Banja Luka among 27 cities driving change with Urbact Pioneers Accelerator

Banja Luka is among the 27 cities from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Albania selected as part of the URBACT Pioneers Accelerator programme. URBACT is a European Territorial Cooperation programme, active since 2002, that helps cities develop sustainable solutions to urban challenges through networking, knowledge-sharing, and capacity-building. The programme is co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) with a budget of EUR 79 769 000, by the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance with a budget of EUR 5 000 000 and by the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument with a budget of EUR 2 000 000 for the period 2021-2027. Through the URBACT Pioneers Accelerator, a new bespoke learning programme, URBACT empowers cities from the Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance (IPA) beneficiary countries addressing sustainable urban development. These pioneering cities are tackling pressing urban challenges across six core themes: sustainable tourism development, urban nature (environment protection), social inclusion, jobs and small and medium-sized enterprises support, sustainable mobility, and waste management, with particular emphasis on effective approaches to communication and stakeholder engagement. Each participating city will receive EUR 35 000 in EU funding through URBACT, to support their involvement in the programme, including the implementation of small-scale pilot actions that contribute to their sustainable urban development goals. The Pioneers Accelerator programme serves as an excellent entry point for cities with little or no previous experience in EU-funded projects, offering a structured and supportive environment to develop impactful initiatives. After the completion of the learning journey, the cities and public agents working in municipal public administrations shall gain practical knowledge and develop capacity to design and implement urban development projects in line with Global and EU sustainable urban development standards and policy frameworks. Over 18 months (April 2025 – September 2026), participating municipal teams will engage in a learning journey based on URBACT’s integrated and participatory method, which includes international study visits, peer-learning camps, and the development of visible small-scale pilot actions. The programme positions participating cities as regional leaders in sustainable urban policy. By applying integrated approaches and working closely with citizens and stakeholders, they demonstrate how even small and medium-sized municipalities can implement visible, systemic change. As Banja Luka embarks on this learning journey, the city is committed to build new capacities, forge meaningful partnerships, and lay the groundwork for long-term, sustainable urban transformation that can inspire similar efforts across the region. More information on this and other URBACT initiatives are available on the URBACT webpage: www.urbact.eu For more information: Mladen Milaković City of Banja Luka Department of International Cooperation and Projects mladen.milakovic@banjaluka.rs.ba +387-51-244-444