Bajina Bašta strengthens climate resilience through the EU Integra Programme

The Municipality of Bajina Bašta is one of the partners in the project “Prevention, Response and Adaptation to Climate Changes in the ITI Užice – JOINT PATH 2 RESILIENCE”, implemented through the European Union support programme for integrated territorial development in Serbia – EU INTEGRA, in partnership with the Ministry of European Integration and with financial support from the European Union through IPA III funds.

The EU INTEGRA Programme is implemented by the Standing Conference of Towns and Municipalities (SCTM) and the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS), with the aim of advancing sustainable urban and integrated territorial development in Serbia through the application of European Union Cohesion Policy principles and the strengthening of local partnerships.

Activities planned in Bajina Bašta include the improvement of public spaces through greening and landscaping works in part of the “Braća Milutinović” Sports and Recreation Centre, as well as along Milenka Topalovića Street, from the House on the Drina to the intersection with Dragoljuba Bešlića Street. These interventions will contribute to enhancing the quality of public spaces, increasing green areas and improving the local community’s capacity to adapt to climate-related challenges.

In addition to improvements in public infrastructure and green spaces, the project also envisages the procurement of equipment for emergency response services, further strengthening capacities for the protection of citizens and a more effective response to climate-related and other emergency risks.

The JOINT PATH 2 RESILIENCE project is one of five integrated projects supported under the first grant scheme of the SCTM component of the EU INTEGRA Programme. It represents an example of a territorial partnership aimed at improving climate resilience, sustainable development and the quality of life of citizens across the Užice ITI territory.

The project is led by the City of Užice, while partners include the municipalities of Bajina Bašta, Čajetina and Požega, the Zlatibor Regional Development Agency, and the Ministry of Interior of the Republic of Serbia – Sector for Emergency Management.

The project’s objective is to improve systems for climate change prevention, response and adaptation through an integrated approach that combines public infrastructure improvements, strengthened institutional capacities and the development of more resilient local communities.

The total value of the project “Prevention, Response and Adaptation to Climate Changes in the ITI Užice – JOINT PATH 2 RESILIENCE” amounts to EUR 2.3 million, of which the European Union is providing EUR 1.3 million in grant funding through the EU INTEGRA Programme. More than EUR 231,000 of EU grant funding has been allocated to activities implemented within the Municipality of Bajina Bašta.

The EU INTEGRA Programme is funded by the European Union with a total value of EUR 15 million. The Programme supports integrated territorial development in Serbia through the application of European Union Cohesion Policy principles, the strengthening of local partnerships and the implementation of sustainable development initiatives that contribute to improving citizens’ quality of life.