubt that railway corridors are key to the reviving of passenger and cargo traffic, and economic development generally.

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erbia is one of the countries that has a key position on the map of trans-European transport corridors. And that’s precisely why the Government of the Republic of Serbia has defined its main priorities as being the development of the main transport routes, encompassing road, water and rail.

The backbone of the railway network in Serbia is certainly Corridor X – one of 18

the Pan-European Railway Corridors that was defined in Helsinki in 1997. In regard to this corridor, the first strategic goal of the Republic of Serbia is to establish high-quality and interoperable railway infrastructure with high-performance on the railway lines that comprise Corridor X. The total value of funds secured for the implementation of projects on these lines exceeds 2.5 billion euros. Works are currently being carried out within the scope of the Belgrade-Budapest project, on the section from Belgrade to Novi Sad, which is planned for completion by year’s end 2021.

During 2022, a two-track railway line able to handle speeds of up to 200kph will be established for traffic. The continuation of works, from Novi Sad to the border with Hungary, is expected to start at the beginning of autumn.

The reconstruction of the section from Niš to Brestovac will begin during the second half of this year, while the reconstruction of the railway line from Niš to Dimitrovgrad, together with the construction of a bypass railway around the city of Niš, will begin in the first half of 2022. It is necessary to stress that the Republic of Serbia received part of grants for these projects through European Union funds.

In parallel with these activities, the Ministry of Construction, Transport and Infrastructure has secured grants from

the European Union for the preparation of documentation for the railway line from Stara Pazova to the border with Croatia and from Brestovac to the border with North Macedonia. These works are expected to be completed by year’s end 2022. When it comes to the remaining part of the railway from Belgrade to Niš, the Republic of Serbia is determined to establish a two-track railway for speeds of up to 200kph along the entire length of the route. The actual specifying of activities for this very important project are expected to come during the course of this year.

The realisation of all these projects will lead to a reduction in transit travel times through our country. However, it is essential to keep in mind the effects and impacts that current works, and those that we’re yet to implement, have on railway passenger and freight traffic. Specifically, works on the section of the railway from Novi Sad to the border with Hungary are being carried out under a regime of the complete closure of traffic. This has impacted on the transit flows of freight, causing their redirecting to alternative routes through the territory of the Republic of Serbia, which are longer, have tracks that are in a poorer condition and have a lower capacity compared to the rail tracks along the corridor. With an awareness of that, we secured the required funds from the national budget and implemented

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the renovation of certain alternative routes with the aim of preserving transit flows of freight through Serbia, given the “threat” that’s constantly lurking in the modern railway market – in the form of competing corridors.

Here we are primarily referring to Corridor IV, which runs parallel to our corridor and stretches across the territories of Bulgaria and Romania. However, the fact is that from Budapest, which is one of the largest transport hubs, routes through Romania and Bulgaria – even after the construction of the bridge over the Danube near Vidin – remain longer to Turkey by a distance of 240km and to Greece by a distance of 340km, compared to our corridor. This additionally affirms Corridor X, along which cities are connected in the most rational way through Southeast Europe - Budapest, Ljubljana, Belgrade, Zagreb, Skopje, Athens, Sofia and Istanbul - but also indirectly with Central Europe, for example via Podgorica and Tirana.

The Republic of Serbia is the only non-EU member country (besides Switzerland and Norway) that is still part of the network of the so-called European Rail Freight Corridors. In accordance with the transport policy agenda that’s being implemented by the European Union, nine initial railway corridors were established in 2010, with two more having been formed in the meantime – including the so-called Alpine-Western Balkan Rail Freight Corridor. This corridor passes through the territory of our country, from Dimitrovgrad via Belgrade to Šid.

Works on it formally began in February 2020, and the Republic of Serbia has permanent representatives on its executive and management boards.

When it comes to passenger transport, the high intensity of infrastructure works, or disruptions to traffic and temporary suspensions of traffic on certain lines that these works have caused, have inevitably led to a significant reduction in the number of passengers using the railway in recent years.

The temporary suspension of traffic on the Belgrade Centre-Novi Sad section, due to works on the construction of the railway. has contributed significantly to this negative trend.

In addition to this, we also shouldn’t lose sight of the impact of the COVID-19 epidemic, which practically halved the num-

With the completion of works on the Belgrade and Novi Sad lines and the procurement of the most modern electric trains, for speeds of up to 200kph, Serbia’s two largest cities will be closer than ever before ber of passengers transported in 2020, but also the revenues generated by passenger carriers, both in the EU and in our country.

However, we hope that these difficulties will be behind us soon, and in the period ahead we expect the reopening of this route for traffic, and at its full capacity – for speeds of up to 200kph - which will be the first line of this type in our region. In this sense, the Ministry of Construction, Transport and Infrastructure is also conducting activities related to the procurement of the most modern electric trains for speeds of up to 200kph, which are expected to be delivered by the end of this year.

As for Corridor X as a whole, we can expect the same or a similar effect following completion of the section from Novi Sad to Subotica, but also following the implementation of planned projects on the routes from Belgrade to Šid towards Croatia, from

Niš to Dimitrovgrad towards Bulgaria, from Niš to Preševo towards North Macedonia and, perhaps most importantly, on the route that represents a kind of backbone of the Serbian transport system, and that is the route from Belgrade to Niš.

We shouldn’t overlook the fact that the effects of the reconstruction of certain lines for passenger traffic are already visible and extremely significant, and as an example of this we can single out the Belgrade-Valjevo route, where the reconstruction of the railway has rendered the railway service fully competitive with coach traffic on the roads, thus restoring the confidence of users in the railway.

Due to the nature of investments in the railway sector, or the long period of time that’s necessary in order to see the effects of the previously implemented process of reforming the railway sector and the huge investment cycle that has been launched, trust is actually the key word with which I want to conclude this article. And that means trust in the efforts that we are all exerting together to ensure that Serbia finally gets a modern railway system that’s aligned with the needs of the economy, but also tailored to all Serbian citizens, which will enable life in the country to be simpler in terms of transport. I’m convinced that we will all persevere together on that journey.

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INTERVIEW

FRANÇOIS BERISOT, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, BELGRADE AIRPORT

The Beginning Of A New Journey For

BELGRADE AIRPORT On 22nd March 2018, VINCI Airports signed a 25-year concession contract with the Government of Serbia covering Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport financing, operation, maintenance, extension and reconstruction. project, aims to boost growth in traffic, create additional value and improve passengers’ experience and comfort. We are building on the expertise of a world-class operator to grow Serbia’s main airport into a major hub for Southeast Europe, thus driving the country’s development by connecting it further to the rest of the world.

Despite the changing circumstances, VINCI Airports believes in the potential of both Serbia and Nikola Tesla Airport. We plan to develop traffic in a smart and sustainable manner. Our commitment to sustainability and positive mobility will allow us to make BELGRADE AIRPORT an exemplary company in terms of the social responsibility, reinforcement and empowerment of its people and the quality of service standards, as well as making Nikola Tesla Airport a reference in Europe for environmental performance.

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n investment plan worth more than €730 million is in place over the course of the concession period, to upgrade and modernise the airport. This constitutes a milestone in the country’s capital airport development, and one of the largest financial transactions ever carried out in Serbia.

What has changed since BELGRADE AIRPORT, as a member of VINCI Airports, the world’s leading private airport operator, took over the operational management of Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport?

During the concession period, the extensive international experience and good practice of VINCI Airports will be applied. The comprehensive programme of modernisation, reconstruction and expansion, within the concession 20

The most visible current effects of the concession are works on the modernisation and expansion of Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport, which started at the beginning of 2020.

Which improvements are in the focus during this period and throughout 2021?

Modernisation works, carried out by VINCI Construction Grands Projects through its subsidiary VINCI Terna Construction, have been ongoing without major disruptions, even during the state of emergency in 2020, in accordance with all the recommendations and prescribed preventative health and safety measures. Further works are being carried out in parallel at several locations, which include the expansion of the terminal, a new secondary runway and additional taxiways, additional aircraft positions for parking and for

de-/anti-icing winter operations, additional car parking spaces and new access roads. While construction of a new bus gate has already been completed, the majority of works will be carried out within the next three years. They will increase the airport’s capacity and improve the comfort and experience of our passengers and all users of the airport.

We recently completed works on the upgrading and modernisation of the entire central area on the boarding level within the terminal. The new area includes an expanded and modernised duty-free shop, as well as the Tesla Square, which now offers a relaxation zone and a variety of new commercial content. Passengers can already experience continuous improvements in comfort and in the look and feel of the airport.

VINCI Airports is determined to become the environmental standard setter for the airport sector and its AirPact strategy is setting very ambitious goals for its entire network of 45 airports. What does this mean for Belgrade Airport?

The concession project has a strong focus on sustainable business, in order to reduce the environmental impact in terms of emissions of greenhouse gases, water and waste, in accordance with the global policy of VINCI Airports.

