Zrenjanin hosted a meeting on February 5th 2025, bringing together municipalities and cities from Central and Northern Banat, representatives from the EU Delegation, the Standing Conference of Towns and Municipalities (SCTM) and the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS). The meeting focused on presenting the Programme “EU Support for integrated territorial development – EU Integra”. This programme, funded by the European Union with €15 million through the IPA III support programme, aims to modernize local governments in Serbia by applying European models for integrated territorial and sustainable urban development. The programme will be implemented from January 2025 to January 2029.
The key national institution responsible for the program is the Ministry of European Integration, while its implementation is carried out through two interlinked projects led by the Standing Conference of Towns and Municipalities (SCTM) and the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS).
The "EU Integra" programme is part of the European Union’s broader strategy to strengthen local government capacities and enhance inter-municipal cooperation in Serbia. The Head of Cooperation at the EU Delegation to Serbia, Nicola Bertolini, emphasized the Programme’s importance, stating:
“The development of local governments is a key factor in Serbia’s EU integration process. By strengthening regional cooperation and supporting the implementation of integrated territorial development strategies, we are laying the foundation for sustainable economic growth, improved public services, and better quality of life for citizens. The EU is committed to supporting local governments, as they are the closest institutions to the people and play a crucial role in fostering balanced regional development. With initiatives like EU Integra, we aim to reduce regional disparities, promote job creation, and encourage investments that directly benefit local communities."
During the meeting, special attention was given to the importance of regional cooperation and Zrenjanin’s key role as a regional center in connecting and supporting neighboring municipalities.
Zrenjanin's Mayor, Simo Salapura, highlighted the significance of EU support not only for the City of Zrenjanin but also for broader region:
“Aware of the financial challenges local governments face, we recognize the importance of funding from EU programs and cross-border projects. Zrenjanin has already demonstrated its commitment to European projects, as evidenced by the construction of the first 'smart building' in Banat – the Regional Development Center, realized with the support of the European Union.For these reasons, we appreciate today’s meeting in Zrenjanin and the opportunity to further develop our local governments and the region through the new EU Integra project” said the Mayor of Zrenjanin, Simo Salapura.
The part of the “EU Integra" project, implemented by SCTM, is focused on strengthening the capacities of local government units and regional development agencies for the preparation and implementation of integrated development projects. A grant scheme worth €10.14 million has been allocated to fund specific local and regional development initiatives.
Nikola Tarbuk, Secretary-General of SCTM, underlined that one of the key objectives of the project is to provide financial and technical support to local governments and regional development agencies at all stages of project implementation. He stated that SCTM aims to enable local governments to develop sustainable projects that will improve citizens’ living conditions and contribute to both local and regional development. He also noted that one of the key aspects of the program is the integration of project activities into the planning and budgeting systems of local governments, ensuring their long-term sustainability.
The European Union, in cooperation with the Ministry of European Integration through the EU PRO Plus programme implemented by UNOPS, has piloted an integrated approach to development in Šumadija, Western, Southern and Eastern Serbia, adapting territorial development to local characteristics and identities.
Within the framework of the “EU Integra” project, UNOPS continues to cooperate with local self-governments on the development of territorial strategies, which will then enable the implementation of concrete projects.
Building on the results achieved so far – twelve territorial strategies and 18 integrated projects worth almost 13 million Euros – UNOPS continues to strengthen capacities at the national, regional and local levels for the management of integrated territorial development.
The meeting reaffirmed the importance of inter-municipal cooperation within the territorial development approach and the need for a strategic framework for implementing projects that will contribute to the modernization and efficiency of local governments. Participants highlighted that coordinated action between all stakeholders at the national and local levels is crucial for maximizing the opportunities provided by the "EU Integra" program.
In the long term, this initiative will contribute to the stabilization and enhancement of local governments and regional capacities in line with Serbia’s EU accession reform processes.
