Connecting the development potentials of seven local municipalities and exploring opportunities to foster sustainable growth across the entire Srem region were the focus of the Public Forum held in Sremska Mitrovica, as part of the drafting of the Territorial Strategy for the urban area of the City of Sremska Mitrovica and the municipalities of Ruma, Stara Pazova, Irig, Pećinci, Šid, and Inđija. The Forum brought together representatives of local governments, the Regional Development Agency Srem — a partner in preparing the strategy — as well as institutions and community stakeholders.
The Preparation of the Territorial Strategy is Supported by the European Union through the program EU Support to Integrated Territorial Development – EU INTEGRA, implemented in cooperation with the Ministry of European Integration. The program is carried out by the Standing Conference of Towns and Municipalities (SCTM) and the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS). Within the part of the Program implemented by UNOPS, ten territories have received support for drafting territorial strategies and for building capacities to apply instruments of integrated territorial development in line with the European Union’s cohesion policy.
Deputy Mayor of Sremska Mitrovica, Danica Nedić, emphasized that this strategy provides an opportunity to view the development of Srem through what connects local governments and people:
“For us, it is important that development follows the needs of people and that we create conditions for them to want to stay here, work, and start families. The strategy enables us to better connect what our territory can offer — economic and agricultural potentials, natural and cultural heritage, and opportunities for developing a joint and more recognizable tourism offer. By better linking these potentials, we can open new economic opportunities and contribute to a higher quality of life across our territory,” said Nedić.
Representative of the Ministry of European Integration, Milica Ralević, highlighted that the Ministry is working on developing a national system for managing integrated territorial development and applying territorial instruments:
“Territorial strategies make it possible to look at development needs and potentials beyond the boundaries of individual municipalities and translate them into joint priorities and concrete project ideas. This is particularly important for this territory, which encompasses the entire Srem District with seven municipalities, because joint planning of future development allows for better use of their potentials and more effective responses to shared challenges. At the same time, this process strengthens local capacities and creates conditions for linking common priorities with concrete interventions and investments in the coming period,” Ralević noted.
Capacity Development Manager in the part of the EU INTEGRA program implemented by UNOPS, Viktor Veljović, added:
“After analyzing the current situation, proposals for goals and measures were defined through thematic discussions with local stakeholders, while the Public Forum opened space for a wider circle of participants to review and supplement them. Such a participatory and integrated approach is especially significant for territories that include several municipalities, because in this way the strategy is based on the experiences and proposals of those who know the territory best and who will take part in its implementation.” He reminded that EU INTEGRA builds on the results of the EU PRO Plus program, through which this approach was piloted.
A special part of the Forum was dedicated to pupils of Primary School ‘Sveti Sava’ and Primary School ‘Jovan Popović’ from Sremska Mitrovica, who presented their visions of the future environment they wish to grow up and live in through the art competition “My City in the Future.” Their works were exhibited during the Forum, and participants voted for three pieces that left the strongest impression, with the authors receiving awards.
Source: EUINTEGRA