The construction of a new energy plant for the production and distribution of heat and electricity is underway, which will switch from heavy fuels to more environmentally efficient energy sources and reduce emissions. A 1MW Solar Farm, composed of 3,000 photovoltaic modules, will also be installed this year and will be able to supply the airport with around 1,200,000 kWh of clean energy per year, which

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is equivalent to the consumption of 80 households. This sustainable project will reduce 875 tons of CO2 per year from the airport’s carbon footprint. Furthermore, works on the construction of new solid waste processing plants in the airport’s public and airside area are on the way, as well as a wastewater treatment plant.

In November 2019, the airport made an important achievement in plans to reduce our carbon footprint by joining the Airports Carbon Accreditation - ACA Level 1 programme of the Airports Council International. ACA accreditation is the first result of the new environmental protection strategy developed at Belgrade Airport since it joined the VINCI Airports network.

With our continuous efforts to follow VINCI group’s strong commitments in this area, we are sure that more results will come.

The pandemic posed new challenges for many industries. How has COVID-19 impacted on the airport’s everyday activities and traffic?

The COVID-19 crisis has had an unprecedented impact on the aviation industry, which is surely one of the industries worst affected by the pandemic globally. Of course, we are not the exception here in Serbia. Belgrade Airport has been able to count on the network effect of VINCI Airports to adapt quickly to these new circumstances, in order to provide for the efficient functioning of aviation services and a safe environment for our employees, passengers and all airport users, also through the global educational campaign “Protecting Each Other”. Our teams worked tirelessly, together with Air Serbia and other airlines’ teams, during the state of emergency, when there were no commercial flights to support the arrival of crucial medical equipment to combat COVID-19 in Serbia and repatriation flights. We are proud to welcome continuous arrivals of vaccines to the country.

In terms of traffic volume at our airport, in 2020 it reduced drastically to less than 30% compared to 2019. Together with the airlines and the rest of the industry, we are focused on continuing to re-build passenger confidence in flying by implementing very strict prevention measures and processes. Our airport recently received the Airport Health Accreditation from ACI, rewarding the exceptionally thorough

airport in Europe by Size and Region (5 to 15 million passengers per year), and for the Best hygiene measures by Region (Europe). These ACI awards have been awarded to Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport for the first time and are a great achievement for Belgrade Airport only two years after joining VINCI Airports.

We highly appreciate the efforts and the great success of the Republic of Serbia regarding the

We plan to develop traffic in a smart and sustainable manner. Our commitment to sustainability and positive mobility will allow us to make BELGRADE AIRPORT an exemplary company in terms of the social responsibility, reinforcement and empowerment of its people and the quality of service standards, as well as by making Nikola Tesla Airport a reference in Europe for environmental performance sanitary measures that we put in place and confirming our dedication to maintain safe operations. We are doing all we can to reassure the travelling public that all the necessary prevention measures are in place.

Furthermore, ACI acknowledged our work with two Airport Service Quality Awards, based on our customer’s feedback. Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport was awarded as the Best

whole vaccination process, in the hope that, together with all the preventative measures implemented, it will support the faster recovery of air traffic in Serbia. We are getting ready for that by building infrastructure of the future that will accommodate a full recovery and projected increases. We look forward to traffic growth during the coming summer season and to newly announced airlines and routes during this year.

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INTERVIEW

STOJAN RANGELOV, DIRECTOR OF PUTEVI IVANJICA

Proud Of Every Metre

OF ROADWAYS Over the course of almost 60 years, Putevi Ivanjica has completed some of the most complex undertakings, constructed thousands of kilometres of roads, conducted remediation works on numerous landslides and built many bridges. That's why it is still engaged in some of the most important infrastructure projects in Serbia today

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The greatest advantage of our safety and noise protection systems is their durability and maintenance – viewed over a 20-year period, maintenance costs are at the level of 25% of the costs of systems made using other materials!

European standards (SRPS EN 1317). Since 2018, we deservedly possess a European Conformity CE certificate of production and quality from Germany’s TÜV [Technical Inspection Association].

We’ve participated in the educating of local experts and improved security in the places where we’ve installed our systems. For example, the number of victims on the Zrenjanin road has been reduced to zero for years, while we are still expecting to see the effects of the system installed on Corridor 10 and part of the E80 road.

What makes us unique are our combined systems of safety barriers and noise barriers, where significant savings are achieved both in the works (no foundations) and in investments, particularly in the area of land expropriation. The bridge systems that we install don’t transmit impact energy to the bridge structure, don’t damage it and have the highest level of protection, representing the most superior road safety equipment throughout the whole of Europe.

quality of your protective barriers and fences?

Since 2013, under license from Deltabloc International Gmbh, we’ve been producing traffic safety systems, concrete barriers and sound barriers, certified by “crash” tests according to

Putevi Ivanjica has a completely rounded system in which continuous investments are made. Why is that important?

A completely rounded system is essential to survive on the market. We possess two quarries, crushing plants, our own materials, two bases each for asphalt and concrete, a plant for the prefabrication of concrete elements, as well as all necessary machinery and means of transport, but also an accompanying laboratory for the monitoring of quality. We launched a new asphalt base last year, with which we can also be competitive in terms of quality and capacities in upcoming major works, such as the reconstruction of state roads on our territory and the construction of the highway to Požega.

his successful enterprise has invested significant funds in the purchase of excavators, dump trucks and other construction machinery, while it is also working hard to educate young engineers and other employees, in order to overcome the problem caused by a shortage of construction workers.

During the 60 years of Putevi Ivanjica’s existence, many challenges have been overcome and facilities constructed. What gives you a particular sense of pride?

We built almost the entire network of state roads on the territory of the municipality of Ivanjica, thus connecting our municipality and the entire region of Southwest Serbia, working through difficult and inaccessible terrain. We are recognised for our very well maintained roads, both during the summer months and especially in the winter period. Last year was difficult and full of challenges because of the pandemic, but we ended it with good results and lots of completed projects, and the state also contributed to that with its assistance measures. The catastrophic floods at the end of June 2020 led to the halting of traffic on almost all state and local roads, which we reacted to immediately. We first established transport corridors, then carried out remediation works on more than 10 major landslides and repaired countless cracks and gaps in roads. We are proud of the facilities we’ve constructed, of the reconstruction of state road IB 30 towards Studenica, and we’re especially proud of the newly constructed section of the Golijska Reka - Odvracenica road, covering a distance of 16 kilometres.

What is contained in your corporate CV? Would you emphasise in particular the high 22

CONSTRUCTION, TRANSPORT AND INFRASTRUCTURE 2021

NENAD TOMIĆ, DIRECTOR OF THE HIGHWAY INSTITUTE

INTERVIEW

Beacon Of The

ROADWORKS INDUSTRY Serbia's Highway Institute [Institut za puteve] continues to rank as a regional leader in the field of highway engineering. Testifying to this claim is the fact that it has played the most important role in road construction over its previous 70 years of operations, which is manifested in the huge number of road projects it has implemented in the country and abroad, and in the high quality of its work.

The Highway Institute is today an organisation that works according to world standards in monitoring the development of road transport, planning road construction, economically justifying investments in road construction, designing roads, highways, bridges and tunnels, researching road construction materials, performing expert and technical supervision and control of the construction and maintenance of roads and facilities of all types and categories.

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he experts of the Highway Institute are today working on preliminary designs for the Novi Sad-Ruma-Šabac and Iverak-Lajkovac roads and the PožarevacVeliko Gradište-Golubac and Paraćin-Zaječar expressways, as well as developing the preliminary design for the Moravian Corridor and conducting expert supervision for the Sremska Rača-Kuzmin road.

The Highway Institute has been a reliable partner to the state, but also international partners and institutions, since it was founded.

Are you still considered a regional leader in the area of highway engineering?

Since its very inception, the Highway Institute has been, and remains, a bearer of new ideas, new knowledge and insights, which sets tasks related to the planning, design, construction and maintenance of roads. It is the first operator in the field of roadworks to hold the JUS ISO 9001 Certificate (domestic and international).

When it comes to road infrastructure, the state is building more than ever before. To what extent does it rely on the Highway Institute in these works? What projects are you currently working on?

The extent to which the road system and highway engineering are dependent on the

In order to reduce the outflow of personnel it is necessary to provide the same working conditions, possibilities of professional advancement and quality of life as those that exist in Western countries situation, processes and changes in the fields of politics and the economy is known. Through the constant innovation of knowhow, the procurement of modern equipment, improvements and the application of new methods and procedures, the Highway Institute has become a pillar of support and an indispensable factor in strategically complex and comprehensive projects related to the modern approach to improving roads.

The first modern road projects implemented

and today’s highways, as well as the first prefeasibility and feasibility studies that served as the basis for the approving of loans from the World Bank and the European Bank, were done at the Highway Institute. These are all important reasons why the state relies on the work and experience of our Institute. The Highway Institute is today working on the following important projects: preliminary design of the Novi Sad-Ruma-Šabac road; preliminary design of the Požarevac-Veliko Gradište-Golubac expressway; preliminary design of the ParaćinZaječar expressway; the project to construct the Moravian Corridor, the project to construct the Iverak-Lajkovac expressway and expert supervision of Sremska Rača-Kuzmin road.

Enterprises for roadworks, but also the entire construction sector, are plagued by the shortage of expert personnel and skilled workers. How can the outflow of essential staff be halted?

