On Wednesday, February 8, 2017, the Office for Cooperation with Civil Society held the first event this year dedicated to the Europe for Citizens Programme entitled "Culture of Memory as a Part of European Values: Serbia's Participation in the Europe for Citizens Program". Over 40 representatives of civil society organizations, local self-government units, cultural and educational institutions participated in this meeting.

In the introductory address, Acting Director of the Office, Žarko Stepanović emphasized the importance of preserving the culture of memory and the great significance of the “Europe for Citizens” programme for Serbia, as it encourages the networking of our actors with the foreign as well as the cooperation of local self-governments and civil society organizations. He also stressed the fact that for four years of participation in the program, projects with lead applicants from Serbia were financed in the amount of over 1.5 million euros, and that only in 2016, 10 projects were approved.

Marina Tadić, contact person at the Office for the EFC programme, introduced the participants with the structure and priorities of the programme.

The focus of the presentation was on the first chapter of the program - European Remembrance, and four projects were presented in which actors from Serbia participate as applicants and partners. The Center for Cultural Decontamination and the Belgrade Historical Archives presented examples of good practice as project applicants, while representatives of the Humanitarian Law Center and KOM 018 - Youth Empowerment Club spoke about their experiences from the perspective of project partners.