Belgrade | 14 July 2025

EU support to the development of local self-governments - Public Call for Applications for Development of Territorial Strategies within the EU INTEGRA programme published

Local self-governments from the regions of Šumadija and Western, Southern and Eastern Serbia and Vojvodina have the opportunity to apply for technical assistance for the development of territorial strategies through the public call of the Programme "EU support for integrated territorial development - EU INTEGRA" funded by the EU and led by the Ministry of European Integration, implemented by the Standing Conference of Towns and Municipalities and UNOPS.

The Call, published within the programme component implemented by UNOPS, is designed for local self-governments that have not yet developed territorial strategies, and provide them expert support in the preparation of these strategic documents for sustainable territorial development. The territorial strategies will enable identifying key economic and social potentials for the development of urban and functional areas, while improving capacities at the local and regional level for implementing the EU model for integrated territorial and sustainable urban development.

“The integrated approach to territorial development promotes balanced socio-economic development in Serbia and contributes to improving the quality of life of people, while it is an important element of the accession process within Chapter 22, related to regional policy and preparation for the use of structural funds of the European Union. In this process, the development of territorial strategies is a prerequisite and an important step in the direction of more efficient use of the EU development funds within the framework of EU Cohesion Policy. This Call is also the opportunity for our local self-governments and other local and regional actors to strengthen capacities and improve planning of the development of their communities," said Nemanja Starović, Minister of European Integration.

The local self-governments that are eligible to submit the applications for the Call open by 21 August 2025, need to have the status of the city and can apply independently if they are applying for an urban area, or in partnership with at least three local self-governments and a competent regional development agency for applications that include a wider territory of influence of the urban area in accordance with the criteria defined in the call.

"Through the EU INTEGRA programme, the European Union confirms its continuous support for local development in Serbia, directly contributing to a better life for people. We have already piloted this integrated approach to territorial development, which in the EU has proven to be successful in ensuring balanced development, through the EU PRO Plus programme while adapting it to the context in Serbia. Its results are reflected in twelve territorial strategies and 18 integrated projects derived from these strategic documents across these territories that directly contribute to the development of tourism, improvement of education conditions, better waste management, just to mention a few" said Emanuele Giaufret, Ambassador of the European Union to Serbia.

As 12 territorial strategies already developed territorial strategies, the cities of Čačak, Jagodina, Kikinda, Kraljevo, Novi Sad, Pančevo, Požarevac, Prokuplje, Sombor, Sremska Mitrovica, Subotica, Valjevo, Vranje, Vršac and Zrenjanin are eligible to be applicants in the territory covered by the EU INTEGRA programme.

Through this call, local self-governments will receive expert support to develop territorial strategies in accordance with the regulatory framework of the EU Cohesion Policy and territorial instruments for integrated territorial development, as well as to establish mechanisms for implementing and monitoring the implementation of strategies, while improving capacities.

More information about this call as well as application documentation is available on EU INTEGRA, while info-sessions, after Kraljevo where the call was presented today, will be held in Zrenjanin on 16 July, in Niš on 21 July, in Svilajnac on 22 July and in Banoštor on 29 July.

SCHEDULE OF INFORMATION SESSIONS

Kraljevo 14 July starting at 10, hotel Turist, Trg Srpskih ratnika 1, for local self-governments from Moravički, Rasinski, Raški, Kolubarski, Mačvanski and Zlatiborski districts that are not included in the territorial strategies developed so far, and regional development agencies: Regional Agency for Spatial and Economic Development of Raška and Moravica Districts, Regional Development Agency "Zlatibor", Regional Development Agency Sandžak - SEDA, Regional Development Agency of Podrinje, Podgorina and Rađevina, Agency for Regional Development of Rasinski District - Kruševac.
Zrenjanin 16 July starting at 10, hotel Vojvodina, Trg Slobode 3, for local self-governments from Severnobački, Severnobanatski, Srednjobanatski and Južnobanatski district and regional development agencies: Regional Centre for Social Economic Development "Banat" and Regional Development Agency PANONREG
Niš 21 July starting at 10, hotel New City, Vožda Karađorđa 12, for local self-governments from Toplički, Nišavski and Pčinjski district that are not included in the territorial strategies developed so far, and regional development agencies: Regional Development Agency Jug, Regional Development Agency "Pčinjski District" Vranje and Centre for Development of Jablanica and Pčinja Districts
Svilajnac 22 July starting at 10, Natural History Centre of Serbia, Kralja Petra Prvog 111, for local self-governments from Pomoravski, Podunavski and Braničevski district that are not included in the territorial strategies developed so far, and regional development agencies: Regional Agency for Economic Development of Šumadija and Pomoravlje and Regional Development Agency "Braničevo-Podunavlje"
Banoštor, 29 July starting at 10, CePTOR, Potes Andrevlje, for local self-governments from Zapadnobački, Južnobački and Sremski district and regional development agencies: Regional Development Agency Bačka and Regional Development Agency Srem