On May 30, 2025, the final conference of the Green-Blue Communities project was held in Leskovac, presenting key strategic documents for the establishment and implementation of green public policies for the City of Leskovac and the Municipality of Vlasotince. This initiative, which over the past year brought together representatives from the local public, private, and civil sectors, institutions, experts, and citizens, marked the beginning of the implementation of a globally recognized green growth model at the local level—for the first time in this part of Europe.

During the conference, several key documents were presented: Public Policies for a Green Future of the City of Leskovac and Public Policies for a Green Future of the Municipality of Vlasotince, along with a broader set of strategic frameworks and analytical materials, including a study on green growth potential, the strategic frameworks for green growth for the 2025–2050 period, and green growth roadmaps for both local governments.

The objective of this initiative is to enhance the existing framework of local public policies through a comprehensive and inclusive approach, to promote sustainable development, and to enable the implementation of concrete measures aimed at improving quality of life, supporting demographic revitalization, protecting public health, boosting economic growth, and encouraging young people to remain in their communities. The organizers emphasized the importance of establishing local mechanisms for policy implementation, monitoring, and evaluation, including the creation of local green growth councils.

Representatives of the project partners—European Movement in Serbia – Leskovac and the Mycological Society “Rujnice” from Vlasotince—stressed that adopting and implementing green policies is not a symbolic or declarative act, but a strategically and politically sound decision that should serve as the foundation for all other local policies: from education and healthcare to infrastructure, the economy, and social services.

On behalf of the project partners, the conference delivered a clear appeal to local decision-makers to: review and adopt the proposed documents, establish mechanisms for their effective implementation, create space for territorial innovation and green pilot projects, provide prioritized support to policies that directly contribute to demographic renewal and the strengthening of local communities.

The initiative for the adoption of the proposed policies was formally submitted to decision-makers at the level of local self-government units, as well as to relevant national-level institutions identified as key stakeholders.

The conclusion of the conference was clear: the City of Leskovac and the Municipality of Vlasotince, as strategic partners and good neighbors, have the opportunity to become regional examples of sustainable transformation—relying on their natural resources, local knowledge, and the trust of their communities.