In order to reduce the outflow of personnel it is necessary to provide the same working conditions, possibilities of professional advancement and quality of life as those that exist in Western countries. One possible answer to your question lies in the possibility of overcoming the lack of an adequate workforce on the market by road companies and enterprises adapting their operations and intensifying cooperation with faculties and ministries. It is essential to have partnership relations between the employer, the labour market and educational institutions, with harmonised relations between earnings and the cost of living, as well as the improvement of the system of professional training through additional investment in the quality, availability and number of training courses.

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CONSTRUCTION, TRANSPORT AND INFRASTRUCTURE 2021

INTERVIEW

VELJKO KOVACEVIĆ, ASSISTANT MINISTER IN CHARGE OF WATER TRANSPORT & NAVIGATION SAFETY

We Have Both Vision And

IMPLEMENTATION It is important for civilisation that we build highways, but without a developed railway network, modern ports and intermodal terminals, we won't give our economy a chance to efficiently produce and export. I believe that during this year and next we are awaited by the realisation of precisely those transport projects that lead to Serbia's full inclusion in Europe's trade flows.

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here does Serbia stand today when it comes to the country’s more active involvement in European trade flows? I believe that the optimal and illustrative answer to this question would be a comparison of where Serbia was until 2014 and where we are today.

I would remind you that until 2014, we hadn’t managed to organise ourselves sufficiently as a society even to use what has been given to us by the nature of things, i.e. by our geographical position.

That which was started by generations several decades ago – and that is the construction of a highway that would connect Serbia with Hungary and Central Europe to the north, and with North Macedonia, Greece, Bulgaria and Turkey to the south and southeast – we continued in 2014, I would say in a sufficiently organised and efficient way for the first time, and completed in the summer of 2019.

However, I actually view 2014 as a crucial year for this society in a way, because I believe that what was launched then, and the way it was launched, as well as the plans that were defined that year, irreversibly initiated a process that will ultimately change the image of this country entirely.

The then Government, the prime minister of which, I will remind you, was Aleksandar Vučić, defined priorities for the development of transport and began working according to that action plan. What is of essential

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importance is the fact that this transport policy, unlike all the previous ones, was not short-term and didn’t look only one step ahead.

Specifically, it didn’t start from the assumption that it would be sufficient to complete Corridor X for all our problems to be solved. On the contrary, it was clearly stated even back then that this would only be a precondition for us to finally start exploiting the transit position given to us by nature, but also to prevent the dying out of cities and municipalities in central and southern Serbia. We completed this civilisation-promoting work without error.

Then began the defining of other projects for the development of road transport infrastructure that aim to better connect Serbia with the region, as well as creating the basic preconditions for the arrival of large investments, not only in Belgrade or Novi Sad, but also in Pirot, Leskovac, Kruševac, Kraljevo and elsewhere. The result of that consideration was the launch of works on the Moravian Corridor, the Fruška Gora Corridor, the highway that will connect us with Bosnia-Herzegovina, the planning of the Vožd Karađorđe Highway, along with numerous works on the reconstruction of regional roads. All of these projects will enable the full utilisation of this country’s transit capacity.

However, it became clear even then that Serbia has the capabilities and the capacity to do much more, and that the construction of road infrastructure alone would not be sufficient to ensure Serbia’s full inclusion in European trade flows. That’s why works didn’t stop with the securing of funds and the efficient management of road infrastructure development projects, rather there was the start of serious investments in the railway network, as well as water transport infrastructure. These are two forms of transport that this country needs to develop in order to realise its logistical capacities, and I will remind you that it is logistics that create additional value in the transport flows of every country. Just take a look at Ireland, for example, and everything will be clear to you.

It is important from the perspective of civilisation for us to build highways and thus

connect and accelerate Serbia. But without a developed rail network, then modern ports that will be compatible with the large seaports in the area through the concept of their planning, such as so-called ‘dry ports’, without intermodal terminals, we won’t provide a chance for our economy to sell domestic products on foreign markets, nor to import raw materials used in production, in a way that’s more economical and efficient.

In that sense, I believe that during this year and next we are awaited by the realisation of precisely those transport projects that will mean the fulfilling of all infrastructure preconditions for Serbia’s full inclusion in Europe’s trade flows. Also of undoubted importance here is the new leadership of this ministry, which Tomislav Momirović brought with him.

The most important project is undoubtedly the reconstruction of the rail section of Corridor X, from the Hungarian border all the way to the border with North Macedonia,

superstructure facilities that would enable the more efficient storage and export of grain to foreign markets, which has a negative impact on the price achieved by our producers, and has a devastating but reversible impact on agribusiness. We have identified this problem and are working on it seriously today.

Our agenda doesn’t only include the Port of Bogojevo or the Port of Novi Sad, where we’ve brought the world’s third largest port operator that will launch works at this port in September and will invest 35 million euros.

There is also, for example, the new Port of Belgrade, a project that will mark the current generation of engineers specialising in transport and hydraulics, because the Port of Belgrade is this country’s most important facility for water transport and overall logistics, the construction of which has been planned for a century. With the construction of a new port in Belgrade, the Republic of Serbia will gain a hub that will enable the

The Port of Belgrade is this country’s most important facility for water transport and overall logistics, and its construction has been planned for a century but also the reconstruction of some other important railway routes, one of the most important of which, in my deep conviction, is the railway line from Niš to Zaječar, Bor and Prahovo, where large industrial complexes are located, and especially because of the Chemical Park that’s planned for Prahovo.

That’s the very reason why the project to expand the Port of Prahovo, which is the logistical heart of the future chemical park, is also of great importance.

Of equal importance is the reconstruction of several railway lines in Vojvodina, where the Ministry of Construction, Transport and Infrastructure is preparing a project to expand the capacity of the Port of Bogojevo, which is predominantly linked to agribusiness and which isn’t currently connected to the national rail network, which is one of its biggest shortcomings.

Viewed in general terms, Serbia has a pronounced problem in the form of a lack of modern port infrastructure and

linking of road, rail and water transport. The project to revitalise the railway section of Corridor X in Serbia, with its routes Xb and Xc, will enable the connecting of the Port of Belgrade with some of the most important TEN-T corridors, such as the Orient/Eastern Mediterranean Corridor, the Mediterranean Corridor and the Baltic-Adriatic Corridor.

This brief overview of one small part of the project activity of the the Ministry of Construction, Transport and Infrastructure shows that we have understood what we need to do to connect Serbia with the EU and the region, but also, as a society, to become sufficiently competitive against the largest players in the EU. Of course, none of this would be possible without financial stability and budgetary discipline, which allows major investments in transport infrastructure, which is why working at this Ministry today brings with it far greater responsibility, but also satisfaction, compared to the period only eight or nine years ago.

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INTERVIEW

VUK PEROVIĆ, DIRECTOR OF THE PORT GOVERNANCE AGENCY

Ports Revived By

STRONG ECONOMY Serbia's Port Governance Agency completed the first two phases of arranging port activities during the previous period. The first phase included the declaring of the port areas of cargo ports and international passenger terminals, while the second phase encompassed the preparing of technical documentation for the expansion of ports and the construction of new terminals, while the Agency is now awaited by the third phase – investing in construction

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onsidering the importance of cruising when it comes to presenting Serbia to foreign tourists, we are working proactively on the restoration of passenger transport on the rivers. In addition to utilising the opportunities provided to cruise enthusiasts by the Danube, we will also launch the construction and promotion of destinations on the Sava, with the opening of passenger terminals in Sremska Mitrovica and Šabac. And in parallel with that we will also continue to develop marinas, which have great potential to complete the nautical tourism offer, announces Port Governance Agency Director Vuk Perović in this interview.

Quantities of transshipped cargo and the volume of passenger traffic on rivers in Serbia have been on the rise for the last five years. Has the pandemic spoilt those results?

The unfortunate global epidemiological situation hasn’t had a detrimental impact on freight 28

traffic. For the fifth consecutive year we’ve recorded increased quantities of transshipments of goods on rivers in Serbia. Last year saw 16 million tons of cargo transshipped, which is five per cent more than in 2019. These good results were achieved thanks to the intensified activities of the Serbian economy, especially in the area of construction. It is important for us to highlight the fact that our country ranks second in the Danube region in terms of the annual volume of transshipments.

When it comes to passenger transport, the pandemic resulted in the suspending of cruises throughout Europe, which has also impacted Serbia. Compared to the 2019 nautical season, only one per cent of the volume of cruising was realised last year.

Is the development and expansion of existing cargo ports, and the construction of new ones, among the priorities of the Port Governance Agency?

We will launch the construction and promotion of destinations on the Sava, with the opening of passenger terminals in Sremska Mitrovica and Šabac The growth of cargo transshipments indicates to us that it is necessary to intensify the development of ports. The efforts of the Serbian Government aimed at improving inland waterway transport and the investment plan in this area will contribute to achieving the objective of Serbian ports becoming competitive and important economic hubs in Southeast Europe.

This leads to trade, industry and production in the hinterland being stimulated, thus bringing new jobs and regional development.

