The French Embassy in Serbia recently recognised winners of the “Eco-Municipality” competition. Designed to promote environmental protection and sustainable development among local councils, the initiative was supported by leading entities like Veolia Institute, Saint-Gobain, Decathlon, and the “Green Agenda for Serbia”.
Aimed at fostering collaboration between French and Serbian entities, the competition emphasised sustainable waste management, water conservation, urban mobility, and building energy efficiency. An exclusive “Green Schools” category was also incorporated for Serbian primary and secondary schools.
During the award ceremony at the French Embassy, the emphasis was on sharing knowledge in battling climate change. Encouraging participation in Serbia’s ecological transition was central to this endeavour.
French Ambassador, Pierre Cochar, expressed hope for the initiative to anchor Franco-Serbian relations in fostering sustainable cities. He highlighted the participation of over 650 local representatives in seminars and lauded the students involved in the “Green School” category for their commitment to sustainable development.
Plamena Halačeva, Deputy Head of the EU Delegation, voiced concerns over the existential threat posed by climate change. She underscored the European Green Deal’s ambitions to create a resource-efficient continent with zero net greenhouse emissions by 2050.
Serbian municipalities participated across four categories. Their applications were evaluated by experts from major universities, civil organisations, and economic alliances. Notable winners included Bačka Palanka and Sremska Mitrovica for waste management, and Vrnjačka Banja and Vranje for energy efficiency. Pirot and Kruševac excelled in urban mobility, while Čajetina and Novi Sad were recognised for water management. Additionally, “Karađorđe” Primary School and “Vasa Živković” Primary School were commended in the Green Schools segments.