Sustainability

Sustainable City Festival 2025

The third Sustainable City Festival 2025 in Niš was not a traditional event—it was a lively meeting place for everyone who believes that we can shape our cities ourselves. On June 26, committed individuals from civil society, administration, science, and various sectors in southern and eastern Serbia came together at the Naučno-tehnološki park in Niš. Their goal is to learn from each other, exchange ideas, and collectively develop new ideas for a sustainable future.

The festival provided a vibrant blend of engaging discussions, practical insights, and hands-on activities. The focus was on the question: How can we firmly anchor sustainability, decentralization, and personal responsibility in our society?

After welcoming remarks from the organizers, including the National Coalition for Decentralization and the "I ja se pitam" citizen initiative, a real highlight followed: Dr. Cristian David, a former Romanian Minister of the Interior and sustainability expert, delivered an inspiring keynote speech. His message was clear: citizens should not only be allowed to have a say, but also be prepared to take responsibility for their immidiate environment.

In the panel discussion "The Power of Unity and Sustainable Communities," experts from academia, NGOs, and local initiatives discussed how genuine partnerships between equals can lead to sustainable success.

The topic became particularly tangible in the segment "Stories That Inspire – Civil Society in Action." Here, organizations from Niš, Zaječar, and Leskovac showed how local engagement strengthens social cohesion. The message: Sustainable change always begins where people take action themselves.

A special moment was the ceremonial signing of a Memorandum of Understanding, as 21 founding organizations came together to form the Network of Active Citizens (MAG). Their goal is to make local initiatives more visible, initiate joint projects, and learn from one another.

In the subsequent Agora Sessions, things became truly hands-on. In three thematic groups, the participants exchanged ideas:

• In the area of Economic Empowerment, the focus was on how local economic models can create new perspectives – for example, through initiatives such as ENECA and Timočki Klub.
• The Environmental Sustainability group discussed how concrete environmental projects can be developed in the region – ranging from awareness-raising and resource protection to joint climate action.
• In the thematic space Civic Activism & Social Capital, the central topic was how initiatives can amplify their impact, build networks, and engage citizens over the long term.

To conclude, there was an open networking event – a perfect opportunity for over 100 civil society representatives to deepen ideas, make connections, and plan the next steps.

The Sustainable City Festival 2025 showed that liberal concepts are not empty promises, even today. They come to life where people courageously take responsibility and work together. Sustainable communities emerge when we feel taken seriously, are allowed to help shape things, and don't just watch but participate.

The network has set itself a clear goal for the future: to translate the energy and ideas gathered at the festival into concrete projects, improve the quality of life locally, and encourage even more people to shape their city actively. The Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom remains a strong founding partner, with programs, partnerships, and a conviction that freedom, responsibility, and solidarity are inextricably linked. This is because livable cities are always created through the commitment of individuals, and the decision is not just to watch, but to get involved.