No roaming charges when travelling or calling family in the EU, medicines available as they are in Slovenia or Germany, children leaving to study through the Erasmus programme and returning because they have the same living and working conditions at home, equality before the law, and clean rivers.

These are just some of the important changes that citizens of Kragujevac, Novi Pazar and Kraljevo highlighted as essential for a better and more dignified everyday life in Serbia, should our country become a member of the European Union.

Citizens cast their votes by placing their answers into a ballot box which, during May, the Month of Europe, travelled across Western Serbia and Šumadija together with volunteers and members of the European Movement in Serbia team.

Together with partners on the project “Road Signs to the EU through Western Serbia and Šumadija”, the Rural Development Network from Kraljevo, the European Movement in Valjevo and the Civic Forum from Novi Pazar, they spoke with citizens about what European integration means in concrete terms for local communities, and what benefits EU membership can bring to individuals and to society as a whole.

Following the successful campaign activities carried out in May, the ballot box continued its journey in June. Citizens of Valjevo, Užice and Aranđelovac had the opportunity to vote for the changes they believe would improve life in their local communities.

“When people speak about the European Union, they speak about very concrete, everyday issues. They recognise European values through a higher standard of living, better healthcare, opportunities for employment or education in EU countries, and even through the question of whether they have to pay roaming charges when calling family in Europe,” said Dragana Đurica, Secretary General of the European Movement in Serbia.

The direct communication campaign with more than 2,000 citizens was also an excellent opportunity to further inform people in this part of Serbia about the importance of Serbia’s membership in the EU, Đurica added.

The results of the “vote” will be presented in the coming period.

The campaign “Openly about the EU with Citizens” is implemented within the project “Road Signs to the EU through Western Serbia and Šumadija”, carried out by the European Movement in Serbia with the aim of strengthening the capacities of local organisations and promoting European values in regional communities.

This project is funded by the European Union.