In the spirit of commitment to environmental protection and the promotion of sustainable development, local governments dedicated to these goals were awarded as part of the “Ekoopština 2025” competition. This prestigious initiative, organized in cooperation with NALED, SCTM, the French Development Agency (AFD), the Delegation of the European Union, and private companies, celebrates the contribution of municipalities and schools in Serbia in the areas of environmental protection and sustainable development.

The “Ekoopština” competition serves as a platform for exchanging experiences and best practices between French and Serbian experts, focusing on key areas: sustainable waste management, water management, urban mobility, and energy efficiency in buildings. Special attention is dedicated to the “Green Schools” category, which encourages ecological initiatives in primary and secondary schools. This year, the competition gained a regional dimension by including representatives from Bosnia and Herzegovina, while seminars held during April and May gathered 280 participants, including a visit to the waste treatment facility in Vinča.

The Deputy Head of the Delegation of the European Union to Serbia, Plamena Halacheva, emphasized that the European Union, through the initiative “EU for the Green Agenda in Serbia” and with the support of its partners, is assisting Serbia in its green transition through investments and reforms in key areas such as decarbonisation, circular economy, and biodiversity protection. She also highlighted the importance of engaging schools, municipalities, and citizens, who are the true drivers of a more sustainable future. Ms. Halacheva further underlined that this ceremony takes place during European Mobility Week, a European event that promotes sustainable, healthier, and innovative mobility solutions.

The awarded schools are Svilajnac Secondary School and “Nikola Tesla” Primary School from Banatsko Karađorđevo. Awards for municipalities and cities were presented in the areas of waste management (Aranđelovac and Sremska Mitrovica), energy efficiency (Smederevska Palanka and Pirot), sustainable urban mobility (Svilajnac and Vranje), and water management (Aranđelovac and Kruševac).

Nataša Efimof, Chargée d’Affaires of the French Embassy, highlighted the importance of local engagement in tackling climate challenges, reminding of the significance of the Paris Agreements and the role of municipalities and schools in the ecological transition.

The selection process is based on the evaluation of questionnaires submitted by municipalities. The assessment focuses on the achieved level of development in applying modern methods of sustainable city management, as well as the potential for implementing future planned activities and their applicability in other local self-government units in Serbia. The jury consists of experts, university professors, and representatives of civil society. One municipality and one city are awarded in each category. The prize includes a study trip for two representatives of each awarded local self-government (municipality and city), to be held between November and March of the following year.

In the “Green Schools” category, two schools are awarded for their environmental protection initiatives: one where French is taught and one where it is not. The prize consists of sports equipment to equip the sports halls of both winning schools.

The “Ekoopština 2025” award ceremony is part of the European Mobility Week celebrations.

This year’s European Mobility Week in Serbia highlights European initiatives for green and inclusive transport, including the European Social Climate Fund and the “Pulse of Europe” initiative. Since its launch in 2002, European Mobility Week has helped thousands of cities across Europe and the world raise awareness about sustainable mobility and encourage behavioral change toward walking, cycling, and the use of public transport.

The 2025 edition includes more than 1,300 cities and municipalities from 39 countries, continuing the tradition of raising awareness about the importance of sustainable transport options. The campaign encourages local authorities to introduce measures that promote walking, cycling, and public transport, with the aim of creating more sustainable and inclusive urban environments.

All information about the competition is available at www.ekoopstina.rs