22th October 2009

The annual LDA Subotica Serbia Partners meeting was held on the 22th October in Wolverhampton UK, hosted by the municipal Council of Wolverhampton LDA Subotica’s lead partner. This is the second annual LDA-s partner meeting in 2009., implemented with the support of EU Operational grant.

After the last year's meeting, partners of LDA Subotica Serbia, 11 representatives of the local/regional authorities and NGO-s had an intensive communication regarding the activities of LDA Subotica and its partners. The meeting started with external Evaluation Report on LDA Subotica held by Cllr. Neville Patten, Leader of the Council. Behalf of LDA’s Host City Subotica, Mr Dejan Zvekic, mayors adviser for international cooperation, presented political situation of local self-government in and civil society, who cooperate more closely on cross boarder projects and development of civil society in region of Vojvodina.

Overview of LDA activities was made by Olga Perusic, LDA Subotica Delegate, emphasizing the project “Regional partnership for intercultural cities”, submitted by DG Enlargement European Commission, in which City of Subotica is a lead applicant and Light house Wolverhampton, ALDA and LDA Subotica, Mostar and Osijek are the project partners. About the expected results and engagements of Light house from Wolverhampton was presented by Mr Frank Challenger , Director and Mr. Ben Oram, in charge of the movie production.

Close cooperation with Buskerud community, Norway and the project financed by Ministry of Foreign affairs of Norway “Microcredit scheme in South East Europe” was presented by the Delegate and Mr. Kåre Henning, representative of Buskerud County Council in charge for international affairs.

The main challenges of the LDA Subotica in the forthcoming period are related to search for more support by new partner in order to answer on increasing needs for capacity building of local authorities in region of Vojvodina for EU integration process, local economic development and cross border cooperation. Therefore, a new synergy should be launched among the partners, new partners and the host city of Subotica, as a result of more successful projects implemented by LDA.

PARTICIPANTS:

1. Lead Partner: Cllr. Mr. Neville Patten, Leader of the Council Wolverhampton (UK)
2. Cllr Mrs Paddy Bradley, Cabinet member for Regeneration
3. Cllr. Mr. Roger Lawrence, Leader of the Labour Group Wolverhampton (UK)
4. Partner: Mr. Kåre Henning, Buskerud County Council, Norway
5. Partner: Ms. Gunn-Torill H. Mathisen, Buskerud County Council, Norway
6. LDA Host city: Mr. Dejan Zvekic, Mayors adviser for international cooperation Subotica, Serbia
7. Mr. Frank Challenger, Lighthouse Wolverhampton (UK)
8. Mr. Ben Oram, Lighthouse Wolverhampton (UK)
9. Ms. Kelly Jeffs, Lighthouse Wolverhampton (UK)
10. Mr. Per Vinter, Association of Local Democracy Agencies
11. Ms. Olga Perusic, Delegate of LDA Subotica