The second candidate country joining REC4EU is Serbia!
Since the beginning of the 3rd semester, the REC4EU consortium has now 2 new partners participating in the project as "discovery partners", who joined in the framework of Interreg Europe programme area enlargement to the 7 EU candidate countries (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia and Ukraine).
The Regional Development Agency Srem (RDA Srem) is the second partner we are going to present.
The interregional exchange meeting held in Tampere (Finland) in June 2024 marked a special occasion for our project, because it was the first time that REC4EU partners gathered with the two new members, even if they participated online.
They then took part to the first Steering Committee online on July 3rd 2024 where they were explained in detail which was their roles, tasks and dealines.
Here is a short presentation of partner N. 9: The Regional Development Agency Srem (RDA Srem)
The Company was established by a group of 7 municipalities in the Srem District, Serbia, with the aim of carrying out tasks related to regional development. RDA Srem operates in several directions:
- business support for SMEs,
- mentoring for startup companies (RDA Srem manages an Innovation Startup Center providing support to innovative enterprises in the field of EE&RES, sustainable develop., and circular economy),
- development of communal infrastructure,
- rural development, etc.
An important aspect of development is the application of organisational models that enable efficient regional development and inter-municipal cooperation.
RDA Srem has developed the model of Inter-Municipal Working Groups, (IMWG) through which it manages regional and local projects. The IMWG for EE&RES is particularly significant, as it involves various competent experts and manages projects that support the implementation of renewables and organisational models of usage.
RDA Srem has conducted an analysis of the legal framework and opportunities for establishing energy communities in Serbia to promote energy decentralisation and reduce the region's dependence on fossil fuels. The legal framework for encouraging the creation of energy communities encompasses the Energy Law and the Law on Rational Use of Energy, which also includes a wide range of stakeholders: municipalities, public enterprises, the private sector, innovative companies, NGOs, equipment manufacturers, etc.
RDA Srem joined REC4EU in Semester 3. They benefit from Semesters 1 and 2 learnings and ongoing engagement in all project activities.
RDA Srem received the documentation prepared for REC4EU. They worked at regional level, with support from LP, to complete the Step 1 territorial analysis, considering technical, regulatory, economic and social barriers to RECs in Srem region, the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina and the Republic of Serbia. For this purpose they used the SWOT template, identifying needs and work to prioritise them. They exchanged results with REC4EU partners and the other Discovery Partner. RDA Srem was introduced to Good Practices identified (Step 2).
During Step 2 and 3 (policy change), RDA Srem will participate in all interregional exchange activities, taking part in meetings and sharing experiences (GPs if available). RDA Srem will use the opportunity to exchange on topics linked to REC governance at different levels both in the phase of REC creation and development. They also will share their experiences linked to community involvement contributing to the engagement path content that is going to be developed by partners starting with Semester 4.
One workshop will be held in Srem with all REC4EU partners. An important REC initiative in schools will conclude in 2025 and REC partners will visit the site.
Should the need be, RDA Srem will engage stakeholders with bilateral calls. During the project, they could exceptionally organise meetings to build selected stakeholders' capacity thanks to project learning.
Looking forward to meeting you personally in next meeting early next year in Bratislava!