By signing a Memorandum of Understanding with the United Nations Office for Project Services on 9 June 2022, the City of Smederevo began the process of drafting the Urban Area Development Strategy of the City of Smederevo.
The Urban Area Development Strategy is a development planning document drawn up in line with European Union rules.
The Strategy is formulated on the basis of the development directions defined for the Republic of Serbia, the European Union and the City of Smederevo, drawing on a review of European, national and local development and public policy documents and of the programmes and projects being implemented in Smederevo.
The aim of the Strategy is to contribute to the sustainable development of the territory by improving the social, economic, climate, cultural and spatial aspects of development, as well as its environmental aspects. Particular attention is paid to finding solutions to environmental issues and climate challenges, the transition to a climate-neutral economy, making better use of digital technologies for innovation, and encouraging the development of urban areas. The Strategy sets the priorities for sustainable urban development and helps to maximise the value of funding and to build links within and beyond the area.
Drafting the Strategy involves the following stages:
a. Preparing the analysis of the current situation/SWOT analysis and identifying needs and potential;
b. Defining the vision, objectives and packages of measures, aligned with the objectives of higher-level strategic planning documents;
c. Identifying priority projects;
d. Defining priority areas for intervention;
e. Defining the management mechanism for implementing the Strategy;
f. Implementing the Strategy
1. Institutional framework for drafting the Strategy
At the 14th session of the City Assembly of Smederevo, held on 29 June 2022, the Decision on Initiating the Drafting of the Urban Area Strategy of the City of Smederevo was adopted, formally launching work on the Strategy.
2. Territorial scope The urban area of the wider Smederevo city centre.
The process of drafting the Strategy promotes an integrated and participatory approach to development planning, cross-sector cooperation and information sharing, the involvement and coordination of the public, private, civil and research sectors in decision-making, and partnership between institutions.
While the Strategy is being drafted, thematic round tables, workshops and forums for expert and public discussion are organised to agree on the proposed solutions. All other interested parties may also take part in them, to ensure that decision-making is participatory and transparent and that the public is informed in good time.
Organisation of thematic round tables
The thematic round tables held as part of drafting the Urban Area Development Strategy of the City of Smederevo took place on 6 and 7 March 2023 at the premises of the City Administration of Smederevo. With the participation of all relevant actors and stakeholders, the discussion covered the following subjects:
- Urban renewal and regeneration (urban structures, public spaces, etc.), cultural and architectural heritage, nature protection and landscape development, sustainable tourism and stronger urban-rural links
- Energy (clean and fair), green and blue investment, climate change mitigation and adaptation, risk prevention and management, sustainable and multimodal urban mobility
- Economic development (innovative, smart, low-carbon and circular economy)
- Social well-being: employment, education, housing, social and health care, culture, socio-economic inclusion and integration, social innovation
- Development management
Round table participants were presented with the results of the context analysis and of the preliminary SWOT analysis and proposed needs. In the second part of the session, each thematic area was discussed separately with the participants, which confirmed the findings of the SWOT analysis and the proposed needs and also produced additional data and suggestions to supplement the analysis.
The round tables were organised so that various stakeholders, representatives of institutions and individuals could discuss the problems within each subject on an equal footing and reach shared solutions by agreement. Through this participatory approach, the solutions defined gain in quality and win the support of the wider community.
Workshop on defining objectives and measures in the process of drafting the Urban Area Development Strategy of the City of Smederevo The workshop, at which the consolidated results of the SWOT analyses and needs by thematic area will be presented and individual objectives and measures will be defined, also by thematic area, will be held on 20 April 2023 at the premises of the Regional Centre for Professional Development of Employees in Education Smederevo (the Monopol building), Goranska bb
The drafting of the Urban Area Development Strategy of the City of Smederevo is supported by the European Union in partnership with the Government of the Republic of Serbia through the EU PRO Plus programme. The content is the sole responsibility of the City of Smederevo and does not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union.
