The Embassy of France in Belgrade, in cooperation with its partners, has announced the fourth cycle of the Eco-region competition, which aims to exchange knowledge and good practices between French and Serbian stakeholders in the field of sustainable development of cities and municipalities.
Wiener Städtische osiguranje supports this initiative with the goal of encouraging local communities and self-governments to acquire the necessary expert knowledge and operational experience to best manage the common resources of society and ensure a sustainable future for future generations.
The Eco-region project works to encourage sustainable urban development in cities in the areas of: waste management, water management, energy efficiency, sustainable mobility. The competition is intended for local governments and schools working on sustainable development and green transition projects and is open to all cities and municipalities in Serbia until June 30, 2025. The best nominated projects will be awarded study visits to partner cities and companies in France, with the aim of exchanging experiences and learning about best practices in the aforementioned areas.
The French Ambassador to Serbia, Pierre Cochar, emphasized that this fourth edition of the Eco-region competition marks a decade of intensified activities in addressing climate challenges and recalled that since 2015, the fight against climate change has become a framework for shaping public policies and that Serbia has committed itself to this path by adopting a national adaptation program and a low-carbon law for the period 2023-2030. He further emphasized the key role of local governments and young generations in the ecological transition, highlighting the growing success of the competition.
As a sponsor of the Sustainable Mobility program, Wiener Städtische osiguranje encourages the development of sustainable solutions in urban areas that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, relieve traffic congestion and increase their flow.
Nela Bojović, Head of Marketing at Wiener Städtische osiguranje, emphasized that during previous cycles of the Eco-region project, the company financed bicycle service stations installed in public areas in Niš, Pirot, Kruševac and Bajina Bašta as an additional incentive for “green” solutions. She also emphasized that cooperation with local governments goes beyond environmental aspects, and announced that Pirot and Kruševac will host other projects this year, such as exhibitions of the Wiener Art collection of contemporary art, which the company has been forming since 2011 and which today counts over 600 reference works.