The Agency has completed the first two phases of arranging port activities, while ahead of us is the third and most important phase – investing in construction. In accordance with the developmental role of the Agency, we’ve planned investments in infrastructure projects. We thereby want to improve the port infrastructure, increase the throughput capacity of our ports and strengthen their position on the international market.

How many international passenger terminals do we currently have and do they, like marinas, represent a new development opportunity and an important segment of inland waterway passenger transport in Serbia?

I’m proud of the fact that we’ve made six international passenger terminals on the Danube operational during the previous period. During the course of this year, despite the pandemic, we plan to open new ones, and those are in Zemun, Sremski Karlovci, Veliko Gradiste (Ram), Apatin and Kostolac. Our goal is to declare the remaining port areas of international passenger terminals in the next two years and invest resources in their construction.

We are continuing with the development of marinas, which have great potential to complete the nautical tourism offer. We’ve started defining the network of marinas on the Danube and Sava rivers, where we are considering attractive locations that will entice tourists who would visit Serbia on their voyages.

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EHTING

BUSINESS

Port Construction

EXPERTS

Ehting is intensively engaged in the preparation of technical documentation for the construction of ports in the Republic of Serbia, following the need for navigable river corridors with their own built infrastructure, in order to emphasise the positive geographical position of Serbia and utilise its advantages

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his company will strive to direct its business policy in a way that allows it to continue to be a reliable partner in designing this type of complex technological project – and not only domestically, but also on foreign markets Ehting Ltd. Belgrade was established in March 1990 as a company for designing, engineering and consulting in water resources and construction. Throughout its existence and business operations, Ehting has successfully completed its projects and acquired numerous references in the following domains: water supply and sewerage systems; potable water and wastewater treatment and pollution control; ports, harbours and marinas; river training works; landfill sites, transfer stations and sanitary engineering; land improvement systems – drainage and irrigation works; environmental protection and engineering; flood control and river engineering; water resources and watershed management; groundwater and surface water exploitation; infrastructure facilities and systems; information systems in water resources management.

We possess required licenses for the preparation of technical documentation for facilities

that require a construction permit issued by the Ministry: P010G3 - hydro-technical designs of large dams and reservoirs, P071G3 - hydrotechnical designs of inter-regional and regional water supply and sewerage facilities, P072G3 - hydro-technical designs for WTP > 200 l/s, P072M2 - mechanical designs for WTP > 200 l/s, P072T1 - process designs for WTP > 200 l/s,

mechanical and architectural engineers, and technicians. Our business is certified under ISO standards: 9001, 14001 and 45001. We are a regular member of the Association of Consulting Engineers of Serbia (ACES) and an official member of the world FIDIC and the European EFCA Association.

According to the primary goals of the Euro-

The Ehting team numbers 45 permanent employees – comprising highly qualified civil, process, mechanical and architectural engineers, and technicians P073G3 - hydro-technical designs for WWTP > 200 l/s, P073M2 - mechanical designs for WWTP > 200 l/s, P073T1 - process designs for WWTP > 200 l/s, P080G3 - hydro-technical designs of river training works for flood control of urban and rural areas exceeding 300 ha, P120G1 hydro-technical designs of passenger terminals and ports, P120G3 - civil designs of passenger terminals and ports, P160G3 - hydro-technical designs of hydraulic structures on fairways The Ehting team numbers 45 permanent employees. The company’s professional-technical nucleus comprises highly qualified civil, process,

pean transport policy, as well as the Strategy of Waterborne Transport Development of the Republic of Serbia for the 2015–2025 Period, a significant increase is expected in the volume of goods transported on inland waterways compared to other modes of transport.

Ehting is currently working on projects for the following ports: Smederevo, Bogojevo, Prahovo, Sremska Mitrovica, Novi Sad and Belgrade, the ports located alongside thermal power plants Nikola Tesla A and B. During 2019 we have finished projects and a supervision of works in construction of the port TPP Kostolac.

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INTERVIEW

ĐORĐE MILIĆ, ASSISTANT MINISTER FOR SPATIAL PLANNING AND URBANISM

Unveiling The Republic Of Serbia's

NEW SPATIAL PLAN The Spatial Plan of the Republic of Serbia represents the basic planning document for spatial planning and development in the country, with which the long-term strategic framework for the directing and managing of spatial development is determined. The third Spatial Plan of the Republic of Serbia is harmonised with the new 'Serbia 2025' national investment programme and other strategic documents.

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he preparation of the Third Spatial Plan of the Republic of Serbia is the result of multiple decades of continuous spatial planning in the Republic of Serbia and represents the continuation of the previous two planning cycles. The First Spatial Plan of the Republic of Serbia was adopted in 1996, following an unusually long process (almost three decades). The First Spatial Plan was adopted under specific socio-economic circumstances and lacked elaborated instru32

mentation for its implementation. The Second Spatial Plan of the Republic of Serbia, which is currently in force, was adopted in 2010 with an envisaged time-frame lasting until 2020.

The implementation of this plan is supported by implementation programmes and reports on the realisation of the spatial plan for the first time in the practice of planning.

The Third Spatial Plan of the Republic of Serbia is currently being prepared under the circumstances of the global pandemic of the

COVID-19 infectious disease, in accordance with the new “Serbia 2025” national investment programme, sectoral strategies, development planning documents and public policies, the results of previous research, the conditions of competent public institutions and bodies, as well as being aligned with international frameworks and documents pertaining to the field of spatial planning and spatial development.

The scope of the Spatial Plan encompasses the territory of the Republic of Serbia, in accordance with the Constitution of the Republic of Serbia and the Law on Territorial Organisation of the Republic of Serbia. The implementation time-frame is harmonised with the long-term time-frame of the majority of sectoral strategies. The long-term strategy, concepts and planning solutions for spatial development are defined for a time-frame extending until 2035. Some solutions in this plan are perceived for a lasting period that is not limited to the specific time-frame. The implementation of national goals and the strategic commitments of spatial development will be enabled through the applying and elaborating of long-term strategic, conceptual and planning solutions of the spatial plan in the development of planning documents, public policies, spatial and urban plans. The harmonising of national, regional and local interests and development priorities will be implemented through the development of planning documents at the regional and local level, within the scope of which planning solutions and priorities will be further developed in

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accordance with the spatial plan’s guidelines.

The bearer responsible for preparing this spatial plan is the Ministry of Construction, Transport and Infrastructure. Its expert processors include: The Institute of Architecture and Urban & Spatial Planning of Serbia (works contractor on behalf of the group of processors), The Faculty of Geography, University of Belgrade; The Faculty of Architecture, University of Belgrade; The Traffic Institute CIP Ltd., Belgrade; The Urban Institute of Vojvodina public enterprise, Novi Sad GDI SOLUTIONS LTD., Belgrade.

The Spatial Plan is being prepared in accordance with the Decision on the Development of the Spatial Plan of the Republic of Serbia from 2021 to 2035, which was adopted by the Government of the Republic of Serbia in 2019.

In accordance with the Law on Strategic Environmental Impact Assessments, a report on the strategic environmental impact assessment of the spatial plan is being prepared in parallel with the development of the spatial plan.

The legal basis for the preparation of the spatial plan is provided by the Law on Planning and Construction and the Ordinance on the contents, manner and procedure of drafting spatial and urban planning documents. The preparation of this spatial plan is also based on other relevant laws, by-laws and regulations. The Law on the Planning System of the Republic of Serbia recognises the Spatial Plan of the Republic of Serbia as a development planning document.

This spatial plan does not regulate matters that are subject to special laws (territorial organisation, construction land, water, forests, mineral resources, environmental protection, the protection of natural and cultural heritage, land defences, infrastructure ranking etc.), but rather forms a strategic framework of spatial development through planned synthesis.

The compiling of this spatial plan began in the fourth quarter of 2019 and encompassed the preparing and producing of materials for advanced public inspection, thematic studies and drafts of the spatial plan.

Advanced public inspection was conducted in the period from 2nd to 16th March 2020, with a report compiled on the conducted advanced public inspection in accordance with the law.

Three thematic studies were conducted (1.

A public inspection of the draft spatial plan will be held in April 2021. Following the conclusion of this public inspection, it remains for the proposed Law on the Spatial Plan of the Republic of Serbia to be determined by the Government, and its consideration and adoption in the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia “Economy, transport and infrastructure”, 2.

“Nature, environment and cultural assets” and 3. “Population, settlements and social development”, which contain ten basic areas with a total of 36 special study contributions, covering in excess of 1,500 pages), as well as the Planning Atlas (which contains approximately 40 thematic and synthesised maps made using GIS technology, in which geospatial and statistical data are processed, as well as key indicators from thematic studies), which represent the basis of study for the drafting of the spatial plan.

In accordance with the law and regulations adopted on the basis of the law, the draft spatial plan will contain:

1) Starting points (introduction; preparation method; review of the planning system and planning basis; impacts of globalisation and the surrounding lands on the spatial development of the Republic of Serbia; the territory of the Republic of Serbia in the broader European environment; general assessment of the situation according to thematic areas, with a synthesised assessment of potentials, limitations and key spatial development problems); 2) Objectives and planning solutions (scenarios of spatial development; principles of spatial development; visions, general and specific objectives of spatial development; long-term spatial development strategy; planning solutions according to thematic areas – protecting and utilising natural resources, heritage and the environment, population and social development, regional development, the economy, infrastructure, and the protection and use of space); 3) Implementation (priority planning solutions; implementation measures and instruments; relations regarding public policies and guidelines for implementation in the planning system; the compilation and adoption of planning documents; spatial development indicators; guidelines for the preparation of PPRS implementation programmes); 4) Referral maps at a scale of 1 : 300,000 (1.

