Visit of EU Delegation Representative Timothy Baines

Timothy Baines, Program Manager of the EU Delegation to Serbia, recently visited SMAC Innovation – Educational Park.

During the visit, Mr Baines was introduced to the SMAC activities, innovative technologies and methods used in the process of humanitarian demining, educational programs aimed at raising awareness of the safety of citizens in local communities, as well as training courses according to the International Mine Action Standards that are carried out in the SMAC Innovation and Educational Park.

During the discussion, Mr Baines emphasized the importance of international cooperation in solving the problem of explosive remnants of war, stressing the role of the EU in providing support to Serbia in this field.

Cooperation between the EU and the Republic of Serbia in the field of demining is implemented through various projects that include financial assistance from the EU, education and training of experts in Serbia, procurement of modern technologies and equipment.

With the aim of strengthening the capacity of the Republic of Serbia in the field of demining and destruction of UXO, within the cooperation of the SMAC with the Ministry of Defense, with the financial support of the EU Delegation in Belgrade, in 2021, project called  „Traininig of Trainers for the Conduct of Explosive Ordnance Disposal EOD Level 1 and EOD Level 2 Training“ was implemented.

Thanks to this EU-funded project, nine trainees from the Ministry of Defence, the Serbian Army and the SMAC successfully completed the training, which confirmed their results and efforts put in this area and for which they were awarded with internationally recognised certificates.