A Brush with the Future: Celebrating 15 Years of Youth Creativity

In 2025, the EU PRO Plus competition with the theme "Create, Play, Connect the World!" encouraged young people to show how art and sport build communities, move and connect people. The theme, seemingly simple, carries a powerful message. Lena Smiljanić, a student of the Užice Grammar School, won first place with an artwork that emphasises that there is no personal growth without art and sports. Second place went to Petra Branković, from the "Nikola Tesla" Electrical Engineering and Construction School from Jagodina, for whom music and sport build harmonious communities, while the third prize went to Faruk Džudžević from the School of Textile and Leather Design from Novi Pazar, reminding us to never stop dreaming and creating as  we grow and learn in that way.

Adding to the excitement, the School for Primary and Secondary Education "Jelena Majstorović" from Zaječar was declared the best school for its dedication to nurturing young talent. 

The competition itself, supported by the Delegation of the European Union to Serbia and the Ministry of European Integration, is more than a celebration of artistic skill.

"You have shown that sports and art teach us team spirit, fair play and mutual respect", said Plamena Halacheva, Deputy Head of the Delegation of the European Union in Serbia, while congratulating the winners, she pointed out that although the works were created in different cities and schools in Serbia, they all carry the same message—that creation, play and cooperation are universal languages ​​that know no borders.

"We are glad that young people recognise the European Union's support to Serbia as they see in their communities how investments in sports halls, playgrounds and cultural centers, as well as youth exchange and mobility programmes, create new opportunities for connection and progress. For us, this calendar is a symbol of your creativity, but also a message about the values ​​we share—solidarity, equality, inclusion and respect for diversity," she  said. 

With special gratitude expressed the professors who, with their knowledge and dedication, supported young authors, as well as the schools that foster creativity and active participation of young people, Halacheva added that the European Union remains a strong partner for young people in Serbia, as they are building a connected, open and just society.

This year, 160 works from 40 high schools and grammar schools from the territory covered by the programme were submitted to the competition, while the 12 best were selected by the votes of the jury and the audience.

"For almost two decades, the European Union, in partnership with the Ministry of European Integration and with the support of UNOPS, has been investing in the more balanced local development of Serbia. Through the completed  programmes but also through those that are their successors—once EU PROGRES, European PROGRES, EU PRO and EU PRO Plus, and now EU INTEGRA—numerous projects have been implemented that show that European integration has a very concrete and visible impact on the everyday life of citizens. The participants of this competition through their artworks tell us that European values ​​are alive, close and present in our communities," said Danilo Golubović, special advisor to the Minister of European Integration.

"The Calendar Art Competition is certainly one of our most beautiful activities because we have the opportunity to work with you young people, to see how you look at the world, and what you think about important topics—from solidarity and new technologies, to environmental protection, equality and inclusion. You have delighted us every time with your art talent and maturity and views on the world, and you helped us to better plan activities that meet the needs of both you, the youth, and your local communities," said Marko Vujačić, Head of Programme of UNOPS South East Europe Multi-Country Office.

As the calendar pages turn in 2026, they’ll do more than mark the passing days. They’ll tell a story of imagination and collaboration, reminding us all that when young people dream big, the world changes for the better.