Workshop on defining objectives and measures
The workshop on defining objectives and measures was held on 20 April 2023. Its aim was to present the SWOT analysis and proposed needs for the five thematic areas of the Strategy, as consolidated after the thematic round tables, and then to define general and specific objectives and the corresponding measures. Participants also worked on identifying project ideas by thematic area.
The workshop was attended by members of the Working Group for Drafting the Strategy, as well as representatives of public authorities and institutions, civil society organisations and other relevant actors and stakeholders.
Public forum
As part of drafting the Urban Area Development Strategy of the City of Smederevo, a Public Forum on defining the vision and project ideas was held on 1 June 2023.
The Public Forum was held in the Main Hall of the Smederevo Cultural Centre.
In addition to members of the Working Group for Drafting the Strategy and the EU PRO Plus expert team, the Public Forum was attended by representatives of the Delegation of the European Union to Serbia, led by Martin Klauke, Head of Operations II at the EU Delegation to Serbia, the Mayor of Smederevo, Jovan Beč, with his team, as well as representatives of institutions and organisations from the public, private and civil sectors and members of the public.
The Public Forum featured an exhibition presenting the results of the art competition on the theme “My city in the future”, which the EU PRO Plus team ran for 7th-grade pupils in cooperation with two primary schools in Smederevo: Primary School “Dr Jovan Cvijić” and Primary School “Sveti Sava”. A total of 47 pupils took part in the competition, and after a vote in which all the participants of the Public Forum took part, prizes and certificates of appreciation were presented to the pupils who had entered.
Workshop on defining priority areas for intervention and strategic projects
The workshop on defining priority areas for intervention and strategic projects, part of the process of drafting the Urban Area Development Strategy of the City of Smederevo, was held on 27 July 2023 at the Regional Centre for Professional Development of Employees in Education Smederevo.
The workshop was attended by members of the Working Group for Drafting the Strategy, members of the EU PRO Plus expert team, and representatives of public enterprises, institutions and civil society organisations.
At the workshop, members of the expert team presented the proposed priority areas for intervention and the criteria for prioritising projects. Working in thematic groups, participants identified proposed strategic projects for each thematic area, and in the closing plenary summary the final proposals for strategic projects to implement the Strategy were consolidated jointly.
CITY OF SMEDEREVO
City Administration of the City of Smederevo, Department for Urban Planning, Construction and Investment
Invitation to take part in the public consultation on the Draft Urban Area Development Strategy of the City of Smederevo
City Administration of the City of Smederevo
Department for Urban Planning, Construction and Investment
publishes the following
Invitation to take part in the public consultation on the Draft Urban Area Development Strategy of the City of Smederevo
The City Administration of the City of Smederevo, Department for Urban Planning, Construction and Investment, is holding a public consultation on the Draft Urban Area Development Strategy of the City of Smederevo (hereinafter: the Urban Area Development Strategy).
The public consultation on the Draft Urban Area Development Strategy will run from 4 to 31 October 2023. A public presentation of the Draft Strategy will be held on 26 October 2023 in the Assembly Hall of the City Administration of the City of Smederevo, starting at 11:00.
The City Administration of the City of Smederevo, Department for Urban Planning, Construction and Investment, invites representatives of the competent bodies of local government units, competent institutions, civil society organisations, economic and social partners, experts and other interested parties to send their comments, proposals and suggestions on the text of the Draft Urban Area Development Strategy, using the form provided, which can be downloaded from the official website of the City of Smederevo, to the following email address: vladislava.zristovic@smederevo.ls.gov.rs, or to send them by post to: City Administration of the City of Smederevo, Department for Urban Planning, Construction and Investment, Omladinska 1, 11300 Smederevo. Comments may be submitted until the end of the public consultation, 31 October 2023.
- Form for submitting comments, proposals and suggestions [Form]
- Draft Urban Area Development Strategy [Draft]
- Public consultation [Invitation]
Positions on the handling of comments and suggestions on the Draft Urban Area Development Strategy of the City of Smederevo submitted during the public consultation [Document]
Decision on the Adoption of the Urban Area Development Strategy of the City of Smederevo [Decision]