State Secretary of the Ministry for European Integration, Mira Radenović Bojić, and , Head of Cooperation of the Delegation of the European Union in Serbia, Nikola Bertolini, visited significant cross-border projects in Zlatibor on February 26, 2025.
During their visit, they toured the production facility of the dairy “Naša Zlatka” in Kriva Reka, where the results of the project “From Hills to Dairies” were presented. Mr.Bertolini stated that he was very pleased with how the project was implemented, as EU funds were used in the best possible way to support the local economy. The director of “Eko Agrar,” Marko Marić, pointed out that the dairy currently processes three to four thousand liters of milk per day, with a significant portion dedicated to the production of organic dairy products.
The project “From Hills to Dairies” was implemented within the Serbia–Montenegro Cross-border Cooperation Program 2007–2013, significantly contributing to the improvement of milk production in Zlatibor.
Additionally, officials attended the final conference of the project “Via Dinarica”, in which the EU invested 282,594 euros out of the total project value of 337,555 euros. Since the project’s inception, 350 kilometers of new hiking trails have been marked in Serbia, while in Bosnia and Herzegovina, 320.6 kilometers of existing trails have been maintained, and a 160-kilometer route has been mapped to connect trails in both countries, creating a unique Via Dinarica – Green Trail route totaling 825 kilometers.
State Secretary Mira Radenović Bojić highlighted that this project is a significant example of successful cross-border cooperation and demonstrates how EU funds can be effectively used for sustainable regional development. “This project is not just an investment in infrastructure but also in the people who will benefit from improved tourism offerings and preserved nature,” said Radenović Bojić. She added that this collaboration is a good model that should be applied to other cross-border initiatives.
“Over the past seven years, the European Union has invested 14 million euros in cross-border cooperation projects between Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. Our priority is to support and economically empower the local population. The EU is a friend and partner of Serbia and will continue to be in the future,” Bertolini stated at the conference in Zlatibor.
The visit concluded with an inspection of the trail developed under the project “E-Cross Pass”. The project successfully developed and marked a total of 595.5 km of hiking trails along the E7 route, including 339.4 km in Serbia and 255.6 km in Bosnia and Herzegovina. These trails connect western Serbia and the Tuzla Canton, with a special emphasis on linking the protected areas of Konjuh in Tuzla Canton and Tara National Park, which hold immense potential for tourism development and environmental preservation.