“Purpose of space”; 2. “Network and system of urban centres and rural areas”; 3a. “Transport and electronic infrastructure”; 3b. “Water management and energy infrastructure”; 4a. “Tourism and Spatial Protection” and 4b. “Environment”).

The geodata of the spatial plan are contained in a spatial database created using GIS technology. This database contains geodata submitted by holders of public authorisations, companies and institutions in the legally established procedure for obtaining conditions, data and groundwork.The database contains information on the institution that provided the data – the owner of the data and the reference scale. This database can be used for the preparation of other planning documents.

Selected geodata from the GIS database are presented on reference and thematic maps of the spatial plan in an adapted cartographic scale. For the preparation of other planning documents, as a rule, they are not applied directly, but rather are determined in more spatial detail in accordance with the appropriate scale and the legally prescribed procedure.

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Company For The New Millennium

HIGH STANDARDS FIRST & FOREMOST

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Although it will only celebrate its coming of age this year, company Millennium Team has been known as a regional leader among construction companies for a long time. It ascended to the very top thanks to knowhow, experience and state-of-the-art mechanisation, but primarily thanks to its clear vision.

ounded in 2003, Millennium Team has grown as a company to become a regional leader in its field, expanding its business activities across the territory of our country and the region, and recording continuous growth ever since. The credit for Millennium Team’s business success belongs mostly to the managementteamthatadministersthecompany, but also employees in all areas, including highly trained workers who have amassed many years of experience. Since its establishment, it has been engaged - within its core area of business - in the construction of hydraulic structures, infrastructure facilities – including roadways, railways, gas pipelines, heating pipelines and specialised works – consulting and civil engineering.

Although its core activity is the construction of civil engineering facilities and structures, Millennium Team has also shown that it operates equallysuccessfullyinthedomainofconstruction.

One extremely important project is the construction of affordable apartments for members of the Serbian Army, police and the SecurityInformation Agency in Vranje and Niš, which Millennium Team implemented jointly with Turkish companyTasjapi. A total of 186 affordable apartments have been built for members of the security forces in Vranje, while 190 apartments are currently under construction in Niš.

The Million Team also proudly highlights the project to construct the State Data Centre in Kragujevac, which – in terms of technical and security standards – is one of the most modern facilities in the region, housing key information and communication infrastructure of the Republic of Serbia. Millennium Team’s masons took advantage of this unique opportunity in the best 34

possible way, completing the works just one year and five months after the laying of the foundation stone. During the implementing of these works they also managed to cope with the destruction of unexploded artillery devices, in the form of bombs dating back to World War II, but also the novel coronavirus that was awaiting builders on the space occupied by today’s Data Centre.

Representatives of the Millennium Team are particularly proud of the fact that the company has been engaged in the implementation of works

The company’s motto is that clients deserve only the best. And this is confirmed by the high standards that were set when the company was founded and that are still maintained today on the Belgrade Waterfront project, representing the largest construction site in Southeast Europe, since its launch. The workers of this leading company are currently engaged in the construction of roadways within the scope of the Belgrade Waterfront complex, but also in the construction of the Belgrade Tower, which represents a new symbol of the Serbian capital.

As a regional leader in its field, Millennium Team is partnering Pizzarotti in the project to build the Belgrade Tower skyscraper.

Despite investing continuously in new technologies, training and upgrading expert personnel, monitoring advances in the domain of construction around the world, and listening to the needs of investors and end users, this company still wouldn’t have achieved such excellent business

results and its leadership position without a wonderful working atmosphere. For Millennium Team it is an imperative to encourage teamwork, personal responsibility, innovativeness and the integrity of employees, building mutual trust and communication with the aim of making the company’s operations as efficient as possible and ensuring works are implemented to the highest possible quality.

In the struggle against time and deadlines, especially in today’s time of the pandemic, Millennium Team pays special attention to the protection and health of every employee. That’s precisely why the company’s management allocated 4,000,800 dinars for additional medical protection against the COVID-19 virus.

It is also an imperative for MillenniumTeam to constantly improve all processes in the construction of buildings, to advance employees through trainingand to masternewtechnologies,aswellas possessing all relevant and essential certificates and licenses, thereby guaranteeing the quality of its work through successfully implemented projects and satisfied investors and users.

The company’s motto is that clients deserve only the best. And this is confirmed by the high standards that were set when the company was founded and that are still maintained today.

Constructing buildings in a safe and healthy way shows how committed this company is to the local community. And best testifying to the importance that this company attaches to the concept of corporate social responsibility, which it set at its very inception, are its CSR activities aimed at helping children, the youth and other vulnerable sections of the population, promoting sport and education.

Millennium Team doo Žanke Stokić 39 11040 Beograd | Srbija (Tel) +381 11 313 95 25 (Web) www.millenniumteam.rs

The basic activity of Millennium Team is civil engineering.

• construction and designing of hydrotechnical facilities: waterways, rainwater and sanitary sewers, reinforced concrete collectors, pumping stations, drinking water treatment facilities, facilities for treating sanitary and industrial wastewater.

• construction and designing of thermotechnical, thermal energy, processing and gas installations for oil and gas refining facilities, international and national products pipelines, gas pipelines and oil pipelines for transportation, national and regional long-

distance heating lines.

• construction works on railways, railway facilities and buildings • construction of traffic infrastructure • construction and repairs of city and regional landfills Special activities: • drilling under roads and railways using the pipe insertion method • under drilling using the Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD) method • drilling and installing geothermal probes • Decreasing the level of groundwater: - by drilling drainage wells

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- using wellpoints • renting and installing steel welded barriers with Larrsen-profiles during construction of: - roads and channels - foundation pit reinforcement - construction at flowing water - landfills and waste disposals - noise-protection walls - hydro-technical facilities - construction of petrol stations and installation of reservoirs.

Humanitarian demining Millennium Team is registered, technically equipped and staffed for demining activities.

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INTERVIEW

NIKOLA MALBAŠA, GENERAL MANAGER OF CONSTRUCTION COMPANY JADRAN

Transformation In The Time

OF PANDEMICS

During a year that was unfavourable for business, Belgrade-based company Jadran managed to finalise its transformation process and become a general contractor that offers clients a complete service – from the initial design of facilities to their final construction during a seemingly unfavourable year for business, to finalise its transformation process and become a general contractor that offers clients a complete service – from the initial design of facilities to their final construction and handover to the client.

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he COVID-19 viral pandemic is the biggest health crisis of this century, but also its biggest social and economic crisis. As an unprecedented blow to the world economy, almost wiped out entire industries and led to padlocks being placed on the doors of numerous corporations that were stable until yesterday. However, that same coin has a flip side: some companies managed to transform their operations during this crisis, continuing to invest and ultimately achieve growth. One such example is local construction company Jadran, which has enjoyed a full seven decades of successful operations in the areas of final construction works, the revitalisation of facades and buildings under state protection and anti-corrosion protection, and which used the period of the pandemic to reposition itself as a general contractor. Here we speak with Jadran General Manager Nikola Malbaša about how this company managed, 36

Jadran is one of Serbia’s oldest construction companies. How did the process of transforming it to the position of a general contractor progress and what was included in all the steps that you took?

Since way back in 1950, when it was founded, Jadran has been delivering the highest quality construction solutions that endure. This was initially through plastering and painting works, then it advanced to anti-corrosion protection in large systems. Quality impacted on demand, and that demand impacted on the expansion of the portfolio of services. We started dealing with reconstructions, renovations and all finish-

in mechanisation, and set the direction, in terms of a long-term strategy of dynamic and exponential growth through the constant expansion of our portfolio of services. We entered each new phase completely prepared – both professionally and technically – and that ensured that our progress has been sustainable and stable – from privatisation until today.

How has the pandemic influenced your company’s operations?

Our priority during the pandemic has been to take care of the safety of employees, particularly on construction sites themselves, where works haven’t stopped for a single moment. Moreover, we also felt that we had to ensure stability for all the people employed in the company, but also their families. We decided to remain consistent with our strategy of development and transformation, which we

The pandemic didn’t stop us in our efforts to position Jadran as a company that implements large “design & build” projects ing works, and our quality is also recognised beyond the borders of the country.

That process also continued when you took over the helm of the company in 2006, with Jadran having become a great example of a successful privatisation. What was your strategy back then?

When I, together with my team, took over Jadran, we kept the most important things – people, expertise and many decades of experience. We supported the existing capacities with strong investments, primarily

launched a few years earlier. The pandemic didn’t cause us to waver in our efforts to position Jadran as a company that implements large “design & build” projects. To date we’ve completed construction of the Nikola Tesla Primary School in Belgrade. We are currently building a commercial complex in city centre, while we will soon finalise a completely new gym at the Anton Skala Primary School.

