Novi Sad-based Erste Bank announced it has opened what it calls its EU office in Belgrade
The purpose of the office will be to facilitate access to EU fund for Serbian companies.
"Our aim is to offer Erste Bank clients, but also other small and medium enterprises, help to come up with projects to apply for EU pre-accession financial support funds," coordinator with the bank, Mirjana Šakić, explained.
According to her, most Serbian companies are at present unprepared to compete for the funds without expert assistance.
"Our EU office will help local communities and entrepreneurs prepare projects and apply for subsidies and loans from the European funds," Šakić added.
Erste Bank will publish a monthly EU Monitor, set to deal with subjects related to Serbia's EU integration process and preparations undertaken by companies as they seek to meet EU standards.
The bank's PR, Gertruda Han, stressed that she hoped Serbian companies will utilize the opportunities offered by the EU funds in the right way.
"EU accession is not the only important thing, what matters is to make it into a good job," she said, and added that Erste Bank had its EU offices in Vienna, Prague, Budapest, Bratislava and Zagreb.
Source: EM Online