1. СУБОТИЦА SZABADKA SUBOTICA EUROPEAN INTERCULTURAL CITIES PROGRAMME 2008

2. FACTS Subotica - the second largest but the most beautiful city in Vojvodina – north of Serbia Known also as the Gateway of Serbia to EU Traditionally high level of intercultural understanding and tolerance, developed culture of political dialogue Hungarians 38,50% Serbs 24,14% Croats 11,24% Bunjevac 10,95% Other: Yugoslavs 5,76% Montenegrins 1,25 % Roma 1,17% Albanians Ruthenians

3. FACTS Most of the ethnic communities have a centuries’ long history of living together but some are newcomers: refugees and displaced persons from war affected areas Challenges of learning the skill of urban cultural interaction Religious groups Roman Catholics 63 % Orthodox: 26% Protestants: 1,90 Others

4. FACTS During 90-ties: years of ethnic fragmentations Politically instigated increased ethnic distance Lack of opportunities for intercultural communication After 2002: Process of institutionally supported confidence building at local level In 2007: out of 674 marriages – 339 ethnically mixed

5. Priorities Local economic development strategy: … Seeking development sources: Ethnic diversity and institutions supporting intercultural communication … Advantages of bilingual + English/German speaking professionals … cross-border region connecting Serbia, Hungary, Croatia seen as an asset, rather than a weakness

6. GOALS Bringing the diverse ethnic groups closer through: 1) improved local governance 2) intercultural mediation 3) promoting cultural identities

7. GOALS Bring the diverse ethnic communities closer through: 4) events celebrating cultural heritage 5) Intercultural education 6) Media reporting

8. CULTURE Institutions/Events: City Museum, Art Gallery Religious heritage Inter-ethno Festival Duzijanca – harvest days

9. INTERCULTURAL MEDIATION Roma Education Centre: Mediation programme in neighbourhood community centres, For improving the situation of Roma children in elementary schools

10. MEDIA REPORTING Awareness raising component Promoting the ICC Programme and activities in Subotica and the region of Vojvodina Training component for the journalists: visit to ICC cities, reporting on EU good local practice (YU eco tv) Sensibilisation of the local media for intercultural governance related issues Project approved – with the support of Vojvodina Fund for non-profit sector

11. ICC exchange of good local practice Cities selected and now participating in the pilot programme: Berlin Neukölln (Germany)Berlin Neukölln Craiova (Romania)Craiova Izhevsk (Russian Federation)Izhevsk Lublin (Poland)Lublin Lyon (France)Lyon Melitopol (Ukraine)Melitopol Neuchâtel (Switzerland)Neuchâtel Oslo (Norway)Oslo Patras (Greece)Patras Reggio Emilia (Italy)Reggio Emilia Subotica (Serbia)Subotica Greenwich (UK)Greenwich

12. LDA Projects promoting intercultural governance Local Partnerships for tolerance European and our affairs Regional partnerships for intercultural exchange

13. LDA in co-operation the host city of SUBOTICA THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION Andrea Losonc, Mayor’s Office Stanka Parac, Local Democracy Agency