On Monday, September 30, a round table was held at the Čajetina library on the topic of localizing the Sustainable Development Goals in Čajetina and Užice through the improvement of cooperation between local self-governments of Užice and Čajetina, local institutions and civil society associations for the purpose of preparing and adopting local public policies in accordance with the 2030 Agenda and SDGs.

The Participants highlighted that, according to the Environmental Protection Law (Article 68), “local self-governments adopt an Environmental Protection Program for their territory in accordance with the National Program and plans, as well as their own interests and specificities.”

Dušan Gavrić from the Čajetina Municipal Administration stated that a draft Local development plan for the municipality is currently being prepared, which includes the development of local documentation in the field of environmental protection. Vera Blagojević, head of the Department for Communal Affairs in the public utility company „Zlatibor”, said that it is necessary that the future draft Local development plan accentuates the need to develop the local Environmental Protection Program of the Čajetina municipality.

The event featured the representatives of the local self-government of Čajetina, the Office for Local Economic Development, public enterprises, educational institutions, the Green Council, the Council for Sustainable Development and Education, local media, and civil society organizations. All participants made significant contributions to the discussion, and conclusions were reached to enable further implementation of the project.

The second round table will be held in Užice at the end of October.

The round table is part of the project “Green Initiative for the Local Community,” implemented by the Citizens’ Association Zlatiborski Krug from Čajetina in collaboration with the Teachers’ Association “Opstanak” from Užice and in partnership with the local self-governments of Užice and Čajetina. The project has been supported within the Local Sustainability Fund managed by the Belgrade Open School, a coordinator of the environmental pillar of the „SDGs for ALL Platform“.