Through the European Union Local Development Programme - EU PRO Plus programme, UNOPS has piloted integrated territorial development approach tailored for Serbian context with the two-tier support including technical assistance for development of territorial strategies and the grant scheme for implementing integrated projects derived from these strategies, supported by a strong capacity-building component for national, regional, and local levels.

The Programme supported two types  of territories:  1) cities with focus on their inner city areas and 2) functional urban areas comprising wider territories covering multiple local administrations. Through the Call for Applications for Development of Territorial Strategies, twelve territories were selected and assisted during 2022-2023 in development of territorial strategies for seven cities and five functional urban areas, including 31 local-self governments with 1.6 million inhabitants. The capacity building activities included approx. 1500 participants.

The developed territorial strategies cover all EU 2021 -2027 Cohesion Policy objectives, and not particular topics determined with particular country partnership agreement (PA),  thus allowing local specifics that are not subject of Cohesion Policy. The strategies fully follows the structure given in the European Commission Joint Research Centre “Handbook on Sustainable Urban Development Strategies”, which was recognised at European level by awarding one of the strategies, developed for the City of Leskovac, with a “Good Practice Label” under the URBACT Programme.

In order to further promote integrated territorial development, during 2024,  the Programme through the Public Call for implementation of integrated projects deriving from territorial strategies supported by the EU PRO Plus, selected 18 projects, worth over €12.8 million, to be the first integrated projects implemented in Serbia. The projects address territorial / sustainable urban development challenges, and build the capacities of the local and regional stakeholders to identify, implement, monitor and evaluate integrated territorial sustainable development programmes, projects, and activities.

The Programme also facilitated establishment of partnerships within EU networks - URBACT and INTERREG with 30 projects/networks approved by December 2025 under supported territories.

To build on these results, in 2025, the EU supported a new EU INTEGRA Programme, which through its UNOPS-led component conducted the second Call for Applications for Development of Territorial Strategies. The Call designed to support the two types of territories (cities and functional urban areas) ensures the majority of important urban areas in Serbia are covered by territorial  strategies.