The 10th National Conference on European Territorial Cooperation Programmes was held in Novi Sad on 23 September 2026, organised by the Ministry of European Integration of the Republic of Serbia. The conference brought together representatives of Serbian institutions, countries in the region, the European Commission and the Delegation of the European Union to Serbia. It provided an opportunity to present the results of cooperation to date, exchange experiences and explore new partnerships and projects.
The conference took place at the Master Congress Centre of the Novi Sad Fair. Speakers included Nemanja Starović, Minister of European Integration in the caretaker government; Žarko Mićin, Mayor of Novi Sad; Ivan Stoilkovikj, Minister of Local Self-Government of the Republic of North Macedonia; Andreas von Beckerath, Ambassador and Head of the Delegation of the European Union to Serbia; and European Commission representatives Nuria Aldao and Morey Gilland.
The programme covered the results of European territorial cooperation programmes involving Serbia, current opportunities for cooperation and prospects for the next programming period, 2028–2034. Particular attention was given to new opportunities for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, examples of successful projects in Serbia, and issues relevant to future regional development, including innovation, the green and digital transitions, and the resilience of local communities.
Representatives of the Regional Development Agency Bačka (RDA Bačka) also took part in the conference. Through its participation in European territorial cooperation programmes, the Agency develops partnerships with institutions and organisations in Serbia, the region and the European Union.
Aleksandar Dunđerski, Director of RDA Bačka, spoke about the Agency’s experience in the Interreg Europe programme. He presented the main achievements and benefits that the Agency and the region have gained through the programme, its advantages, and recommendations for organisations in Serbia seeking to participate and make use of the Policy Learning Platform.
During the conference, Zorana Panić Soldat presented the ReInd-BBG project – “Reindustrialisation following the principle ‘brownfield is better than greenfield’”, which RDA Bačka implements under the Interreg Danube Region Programme.
ReInd-BBG aims to improve approaches to regenerating and bringing abandoned industrial, or brownfield, sites back into use as a resource for future economic and territorial development. Partners from several Danube Region countries have worked together to map and analyse brownfield sites, exchange experiences and develop practical guidelines for their revitalisation.
Presenting the project at the conference offered an opportunity to share RDA Bačka’s experience of international project cooperation with a wider professional audience. Such programmes connect institutions and organisations and support the exchange of knowledge and good practices between European regions.
Participation in the 10th National Conference enabled RDA Bačka to present its experience in implementing European projects, share examples of its work and establish contacts for future cooperation and new project initiatives.
