DRIM - Norwegian and Serbian Prime Ministers visited Human Rights House Belgrade and YUCOM premises

16-07-2018

During her official visit to the Republic of Serbia, Norwegian Prime Minister, Erna Solberg, along with Serbian Prime Minister, Ana Brnabic, visited the Human Rights House. The visit included an interview with several different civil society representatives. The agenda focused on the subject of human rights protection, with an emphasis on socio-economic perspectives and the legal right to work. The visit was an opportunity for the exchange of ideas regarding the improvment of social and economic rights. This included a shared dialogue of past experiences and good practices made in hopes of furthering the development of the human rights field.

During the dialogue with various organizations, the Norwegian Prime Minister pointed out that Norway was interested in improving the mobility of workers, and stressed the importance of this mobility in providing further economic development. In that context, YUCOM Director, Milan Antonijevic, presented the DRIM project, and outlined the ideas and efforts that partners from 8 countries have made to create an internet platform (DANUBE COMPASS) that would provide  migrants with more efficient economic integration opportunities.

Erna Solberg also emphasized that Norway is not perfect, and that they are also trying to secure jobs for all sectors of society. She explained that when people have a job, they are respected; they pay taxes, and expect their rights to be guaranteed in return. Solberg said that both countries can learn from one another, and that the common goal is to provide decent work for all citizens.

During her joint visit with Solberg, Prime Minister Ana Brnabic said that Serbia should be in the EU in order to establish a set of basic values that are necessary in the field of human rights. She posited that Serbia needs to make further progress regarding human rights, and that this in not only an obligation for the EU or the UN, but for all its citizens.

Programme co-funded by European Union funds (ERDF, IPA, ENI)