The public call for submitting project proposals under the “EU Support to Integrated Territorial Development – EU INTEGRA” programme was presented during the Info Days held on July 21 and 22, 2025, in Kragujevac and Niš. More than 60 representatives of local governments, institutions, and organizations attended the events and had the opportunity to learn more about the objectives, criteria, and application procedures for the public call, which will remain open until October 8, 2025.
Funded by the European Union with €15 million through the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA III), the EU INTEGRA programme is implemented in partnership with the Ministry of European Integration, the Standing Conference of Towns and Municipalities (SCTM), and the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS). The programme focuses on strengthening and modernizing local self-governments in Serbia by applying European models of integrated territorial and sustainable urban development. It promotes a multisectoral approach, local partnerships, and development planning aligned with the principles of the EU cohesion policy.
Through this public call, local self-governments and their partners have the opportunity to implement territorial strategies developed during the previous EU support cycle. The aim is to enhance the institutional and operational capacities of local governments, improve public services and citizens’ quality of life, foster greater community engagement in development processes, ensure more balanced territorial development, and increase the efficiency of EU funds utilization.
The call is open to cities and municipalities that developed territorial strategies under the EU PRO Plus programme, with a total grant budget of €4,720,000. Supported thematic areas include strengthening urban identity, the transition of green and energy, sustainable mobility, a smart and innovative economy, social well-being, and governance of urban and territorial development. Projects focused on the urban area of a single local government unit may receive grants ranging from €100,000 to €500,000, while those covering multiple municipalities may receive between €500,000 and €1,500,000. The European Union will co-finance between 55% and 80% of total eligible project costs.
During the Info Day in Niš, the new digital platform “EU OPPORTUNITIES” was also introduced. Designed for local stakeholders, the platform provides a more structured and accessible overview of available European Union funds and programmes.
The EU INTEGRA programme is being implemented from January 2025 to January 2029. The component led by the Standing Conference of Towns and Municipalities includes a grant scheme worth €10,140,000, along with technical and advisory support for local governments and their partners in project preparation and implementation.
Detailed information about the public call and application documents is available at: www.skgo.org/konkursi.