Pančevo | 12 May 2026

Round Tables on the Territorial Strategy of the Urban Area of the City of Pančevo

Thematic round tables were launched today in Pančevo as part of the process of drafting the Territorial Strategy for the Urban Area of the City, implemented through the EU INTEGRA programme. Through this programme, implemented in cooperation with the Ministry of European Integration, the European Union supports local self-governments in Serbia by applying European models of integrated territorial development. Through the component implemented by UNOPS, cities and municipalities receive technical support in the preparation of territorial strategies and strengthening capacities for sustainable development planning.

At the beginning of this year, the City of Pančevo initiated the preparation of the Territorial Strategy for its urban area, which serves as the foundation for planning sustainable territorial development. The thematic round tables are part of the participatory process of drafting the strategy and provide an opportunity for representatives of the public, private and civil sectors to discuss the results of the contextual and preliminary SWOT analyses, as well as key topics for the future development of the city.

Valentina Vidović from the Ministry of European Integration emphasized that the Ministry, as the main beneficiary of the EU INTEGRA programme, contributes through the preparation of territorial strategies in line with EU principles to building and strengthening the capacities of local partners and preparing them for the future use of EU structural funds.

Olivera Kostić, Manager of the EU INTEGRA programme component implemented by UNOPS, stated that the programme builds on the results of the EU PRO Plus programme, through which the model of integrated sustainable territorial development has already been introduced in Serbia through the preparation of 12 territorial strategies and support for 18 integrated projects.

“Through the EU INTEGRA programme, we are further strengthening the capacities of local self-governments to plan and implement integrated and sustainable territorial development in line with the principles of the European Union Cohesion Policy. The preparation of territorial strategies enables us to comprehensively assess the economic, social and spatial potentials of the territory. Thematic round tables are particularly important because they ensure a participatory process through which development priorities and projects that can contribute to the sustainable and inclusive development of the urban area are jointly defined,” said Kostić.

During the two-day programme, participants will discuss topics including urban renewal and regeneration, green and blue investments, economic development, social well-being and development governance.

EU Support for Integrated Territorial Development – EU INTEGRA strengthens local self-governments in Serbia through the application of European models of integrated territorial development. The programme, funded by the European Union with EUR 15 million, is coordinated by the Ministry of European Integration and implemented by the Standing Conference of Towns and Municipalities (SCTM) and the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS). The initiative supports local self-governments in three regions: Šumadija and Western Serbia, Southern and Eastern Serbia, and Vojvodina.