Ambassador Đurović: Cooperation between Serbia and the CoE Development Bank is very important

04. Jun 2021.
On the occasion of the 65th anniversary of the founding of the CoE Development Bank, Ambassador to the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Serbia to the Council of Europe, Aleksandra Đurović, pointed out the importance of cooperation between Serbia and the Bank, within which projects in the field of education, health, social protection, environmental protection and energy efficiency are implemented.

In an interview published on the website of the CoE Development Bank, Ambassador Đurović said that membership in the CoE Development Bank gives Serbia the opportunity to contribute to the Bank's unique social mandate, which makes it a relevant institution for strengthening social cohesion and ensuring a more inclusive and sustainable economy in Europe.

Among the projects implemented in Serbia in cooperation with the CoE Development Bank, Đurović presented the project of building the University Children's Hospital "Tirsova 2" in Belgrade, projects "University Infrastructure" and "Student Housing", whose goal is an improvement of access to university education in Serbia, as well as the project "Water supply and wastewater treatment".

Ambassador Đurović pointed out the support provided by the CoE Development Bank to the Regional Housing Programme, emphasizing that by the end of January 2021, that program provided accommodation for 5,285 most endangered refugee families in Serbia.

Regarding the future functioning of the Bank, Đurović stated that its social mandate is becoming increasingly important given the wide range of social issues that Europe will have to face in the coming years.

She also noted that it is important for the Bank to bear in mind the consequences of climate change and the adaptation measures in areas such as housing, energy, health, education and employment, as well as that it should strengthen the focus on long-term integration of vulnerable groups.

Ambassador Đurić pointed out that in the future, the Bank should continue to support Serbia in achieving its goals agreed with the EU in the energy sector, water supply and sewerage, as well as in the waste and environment sector, and continue to promote sustainable economic development.

Đurović also assessed that the activities in the countries that belong to the target group of the CoE Development Bank should remain a strategic focus for the Bank.