Round table – communicating EU-supported projects: EU funds improve the quality of life, and the beneficiaries see the allocation of EU funding as a success

The national network of communicators INFORM-SI, responsible for the communication of the projects supported by EU Funds, organised a round table titled EU funding and projects – synergies in the field of communication. The round table took place on 15 June 2022. Špela Smuk, Head of Culinary Arts and Tourism Institute Culinary Delicacies of the Dolenjska region, Mario Benkoč, Head of Europe Direct Koper – Capodistria, Peter Geršič, Head of Regional Development Office of the Urban Municipality Novo mesto, and dr Simon Kulovec, Director, responsible for development in the company Podkrižnik LLC, shared their experiences, best practices and proposals on how to communicate EU-supported projects. 

The round table that took place at the premises of the Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy was hosted by Marjanca Scheicher and focused on the interesting practices of communicating EU-supported investments and projects. Mario Benkoč presented several activities organised by Europe Direct Koper – Capodistria for young people – various events that take place in the Slovenia coastal area, as well as on social networks such as evening talks at the Café Evropa and the project Green Cohesion, which resulted in broadcasting awareness-raising information on Radio and Television Slovenia on the development and protection of the environment.

Špela Smuk presented a very interesting project Dobrote Dolenjske (delicacies of the Dolenjska region) for which the Local Action Group (LAG) of the Dolenjska region and LAG Suha Krajina, Temenica and Krka were allocated EU funding under the European Regional Development Fund and the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development. Information about the project is also spread among young people, including the Grm School of Agriculture and local educational institutions. In addition to contributing to sustainable rural development EU funds improve the quality of life in urban areas which was demonstrated by Peter Geršič from the Urban municipality Novo mesto. He underlined that the beneficiaries should communicate the vision and the common goal of EU-supported projects that improve not only the lives of a small number of people but also have a wider impact on municipalities and their residents, the economy and the entire region. Dr Simon Kulovec from the Podkrižnik LLC Company, which focuses on systemic propelling solutions in the field of electromobility and Industry 4.0, agreed and said that “the allocation of EU funding is a success.”