On Tuesday, July 8, 2025, a Memorandum of Cooperation was officially signed in Belgrade between the Ministry of Environmental Protection and five selected local self-governments in Serbia — Aranđelovac, Čajetina, Ivanjica, Novi Pazar, and Osečina. The signing ceremony took place within the framework of the EU for the Circular Economy in Serbia project and was attended by Minister Sara Pavkov, representatives of the municipalities, and the project team.
This cooperation will enable the selected municipalities to receive technical assistance for the development of local Roadmaps for the Circular Economy. The activities will include an assessment of the current situation regarding waste management, water and wastewater systems, energy efficiency, and other areas relevant to the circular economy. Based on this assessment, priority areas for implementing circular principles will be identified, and concrete measures and recommendations will be proposed to improve local policies and practices.
In addition to developing the Roadmaps, the project will also include local awareness-raising campaigns, seminars, and study visits to EU Member States, with the aim of strengthening the capacities of municipal teams for a transition to more sustainable resource management models.
"It is important that, through this circular economy process, local self-governments gain the knowledge that will enable them to independently develop and implement green transition measures. As part of the project, two study visits to European Union countries will be organized, giving representatives of municipalities and cities the opportunity to learn about good practices in the field of circular economy. The Ministry’s support does not end with the development of the roadmaps – on the contrary, we will continue our cooperation during the implementation phase as well, because only together can we achieve lasting results," said Pavkov.
The project is implemented by the Ministry of Environmental Protection, with financial support from the European Union and technical assistance from the “EU for the Circular Economy in Serbia” project, implemented by NTU International and Global Factor.