On 22 July 2026, an inception meeting for the project "City Hall – Energy-Efficient, Accessible and Open to Visitors" was held in Kruševac, officially marking the start of the implementation of one of the first five integrated initiatives supported under the European Union's EU INTEGRA Programme. The Programme is funded by the European Union with EUR 15 million in cooperation with the Ministry of European Integration and implemented by the Standing Conference of Towns and Municipalities (SCTM) and UNOPS.
The meeting brought together representatives of the City of Kruševac, the Ministry of European Integration, the Standing Conference of Towns and Municipalities (SCTM), partner organizations and members of the project team, who discussed the implementation timeline, coordination mechanisms and the next steps in project delivery.
The project is being implemented by the City of Kruševac in partnership with the National Museum of Kruševac, the Tourist Organisation of Kruševac and the Regional Development Agency of the Rasina District. It aims to restore one of the city's most significant cultural heritage buildings, improve its energy efficiency and accessibility, and develop new facilities and services for citizens and visitors. The total value of the project amounts to EUR 876,220, of which the European Union provides EUR 483,092. The implementation period is 21 months.
Vladanka Raković, Head of Department at the Ministry for European Integration recalled that the City of Kruševac became part of the EU INTEGRA Programme during the preparation of its Urban Area Development Strategy, and that this partnership is now continuing through this specific project, which is the result of the previously developed strategy.
“The City of Kruševac’s commitment to the concept of integrated territorial development is also reflected in its cooperation with partner organizations and the joint planning of concrete project activities,” the Ministry representative emphasized. She added that this long-term Programme of the Ministry for European Integration was designed in close cooperation with the Delegation of the European Union to Serbia and the European Commission, and announced that additional cycles of programme activities are planned in the future.
Nikola Tarbuk, Secretary General of the Standing Conference of Towns and Municipalities, emphasized that the project demonstrates how European support, strategic planning and partnership among local institutions can simultaneously contribute to the preservation of cultural heritage, the improvement of public services and sustainable local development.
"City Hall is much more than an administrative building – it is one of Kruševac's most recognizable landmarks and an important part of the city's cultural and historical identity. The reconstruction will improve the building's energy efficiency and accessibility for persons with disabilities and other citizens with limited mobility, while new digital features will make Kruševac's cultural heritage more accessible to both residents and visitors," said Tarbuk.
The Mayor of Kruševac, Ivan Manojlović, described the restoration of City Hall as an important investment for the city and its citizens.
“Time has taken its toll on the building. The reconstruction will include the roof structure, windows and doors, the façade, and other deteriorated elements, while fully complying with all cultural heritage protection requirements. I would also like to thank the National Museum and the Rasina District Regional Development Agency for their contribution to the project preparation, as well as the European Union for its financial support,” said Manojlović.
The project includes energy-efficient refurbishment of the building, restoration of the roof, façade and interior, replacement of external windows, improvements to physical and digital accessibility, and the establishment of a multimedia space equipped with VR technology to present the history and cultural heritage of Kruševac. The project is expected to reduce annual energy consumption and carbon dioxide emissions by around 30%, improve the building's energy performance rating, and provide higher-quality public services for citizens and visitors.
The EU INTEGRA Programme supports local self-governments in planning and implementing integrated territorial development in line with the principles of the European Union Cohesion Policy. Through the component implemented by SCTM, five integrated projects covering 14 local self-governments and 28 development interventions have been supported so far, with a total value of EUR 6.8 million, of which the European Union provides more than EUR 4.5 million.