The new works, new business position and perspective that we’ve achieved, but also concrete growth, are all confirmation that we have made the right decision.

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Construction Leaders are

LEED CERTIFIED

Any building can be a “green building”, whether it's a home, office, school, hospital, community home or any other type of structure, provided it fulfils clearly defined standards and rules

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he LEED certificate is the same for building as a declaration is on food packaging - information testifying to the composition and quality of the product. This certificate introduces order to construction and directs builders towards proper design, care for the environment and energy savings Since construction of the first communities and the first residential settlements, man has endeavoured to provide himself and his family with the best living conditions – protection against the weather and wild animals. In the modern world, where urban populations aren’t threatened by heavy snows, rhinos and lions, some different rules and housing standards apply.Valuedtodayarestructuresthatpreserve natural resources and improve the quality of our lives; buildings that reduce or eliminate negative impacts through their design, construction or functioning, and which create positive impacts on our climate and natural environment. Valued today are “green buildings”.

Any building can be a “green building”, provided it meets the highest standards of sustainable construction from the aspect of 40

energy consumption and natural resources, and these standards relate to the consumption of water and energy, air pollution, the raw materials used to construct the building, the quality of interiors, location and connectivity, social responsibility and profit.

And confirming whether these standards

LEED standard certification has been awarded by the non-profit U.S. Green Building Council since 1994 have been met is the LEED standard certification, which has been awarded by the non-profit U.S. Green Building Council since 1994.

LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) represents a certification programme for buildings, houses and communities that can be sought for both structures that have already been built and those that are still under construction.

Four levels of certification exist, and the number of points determines the level of certification to which a facility belongs,

while there are five categories for which the LEED certificate is awarded: Building Design and Construction (BD+C) – for exterior design and construction (newly built structures or buildings undergoing major renovations) Interior Design and Construction (ID+C) – for interior design and construction (the interiors of commercial buildings, retail outlets, hotels, motels, restaurants etc.)

Building Operations and Maintenance (O+M) – applicable to improvements in the functioning or construction of existing buildings (educational and retail facilities, warehouses, hotels, motels etc.)

Neighborhood Development – applicable to new development projects (renovation of housing projects, such as sustainable settlements) Homes – applicable to family houses (the design and construction of family houses).

Within the scope of each of these categories, it is necessary to meet certain prerequisites in order for the facility to become a holder of LEED certification, with a certain number of points awarded for each category.

CONSTRUCTION, TRANSPORT AND INFRASTRUCTURE 2021

SKYLINE

BUSINESS

Green Buildings For

HEALTH AND WELLNESS The Empire State Building, one of the most famous buildings in the United States, possesses a LEED GOLD certificate, while in Serbia, apart from the SKYLINE AFI TOWER, only 48 other facilities have, or are in the process of obtaining, LEED GOLD certification

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LEED GOLD certificate means that the construction process has adhered to the principles of sustainability – efficient use of water, reductions in waste generated and carbon dioxide emitted, use of materials that are not harmful to the environment, installing of heating, cooling and ventilation systems that comply with energy efficiency requirements Employees spend most of their time in the work space, which has a major influence not only on their efficiency and motivation, but also on their health and wellness. With this in mind, a question arises as to whether enough attention is paid to the materials used to make everything in the working environment, to the lighting, walls and floors. Is enough consideration given to the quality of the air that employees breathe during those eight hours they spend at work? How is the natural light, at what angle is it refracted, how is the quality of the glass etc.?

Is all this important and, if so, to what extent? The heads of many foreign and domestic companies are increasingly paying attention to where they will locate their business and what working conditions they will provide for their employees, with an awareness that green buildings are the future and represent a profitable long-term investment.

That’s precisely why it comes as no surprise that individual investors in

Serbia are also increasingly opting for green construction, thereby contributing to the development of a new culture of construction that leads to savings on costs and enhances the efficiency of a facility, but also improves the quality of life of the entire community and the natural environment in which companies operate.

OW DOES ONE EARN THE H TITLE “GREEN BUILDING”?

In order for a building to receive the “green building” title, it must meet some of the international independent standards of green construction and it then receives the appropriate certificate, the most common of which is LEED certification. This is a worldwide system of evaluating green buildings that takes into account several factors: design, materials used, economical running costs, compatibility with the latest technologies and compliance with energy efficiency requirements.

Millions of people live and work in LEED-certified buildings worldwide, and the reason is simple – they ensure greater productivity, comfort, and the happiness and health of tenants. This kind of opportunity will also be provided to all future tenants of the new business tower, Skyline AFI tower, which began being constructed last November and will be located within the scope of the Skyline Belgrade residential and

business complex in Kneza Miloša Street. The investor behind this tower, AFI Europe, has fulfilled all essential conditions to ensure the facility will qualify for the LEED GOLD certificate.

HAT DOES THE LEED GOLD W CERTIFICATE PROVIDE? LEED Gold buildings consume 25 per cent less energy than the average business building that does no possess this certificate, while emissions of harmful gases are reduced by 34 per cent. As many as 61 per cent of the heads of major global corporations believe that working in business buildings that are LEED Gold certified is more

productive and thus ensures the achieving of better financial results.

The savings achieved in all segments are significant: $1.2 billion in energy savings, $149.5 million in water savings, $715.3 million in maintenance costs savings and $ 54.2 million in savings on waste generated. (https://www.usgbc. org/leed/why-leed).

Healthy and happy people, in a healthy working environment, provide the basis to build a healthy economy. That’s precisely why it’s important for everyone to understand that green buildings don’t only provide a healthy working environment, but also have a positive longterm impact on the global economy.

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CONSTRUCTION, TRANSPORT AND INFRASTRUCTURE 2021

INTERVIEW

BILJANA VUKSANOVIĆ, SECRETARY OF STATE AT THE MINISTRY OF CONSTRUCTION, TRANSPORT AND INFRASTRUCTURE

Network Of Cooperation

AND DEVELOPMENT Reducing the costs of trade and improving the efficiency of transport in the Western Balkans, as well as the institutional, physical and operational modernisation of the railway sector, will contribute to faster economic integration within the region, but also testify to the clear prospects of EU accession

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he unique pan-European transport infrastructure projects that integrate the projects of transEuropean highways north-south (TEM) and trans-European railways (TER) actually bring together and connect EU member states, but also EU membership candidate countries.

All of the projects in the domain of transport infrastructure that are being implemented in or are planned by the Republic of Serbia aim to further the indicative expansion of the EU Transport Network to the region of the Western Balkans, and thus also to Serbia.

In accordance with the Economic and Investment Plan, and the accompanying Green Agenda for the Western Balkans, which was adopted by the European Commission in October 2020 and contains priority areas for investment, improvement and cooperation in the field of transport, from both a national and regional aspect, and from the aspect of EU accession, the Republic of Serbia is investing intensively in the construction, renovation and modernisation of railway infrastructure, the improvement of navigational flows on inland waterways, as well as the construction and maintenance of the road network.

These investments should contribute to achieving the goal of interconnecting capital cities, ports and economic centres within the region, and to the interconnecting of the region with the European Union, thus

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CONSTRUCTION, TRANSPORT AND INFRASTRUCTURE 2021

improving trade through more efficient transport services, improving traffic safety and reducing transport’s negative impact on the environment.

In order to illustrate the works being undertaken, the infrastructure projects that contribute to fulfilling the stated goals in the Republic of Serbia are all projects on the renovation of the railway segment of Corridor X, such as the project to modernise the railway line along the Belgrade-Novi Sad-Subotica-Hungarian border route, the modernisation of the Niš-Dimitrovgrad railway line and the reconstruction and modernisation of the railway along the Valjevo-Vrbnica-Montenegrin border route, but also projects aimed at improving navigation on the Danube, such as the project to conduct works on critical sections of the Danube and Sava rivers and the overhaul of the Đerdap I lock, as well as projects to construct and renovate roads that represent part of the indicative expansion of the basic Trans-European transport network to the Western Balkans: the construction of the highway from Niš to the Merdare administrative crossing and the construction of the Belgrade Bypass and the highway BelgradePožega-Boljare (Montenegrin border).

Alongside the aforementioned projects, equal importance is given to investments in the development of multimodal transport solutions and the introduction of intelligent transport systems (ITS) that aim to ensure more efficient transport services and the reduction of CO2 emissions, but also to raise the level of traffic safety. The broad availability and use of information and communication technologies in public transport systems has the potential to make them “smarter”, with a reduced negative impact on the environment and adapted to cater to the needs of users.

In the following five-year period, and with the help of the World Bank, significant financial resources will be invested in projects aimed at improving trade and transport in the Western Balkans, as well as in the railway modernisation project. Reducing the costs of trade and improving the efficiency of transport in the Western Balkans, as well as the institutional, physical and operational modernisation of the railway sector, will contribute to faster economic integration

In the following five-year period, and with the help of the World Bank, significant financial resources will be invested in projects aimed at improving trade and transport in the Western Balkans, as well as in the railway modernisation project within the region, but also testify to the clear prospects of EU accession.

