Third Edition of “Ekoopstina” Contest Opened

The Embassy of France in Serbia and its partners Veolia Institute, Saint-Gobain, Decathlon, NALED and SCTM, Wiener Stadtische, HUOT, Fonroche Lighting – BBAi, Ministry of Environmental Protection and EU Delegation jointly opened the third edition of the “Ekoopstina” (“Ecomunicipality”) contest.

Marina Nenkovic-Riznic, the moderator of the “Ekoopstina” contest and the scientific adviser at the Institute for Architecture and Urban Planning of Serbia reminded in her introductory address what the “Ekoopstina” project is:

• The French-Serbian platform for cooperation on smart city challenges, through identifying examples of good practice developed on the local level in Serbia, as well as in France, which will be presented during the seminars organized for local communities in Serbia. These seminars will be held in Belgrade, Vrbas and Pirot in April and May 2024.
• The contest is open for all Serbian towns and municipalities with fewer and more than 40,000 residents in 4 categories (sustainable waste management, sustainable water management, energy efficiency of buildings, smart cities) where a total of 8 Serbian municipalities will be awarded and invited on study trips to France. More details are available on the website.
• The contest awards local self-governments in Serbia for their activities realized in 4 fields: energy efficiency of buildings, sustainable waste and water management and sustainable mobility.
• The contest is open for all teachers and students in Serbia who work on environmental protection, and more details about this can be found on this link.

All towns and municipalities of Serbia are invited to take part in the seminars and submit their projects until July 7, 2024.

The ambassador of France to Serbia, Pierre Cochard, expressed his satisfaction that the contest had fit well into the landscape and that it was a pillar of cooperation between France and Serbia. In his address, he reminded that it addressed local communities, but also young generations and their professors in developing ecological and civil consciousness. On the occasion of the Global Recycling Day, it is necessary to remind that fighting climate change and protecting the planet Earth is everybody’s mission and a matter that needs to be solved, he emphasized. In the past two years, more than 100 towns have taken part in the contest, nearly 700 officials and selected representatives have taken part in the seminars, and several hundred children have participated and presented their projects.

The ambassador praised all the towns that had won the previous editions.

– Saint-Gobain has accepted to participate in the continuation of the “Ekoopstina” project with particular pleasure. So far, it has turned out that a project of this form provides a great incentive, to both local self-government and young generations who accept changes, want innovations and keep up with the times. For the company, as a construction company which has been paying attention to the needs of the society for over 350 years, implementing innovative solutions, and which is dedicated to sustainable construction and energy efficiency, the “Ekoopstina” initiative is recognized as an ideal project – said Vladan Ilic, CEO at Saint Gobain Serbia.

The purpose of the company’s operations is reflected in the slogan “Making the world a better home”, which additionally confirms that Saint-Gobain is harmonized with the main idea of this project. He emphasizes that he believes that, as so far, many towns and municipalities will get involved and that the project will have an impact primarily on their local area, but also the country as a whole.

– Such projects enable a perspective for new generations – said Vladan Ilic, CEO at Saint Gobain Serbia.

Ambasada Republike Francuske Beograd

Veolia Water Solutions & Technologies d.o.o.

Saint-Gobain d.o.o. Beograd

Decathlon d.o.o. Beograd

NALED Beograd

Stalna konferencija gradova i opština

Wiener Städtische osiguranje a.d.o. Beograd

Ministarstvo zaštite životne sredine Republike Srbije

Delegacija Evropske unije u Republici Srbiji Beograd

HUOT Beograd

BALKANS BUSINESS ADVISORY International d.o.o. Beograd-Vračar

Fonroche Lighting BBAi

Pierre Cochard

Vladan Ilić

Marina Nenković Riznić

Ekoopština