The French Embassy in Serbia, in collaboration with a range of partners including the Veolia Institute, Saint-Gobain, Decathlon, and the European Union Delegation, held an award ceremony for the winners of the third edition of the “Ekoopština” contest in Belgrade on 19th September 2024.
The competition serves as a platform for Serbian municipalities, businesses, and institutions to exchange best practices in combating climate change.
The event, hosted at the French Embassy in Belgrade, celebrated winners in four key categories: waste management, water management, energy efficiency of buildings, and sustainable mobility. The aim is to foster collaboration between French and Serbian stakeholders in these critical areas of sustainable urban development. Schools also competed in the “Green Schools” subcategory, with one francophone and one non-francophone school receiving awards for their environmental projects.
Ambassador of France to Serbia, Pierre Cochard, emphasised the role of the “Ekoopština” initiative in strengthening Franco-Serbian cooperation on sustainability. He highlighted the involvement of over 800 Serbian civil servants in the programme over the past three years, enabling the exchange of expertise between France and Serbia.
EU Ambassador to Serbia, Emmanuele Giaufret, reiterated the importance of cross-border collaboration in building a sustainable future, aligning the initiative with the EU’s Green Deal and Growth Plan for the Western Balkans.
Winners in each category were awarded study visits to France, where they will have the opportunity to learn about French solutions to sustainable development challenges.
This prestigious event was marked by renewed partnerships, including the extension of the EU’s “Green Agenda for Serbia” as part of the “Ekoopština” initiative, further cementing efforts towards sustainable development in the region.
Photo: Jovan Gojković /Francuska ambasada