The Republic of Serbia will implement its ambitious five-year investment plan for transport infrastructure, with a total of around nine billion euros, in a sustainable manner and in accordance with the EU’s guidelines for the development of transport networks.

Infrastructure projects represent just one aspect of work on improving the transport sector and raising the level of transport services and standards to the European level. The main activities and cooperation, both through projects financed from European Union funds and through regional cooperation within theTransport Community

and EU macro-regional strategies for the Danube and Adriatic-Ionian region, aim to improve road safety and advance rail and water transport, as modes of transport that are favourable to the preservation of the environment. Within the scope of the aforementioned cooperation, priority topics are discussed and experiences are exchanged to ensure the improvement of the legislative and administrative framework, which – in addition to investments in infrastructure – will contribute to the development of the entire transport sector and raising it to the level of European and world standards.

By applying EU rules in the transport sector, and as part of the EU accession process, the Republic of Serbia will certainly follow the guidelines for the development of trans-European transport networks.

The trans-European network acquis will be implemented through the strengthening of administrative capacities and the defining of clear transport policies and transport development strategies. Through the fostering of partnerships in the development and maintenance of the trans-European network in the region, infrastructure projects will represent both the backbone of connectivity and an invaluable platform for the exchange of knowhow and experience.

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CONSTRUCTION, TRANSPORT AND INFRASTRUCTURE 2021

INTERVIEW

ALEKSANDRA DAMJANOVIĆ, STATE SECRETARY

More Efficient, Faster And

SIMPLER PROCEDURES We are witnessing a trend of constant growth in the number of applications for construction permits and approvals for building, as well as the number of issued acts, and this is undoubtedly a result of the simplification, increased efficiency and speeding up of procedures that electronic solutions have brought us

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he procedure for issuing construction permits and other acts of the relevant authorities in the process of constructing facilities (from location conditions to usage permits) has been carried out electronically since 1st January 2016, through the Central Register of Administrative Procedures (CEOP), which represents a unique, central, public, electronic database that contains statistics on the course of each individual case according to the requirements related to the construction, extension and reconstruction of facilities, decisions and other acts that arise in the unified procedure, as well as all documentation enclosed and obtained through those procedures.

With the introduction of the CEOP, it has been made possible for applicants parties - to obtain all required acts in the process of constructing facilities through a unique electronic “one-stop shop system”, where the bodies responsible for issuing these acts collect, on behalf of the party, all necessary documents available through the public records of other bodies, organisations and holders of public jurisdiction.

The party is thereby freed from the need to collect all the necessary documentation on their own, while the procedure is also more efficient, faster and simpler for applicants, bearing in mind that all communication between the competent authorities is carried out electronically, via the CEOP.

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Serving as an indicator of the extremely positive effects of introducing the CEOP is precisely the improved situation in the area of construction, and that progress can be best seen by drawing a comparison between public statistical indicators before and after its introduction. We would emphasise the fact that there has been a constant growth trend in the number of construction permits and approvals for building, as well as the number of issued acts, since the introduction of the CEOP, which is actually a direct result of the simplification, increased efficiency and speeding up of procedures.

The following table shows the number of issued construction permits and approvals for building in the period since the introduction of the CEOP until today, at the level of the Republic of Serbia, as well as the number of these acts that have been issued by the Ministry of Construction, Transport and Infrastructure. ne-stop counter system for cadasO tral registration The e-Counter has simplified and accelerated the procedure for entering cadastral data related to real estate with the competent services, as well as the procedure for calculating and collecting property taxes. With this service, we’ve eased the procedure for applicants, because the competent authorities take action – by submitting and obtaining the documents required to implement the procedure – and the client, as an e-Counter user, has access at any time to the necessary data and information available to them via this service: complete communication history, submitted and processed requests, as well as the current status of the case.

Considering that, in the exercising of their public jurisdictions, public administration bodies and other bodies and organisations make decisions or bring acts that provide the basis for data on

real estate to be entered into the competent real estate cadastral services, the e-Counter has made it possible for these bodies and organisations – in their capacity as executors of official submission – to submit these acts to the competent real estate cadastral services.

With the introduction of this information system, parts of activities have been automated, efficiency in processing requests has been increased and the need to visit real estate cadastral services has been reduced. Moreover, via this service the Tax Administrations, Local Tax Administrations and companies responsible for the unified collection of utility services are able to access notarial deeds (and tax returns), which is a way of simplifying the procedure of calculating and collecting property taxes, while land surveying organisations can communicate

With the introduction of the e-Counter system, the efficiency of processing requests has been increased and the need to visit real estate cadastral services has been reduced electronically, via the e-Counter, with the Republic Geodetic Authority and its narrower organisational units, in accordance with the Law on the Registration Procedure in the Real Estate Cadastre and Plans and the Law on State Survey and Cadastre, in procedures connected to the registration of real estate data.

E-Space The E-Space project aims to introduce an electronic data exchange system between holders of public jurisdictions in the process of preparing planning documents.

The E-Space project will apply a unified procedure in the process of compiling planning documents and represents a reform to the

system of real estate public records, as well as the manner and procedure through which planning documents are prepared, which will additionally shorten procedures and end the need to issue location information (this data will be publicly available), while citizens will be better informed about the possibilities and limitations of construction, which enables a timely response in the case that there are possible abuses and construction works that are contrary to the planning document.

The main objective of the E-Space project is to unify information from the real estate cadastre and planning documents, which will be publicly available to everyone in electronic form, making it possible to obtain information for each cadastral parcel on construction possibilities and restrictions, i.e. on the prohibiting of construction. It will also be possible to digitise and update data from the real estate cadastre and process that data quicker, easier and more efficiently, while planning documents will be produced in digital form, on updated bases.

E-Space shortens and accelerates the process of drafting planning documents, thus rendering the stage of collecting data and forming the base information for drafting plans more efficient. The participation of citizens will be more represented and of higher quality, with the enabling of digital insight into planning documents, while interested members of the public and citizens will be able to submit initiatives, remarks and suggestions in digital form, via internet applications.

With the E-Space project it will also be possible to better archive planning documentation and improve accessibility for everyone, which is important given that plans have the force of regulations following the adoption of planning documents. The E-Space project will improve the Central Register of Planning Documents and ease the use of data contained in planning documents.

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

PERMITS ISSUED BY THE MCTI (SOURCE: CEOP)

113

142

149

321

288

55*

PERMITS ISSUED AT THE NATIONAL RS LEVEL (SOURCE: RS STATISTICAL OFFICE)

12671

18477

19484

21844

22625

4524*

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CONSTRUCTION, TRANSPORT AND INFRASTRUCTURE 2021

FUTURE OF TRANSPORTATION

Driverless, Clean

AND EQUITABLE The digitalisation of transport is expected to propel safer, friendlier and more equitable solutions.

As part of the Digital Single Market Strategy, the European Commission aims to make more use of smart solutions to improve the way we use transport systems, as passengers and the economy.

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ising traffic demand, congestion, security of energy supply and climate change are just some of the major issues being faced by the European Union and the wider world. And therefore the developing of a comprehensive strategy for sustainable and smart mobility, and ensuring a transport sector that’s fit for a clean, digital and modern economy, represent some of the most important tasks of the European Commissioner for Transport.

Rising traffic demand, congestion, security of energy supply and climate change are just some of the major issues being faced by the European Union and the wider world. And therefore the developing of a comprehensive strategy for sustainable and smart mobility, 48

and ensuring a transport sector that’s fit for a clean, digital and modern economy, represent some of the most important tasks of the European Commissioner for Transport.

The long list of tasks includes the promotion of sustainable and alternative transport fuels for road, maritime and air transport, the modernisation of transport systems, such as connected and automated mobility, with a strong focus on digital innovation, swiftly completing the missing infrastructure links and the Trans-European Transport Network, and ensuring passenger rights while respecting the need for transport to remain affordable, reliable and accessible, particularly for low-income households and those in remote areas, as well as improving connectivity links,

particularly in the EU’s neighbourhood and across the Western Balkans.

If these goals are fulfilled, everything about the way we get around and how we live our lives is set to change profoundly. The Joint Research Centre (JRC), the Commission’s science and knowledge service, called it a perfect storm of new technologies and new business models that will transform the way we think about our vehicles and the way we think about transportation.

Road and railway transportation will be automated, connected and low-carbon, and will include shared mobility. This profound transformation will include changes in data governance, infrastructures, communication technologies and cybersecurity, as well as

CONSTRUCTION, TRANSPORT AND INFRASTRUCTURE 2021

legislation. Furthermore, this new approach will have deep impacts on the economy, employment and skills, energy use and emissions, the sustainability of raw materials, democracy, privacy and social fairness, as well as on the urban context.

These massive changes that are on the horizon represent an opportunity to move towards a transport system that is more efficient, safer, less polluting and more accessible to larger parts of society than is suggested by the current one, which is centred on car ownership.

In order for new transport technologies to make our lives better, the transport systems and policies have to live up to the demands of the 21st century. The improvement of governance and the development of innovative mobility solutions are crucial to ensuring a cleaner and more equitable future.

