The regional development agency Srem, as a future coordinator, attended today’s introductory meeting in Sremska Mitrovica, which marked< 3 >the beginning of the creation of a territorial strategy for the urban area of the city of Sremska Mitrovica and the municipalities of Ruma, Stara Pazova, Irig, Pećinci, Šid and Inđija, within the framework of the European Union support program for integral territorial development, EU INTEGRA, which is implemented in cooperation with the Ministry of European Integration.
Through the EU INTEGRA program, the European Union provides support for integral territorial development in 144 local governments in Serbia. The program is implemented by the Permanent Conference of Cities and Municipalities and UNOPS, which leads the part of the program focused on the modernization of public administration and the strengthening of institutional capacities at all levels for managing the territorial instruments of the European Union. Through this part of the program, eleven territories throughout Serbia received technical support for the creation of territorial strategies, including Sremska Mitrovica and partner municipalities.
“By jointly applying to the public call for the EU INTEGRA program, we have shown our readiness for Sremska Mitrovica and the municipalities< 1 > Ruma, Stara Pazova, Irig, Pećinci, Šid and Inđija, together with the Srem Regional Development Agency, to work in partnership on the creation of a territorial strategy of importance for the development of the entire Srem district. This process is significant because it goes beyond the administrative boundaries of local self-governments and allows us to look at the territory as a functional unit and to make the best use of all our potentials and define development priorities that contribute to a better quality of life for our citizens,” said the deputy mayor of Sremska Mitrovica, Danica Nedić.
“The development of this territorial strategy will allow us easier access to European Union funds, as well as more efficient use of funds that will be available in the future through various EU programs and funds,” the deputy mayor pointed out.
Olivera Kostić, manager of the part of the EU INTEGRA program led by UNOPS, pointed out that EU INTEGRA builds on the results of the EU PRO Plus program, through which the model of integral sustainable territorial development has already been introduced in Serbia through the creation of 12 territorial strategies and the implementation of 18 integral projects.
“Through the EU INTEGRA program, we additionally strengthen the capacities of local governments to plan and implement integral and sustainable territorial development, in accordance with the principles of the Cohesion Policy of the European Union. The very creation of territorial strategies enables us to comprehensively assess the economic, social and spatial potential of the territory,” said Olivera Kostić. She added that the program is aimed at modernizing public administration and strengthening institutional capacities at all levels for the management of territorial instruments of the European Union, which in the member states have proven to be an efficient mechanism for achieving more even and sustainable territorial development.
