Transformation of Cities: On the trail of Urban Innovations in Germany

In addition to implementing these strategies, the programme strengthens the capacities of key stakeholders for their effective execution. As part of this support, study visits to EU countries are organised, enabling partners to learn from best practices, discover what works, and explore what can be applied in the Serbian context.

In early September 2024, a Serbian delegation, including representatives from the Ministry of European Integration, the Ministry of Economy, as well as representatives from seven cities supported in the development of Sustainable Urban Development (SUD) strategies—Loznica, Šabac, Leskovac, Bor, Kruševac, Novi Pazar, and Smederevo—embarked on a study visit to Germany.

SUD strategies focus on creating balanced, long-term urban development, emphasising sustainability, innovation, and improving the quality of life for citizens. In line with this, the delegation had the opportunity to learn from Germany, renowned for its best practices in these areas.

The study visit offered valuable lessons on how integrated urban development and EU-funded projects are implemented in cities such as Berlin, Dresden, and Cottbus. The main focus was on Germany’s eastern regions, where urban renewal played a key role after the country’s reunification, providing valuable insights for the challenges that Serbia faces in this sector.

During the five-day visit, participants explored how Germany transformed its dissonant and socialist architectural heritage, and how, through quality planning and available funding, significant structural changes can be achieved. In Berlin, the delegation visited Northern Luisenstadt, where the city’s urban planner presented the process of renewing this former part of East Berlin. Meanwhile, in Dresden, the focus was on presenting projects that successfully balance preservation and renewal.

The visit to Cottbus demonstrated how a former mining region can be transformed into a prosperous community. The view of the artificial lake Cottbuser Ostsee, created on the site of a former lignite mine, sparked ideas for Serbia’s industrial sites. Tonka Milenković, an advisor in the Department of Urban Planning in Bor, noted that this visit provided “a lot of new and useful information,” while Biljana Timotijević Arsić, Head of the Department of Planning at the Public Enterprise for Urban Planning and Design in Kruševac, highlighted the visit to Lusatia and Freital as particularly significant, stating that “similar interventions await Serbia in the future.”

Participants emphasised that the visit not only deepened their technical understanding but also strengthened connections with colleagues. Dejan Vujić, Advisor for Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Urbanism, Planning, and Analysis from Šabac, pointed out that this was an opportunity to meet colleagues from all over Serbia and explore ways of solving numerous urban challenges based on Germany’s example.

The Serbian delegation returned with new ideas and a renewed commitment to apply the knowledge gained to their own urban projects. Nataša Stevandić, Associate in the Sector for Planning, Programming, Monitoring, and Reporting on EU Funds and Development Aid at the Ministry of European Integration, summarised her impressions: “The diversity of revitalised projects helps us define concrete ideas and plans, which we will use when creating similar projects in our national context.”