With its annual revenue stream of seven trillion euros, transport attracts disruptive technology companies that are not interested in preserving the current model in the way it

Swiftly completing the missing infrastructure links and the TransEuropean Transport Network, as well as improving connectivity links, particularly in the EU’s neighbourhood and across the Western Balkans, represent important goals within the current EU portfolio works now. Today there are flexible options, like electric bikes and scooters, and soon modular automated shuttles may make public transport more accessible. The JRC study on road transportation in the EU envisages innovations that can slash costs and spur demand, while full automation will leave drivers without jobs. On the other hand, electrification will simplify production and lower running costs, while sharing can increase profits by making vehicles work 24/7 and use the road more efficiently.

JRC sees this technological upheaval as a unique opportunity to turn the transport sector upside down and make it more efficient and rational. “For example,” reads the study “greater automation and connectivity may allow for regulated access to the road which, in turn,

could bring substantial benefits for traffic flow, transport efficiency and energy consumption”.

The research unit of the European Commission warns that, in particular, policymakers must take into account the fact that transport systems are extremely complex and their elements can often influence one another.

For example, it is expected that the railway sector will take a larger share of transport demand over the next few decades. The European Commission is working towards the creation of a Single European Railway Area and has promoted a modal shift from road to rail in order to achieve a more competitive and resource-efficient European transport system.

Indeed, according to the study “30 by 2030 - Rail Freight Strategy”, railways are becoming an attractive option to boost modal shift. For example, rail freight has a six-times lower specific energy consumption, mainly due to its intrinsic and persistent physical advantage of the low friction of steel wheels running on steel rails. This translates into six-times lower external costs compared to road transport, regardless of the energy source. In light of accelerating climate change, this makes current costs of rail transportation more advantageous than at present. The study claims that a higher modal share of 30% rail freight by 2030 is a better macroeconomic solution for European transport growth. However, this estimate was made before COVID-19 and assumed that there will be no further financial crises with a devastating impact on European industry and transport. Although we are today aware of the consequences of the pandemic, the EU is sticking firmly to its vision.

Yet whether the railway will prevail depends on many things. For example, projections of transport market growth suggest that the portion of goods with a low affinity to rail will increase, while goods with a high affinity to rail are likely to see a negative trend.

Furthermore, autonomous driving is expected to reduce the specific cost of road transport by substantial double-digit percentages by 2030. The study also suggests that in rail, asset replacement cycles are up to 10 times longer, which naturally limits the rate of innovation uptake, in the context of a relatively small rail freight supply market.

Unfortunately, providing sustainable financing models for rail freight undertakings is currently not a priority for many national policymakers, as they don’t see rail as the backbone or even an important part of mobility.

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NEWS

Serbia Is A Huge

CONSTRUCTION SITE Judging by the funds of the 2021 national budget that have been allocated for construction, transport and infrastructure, investments in capital projects in Serbia will be intensified this year.

According to the announcement of Minister Momirović, Serbia will be a huge construction site bustling with machines and workers MORAVIAN CORRIDOR CONSTRUCTION ACCELERATING

TOTAL OF 126.3 BILLION DINARS FOR 49 PROJECTS

Serbia’s national budget for 2021 envisages the allocating of a total of 126.3 billion dinars for 49 projects headed by the Ministry of Construction, Transport and Infrastructure. Accordingly, 40.5 billion dinars has been envisaged for the project of the Hungarian-Serbian high-speed railway, with 4.5 billion dinars for the construction of the Belgrade-Sarajevo highway and 1.1 billion dinars for construction of the Niš-Pločnik 50

section of the Niš-Merdare Highway.

Other planned projects also include the construction of the Preljina-Požega highway section, with 10.5 billion dinars earmarked to fund this project over the coming year, and 15 billion dinars for the Pojate-Preljina section of the highway.

A total of 8.5 billion dinars has been envisaged for the construction of the Ruma-ŠabacLoznica link road, as well as 2.6 billion dinars for the construction of the Novi Sad-Ruma expressway and 4.72 billion dinars for the Iverak-Lajkovac expressway. Some 6.3 billion dinars has been earmarked for construction of the section of the Belgrade Bypass that includes a bridge over the Sava near Ostružnica-Bubanj potok, with 1.03 billion dinars planned for the construction of the new bridge spanning the Sava in Belgrade.

Construction of the Moravian Corridor is set to be completed in accordance with the agreed dynamics and goals, thanks to the harmonising of all essential activities. This has been confirmed by Construction, Transport and Infrastructure Minister Tomislav Momirović, who held a working meeting with representatives of Bechtel Enke in mid-March, in an effort to speed up work on this important project.

“The Moravian Corridor will be the first digital highway in Serbia, making it one of the most important transport routes. The construction of this road will increase accessibility to municipal centres, economic zones and tourist destinations. This will be a magnificent roadway that will be the pride of future generations. It is being constructed to handle the maximum permitted speed of 130 kilometres per hour. A total of 11 slip roads and 130 other facilities will be built, including 71 bridges, 23 overpasses, five underpasses and 31 culverts,” noted Minister Momirović.

SELF-SUSTAINABLE CITY PROJECT TO REPRESENT SERBIA IN SEOUL “Self-Sustainable City”, a project of Belgrade architect Danilo Dangubić, has been selected through a major competition to represent

CONSTRUCTION, TRANSPORT AND INFRASTRUCTURE 2021

Serbia at this September’s Seoul Biennale of Architecture and Urbanism. His work will be exhibited in the South Korean capital alongside another 39 works that have been selected among 1,440 competition entries from around the world.

spaces, green areas, traffic solutions and communication, supporting functions, the organisation of apartments, structural assemblies, materialisation, details and other subtopics relevant to experts, the general public and direct users, i.e. residents.

CONCEPTUAL PARK EMERGING AT MARINA DORĆOL

The selection was based on the project SelfSustaining Belgrade, which was developed by Dangubić’s own architectural studio, “Danilo Dangubić Architects”.

“A “self-sustaining city” is a city that has the capacity to survive and continue living despite everything that happens to it. And I absolutely recognised Belgrade in that. Destroyed and conquered 44 times in 1,100 years, it has passed from occupier to occupier, endured bombings etc. One of the subtopics was the capacity of architects and architecture to utilise the subterranean part, using the land as space for construction. I chose Belgrade precisely because it has returned to its womb whenever it’s been in trouble. It has descended into its underground passages, caves and abandoned quarries. Belgrade lives with its womb,” explains Dangubić.

16TH BINA SCHEDULED FOR APRIL

Russian sculptor Alexander Rukavishnikov, creator of Belgrade’s newly erected monument to King Stefan Nemanja, will be in charge of arranging a conceptual park on the territory of Marina Dorćol. The park will be situated in the vicinity of the former “Power and Light” thermal power plant, where the Nikola Tesla Museum is set to be relocated, and will include sculptures that Rukavishnikov will create together with other young sculptors from Serbia and other countries.

“We discussed a new project that will be done in Belgrade, and that is the arranging of a conceptual park based on the example of Barcelona’s Güell Park,” said Deputy Mayor of Belgrade Goran Vesić after his meeting with Rukavishnikov, noting that the park will cover an area of approximately 6.6 hectares TIRŠOVA 2 AND DEDINJE 2 RANKED AMONG MOST IMPORTANT PROJECTS

The sixteenth edition of Belgrade International Architecture Week - BINA is set to take place from 22nd April to 20th May, under the organisation of the Association of Belgrade Architects and the Cultural Centre of Belgrade.

This year’s BINA programme will focus on the Belgrade School of housing, which – with its great breadth – encompasses urbanisation solutions, residential complexes, public

A total of 200 million euros has been allocated for investments that will be made via the Serbian Government’s Public Investment Management Office this year. Among the projects that are considered as being the most important are those in the field of healthcare, which includes the construction of the Tiršova

2 University Children’s Clinic and the Dedinje 2 Institute for Cardiovascular Diseases.

According to Marko Blagojević, director of the Public Investment Management Office, the project to construct the Tiršova 2 clinic is worth the most, with around 100 million euros having been allocated to finance the project, which corresponds to the estimated costs of construction and the procuring of necessary equipment.

The Public Investment Management Office doesn’t work exclusively on projects related to healthcare, as great attention is also paid to investments in educational facilities. Works are well underway on the construction of the new building of the Faculty of Organisational Sciences in Belgrade, which should become operational in November, while works on several dozen primary schools throughout Serbia are scheduled to be completed by the end of this year.

NEW HIGH-SPEED RAILWAY ENTERING FINAL CONSTRUCTION PHASE

Construction of the Belgrade to Novi Sad section of the new high-speed railway is entering its final phase, with works set to be completed by the end of this year. Accordingly, parallel preparations have been launched for the start of works on the section between Novi Sad and Subotica, according to an announcement of enterprise Serbian Railways Infrastructure.

All upcoming activities related to this project have been discussed by the management and expert services of Serbian Railways Infrastructure and representatives of the consortium of Chinese companies China Railway International and China Communications Construction Company.

The Novi Sad-Subotica railway, covering a distance of 108 kilometres, is the third section through Serbia within the scope of the international project to construct the Belgrade-Budapest high-speed railway. The contract is valued at around 1.16 billion dollars, while the deadline for completion is 33 months from the initial launch of works.

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