The public forum was held in Zrenjanin as part of the preparation of the Territorial Strategy for the Urban Area of the City of Zrenjanin and the Municipalities of Žitište, Sečanj, Nova Crnja and Novi Bečej. Representatives of local self-governments, the Regional Centre for Socio-Economic Development – Banat, institutions and the local community discussed the territory’s future development. The forum provided an opportunity to review and refine the proposed objectives and measures developed during earlier stages of the strategy preparation process through discussions with a wider range of local stakeholders.
The preparation of the Territorial Strategy is supported by the European Union through the EU Support to Integrated Territorial Development – EU INTEGRA programme, delivered in cooperation with the Ministry of European Integration. The programme is implemented by the Standing Conference of Towns and Municipalities (SCTM) and the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS). Under the programme component implemented by UNOPS, ten territories have received support to prepare territorial strategies and build capacities to apply integrated territorial development instruments in line with EU Cohesion Policy.
“Zrenjanin and its partner municipalities already function as an interconnected area where people travel, work, use services and maintain numerous economic and social ties every day. It is therefore important to consider the development of this territory as a whole and further strengthen the links between urban and rural areas. Better transport connections and public transport, improved water supply and water management, and stronger links between the economy and new knowledge, technologies and innovation are among the important directions for the territory’s future development. The strategy gives us an opportunity to identify where joint action can bring the greatest benefits to people and businesses across the territory,” said Biljana Guzina, a member of the Zrenjanin City Council.
Valentina Vidović, Head of the Department for the Establishment and Development of the Management System for EU Structural Funds and the Cohesion Fund at the Ministry of European Integration, emphasised that the Ministry continuously works to build the capacities of local self-governments and create the conditions for applying an integrated territorial approach and using EU Cohesion Policy funds in the future.
“The territorial strategy preparation process links the definition of development priorities with the preparation of concrete projects to deliver them. Local self-governments participating in the preparation of this strategy already have an opportunity, through the EU INTEGRA component implemented by SCTM, to apply for funding to prepare technical documentation for future integrated projects. This means that, alongside strategic planning, the groundwork is being laid for sound project ideas to be ready for financing and implementation,” said Valentina Vidović of the Ministry of European Integration.
“The integrated approach changes how we view territorial development by looking beyond the administrative boundaries of individual local self-governments and focusing on the functional links, needs and challenges across a wider area. The strategy preparation process is therefore designed to gradually build a shared understanding of the territory and its development directions through analysis, thematic discussions and a public forum. The participation of local stakeholders at every stage is important to ensure that the strategy reflects actual needs and opportunities. This model of integrated territorial development was piloted in Serbia through the EU PRO Plus programme, and through EU INTEGRA we are continuing to apply it across ten territories,” said Viktor Veljović, Capacity Development Manager within the EU INTEGRA component implemented by UNOPS.
Pupils from two primary schools in Zrenjanin, “Dr Jovan Cvijić” and “Petar Petrović Njegoš”, also contributed to the discussion about the city’s future. Through an art competition on the theme “My City in the Future”, they presented their visions of Zrenjanin. Forum participants voted for the three best artworks, whose authors received prizes.
