“Social enterprise as an opportunity for economic development, cooperation and community progress through the development of social enterprises” was the topic of the final conference of the cross-border project “Social entrepreneurship for the development of the region”, which was held at the European House in Kriva Palanka.
Social enterprises as an opportunity for economic development, cooperation and progress of communities through the development of social entrepreneurship were the topic of the final conference of the cross-border project “Social Entrepreneurship for Regional Development” held at the “European House Kriva Palanka”.
Social enterprises as an opportunity for economic development, cooperation and progress of communities through the development of social entrepreneurship were the topic of the final conference of the cross-border project “Social Entrepreneurship for Regional Development” held at the “European House Kriva Palanka”. The conference discussed the current state of the solidarity economy, European experiences, and the upcoming legal frameworks in the country, and the organizers, project partners and the mayor of Kriva Palanka, Saško Mitovski, spoke, who welcomed and shared the experience of cross-border cooperation with Serbia of the Municipality of Kriva Palanka and Leskovac.
The first panel discussed the current state of the solidarity economy, European experiences, and upcoming legal frameworks, which were discussed by Barbara Sadovska, president of the Barka Foundation from Poland and team leader of the “Support to Social Enterprises” project, about how they function in the neighborhood, Zorana Milovanović – Coalition for the Development of Solidarity Economy and Snezana Milisavljević – “Putokaz Kragujevac”, as well as the government representative, Nola Ismajloska Starova, national coordinator for regional cooperation and European integration, who presented the opportunities for placement on common markets and the economic potential offered by the “Open Balkans” program.
This project is the fruit of nine years of cooperation between ARNO and the Trag Foundation from Serbia, within the framework of the regional competition for green ideas. The idea to apply for the first call for cross-border cooperation came organically, and we are grateful for the European donor support. Social entrepreneurship is needed by our citizens, the region has similar challenges, but also clear roadmaps where it should go – towards inclusion, towards stable markets, towards Europe. This today is neither the beginning nor the end, just part of a story that we need to tell loudly, so that it resonates on both sides of the border and inspires more and more social and green businesses. What we have planted will sprout – let it be knowledge, help and solidarity, said Irina Janevska from ARNO. The attendees of the event received a planting card which is a promotional eco-material of the project made by Macedonian green business, eco-pencils from Serbian green business and a calendar with pictures and messages of the 12 Macedonian and Serbian social enterprises that participated in the project.
This project is funded by the European Union through a grant worth €159,000.00, the Department for Contracts and Financing of Programs Funded by the European Union within the Ministry of Finance, which signed this grant agreement within the framework of the IPA II Cross-Border Cooperation Program 2106-2020 Serbia – North Macedonia.
Photos: Saša Đorđević and Jelena Đukić Pejić
