Europa Nostra and EIB Institute Mission to Belgrade: United in Safeguarding the Generalštab Modernist Complex

A delegation of experts appointed by Europa Nostra and the European Investment Bank (EIB) Institute visited Belgrade from 23 to 27 June to assess the situation of the Generalštab Complex – a masterpiece of modernist architecture by renowned Yugoslav architect Nikola Dobrović. This visit followed the complex’s inclusion on the 2025 list of the 7 Most Endangered heritage sites in Europe, a programme run by Europa Nostra in partnership with the EIB Institute and supported by the EU’s Creative Europe programme.

The international delegation included Stefan Baliçi (Romania), President of the Order of Architects of Romania; Sabine Nemec-Piguet (Switzerland), President of ICOMOS Switzerland, Council Member of Europa Nostra and member of the Advisory Panel of the 7 Most Endangered Programme; Joachim Schneider (Germany), economist and urban planner appointed by the EIB Institute; and Sneška Quaedvlieg-Mihailović (The Netherlands/Serbia), Secretary General of Europa Nostra. Europa Nostra Serbia, which nominated the Generalštab Modernist Complex to the 7 Most Endangered Programme, was represented by its President, Slavica Vujović, and Secretary General, Vesna Marjanović.

During their mission, the delegation held numerous meetings with heritage experts, academics, civil society organisations, and representatives of the Ministry of Culture, as well as the experts of the Republic Institute for the Protection of Cultural Monuments. Constructive discussions were also held with EU officials in Serbia, including the outgoing EU Ambassador Emanuele Giaufret, who expressed deep understanding of the site’s importance and who stressed that the EU has been following closely developments related to the Generalštab case, as well as with Damien Sorrell, Head of the EIB Regional Representation in the Western Balkans. However, key Serbian decision-makers – most notably the Minister of Culture Nikola Selaković – did not respond to our request for a meeting during our delegation’s visit to Belgrade.

“This is not only a fight to save one building. The Generalštab Modernist Complex has become a symbol of the collective responsibility to safeguard the cultural legacy of the 20th century – a heritage still insufficiently valued in Serbia and elsewhere in Europe,” stated Sneška Quaedvlieg-Mihailović.

“The fight to preserve the Generalštab is a fight to preserve the rule of law and the entire system of heritage protection in Serbia, in accordance with national legislation and international conventions, including the Faro Convention on the Value of Cultural Heritage for Society,” she added.

The delegation raised serious concerns regarding the transparency of the contract signed with Affinity Partners, the private investment firm linked to Jared Kushner, which foresees a hotel and residential complex to be built on the Generalštab site after the planned demolition of the existing building. No urban development or construction permits have been issued to date.

“We once again call on the Government of Serbia to repeal the controversial decisions adopted on 14 November 2023 – one stripping the Generalštab of its protected status, and the other removing two parcels from the designated protected urban ensemble,” reiterated the Secretary General of Europa Nostra. “That same request was submitted by 51 employees of the Republic Institute for the Protection of Cultural Monuments to the Ministry of Culture immediately after the government’s decision was published,” she emphasised.

The planned demolition of the Generalštab Modernist Complex has sparked widespread mobilisation across professional and civic circles. On the basis of the assurances received from the local experts, including from the Dean of the Faculty of Architecture and the Dean of the Civil Engineering Faculty of the Belgrade University, the Europa Nostra and EIB Institute delegation concluded that the complex can be restored. It could become a flagship project of heritage rehabilitation in Serbia, in full alignment with European values of conservation, transparency, and civic participation, and with any necessary expert and/or financial support coming from Europe.

Europa Nostra remains firmly committed to supporting all national and local efforts to ensure that this irreplaceable part of Europe’s shared cultural legacy is restored and safeguarded for present and future generations.

Modernist complex of #Generalštab in #Belgrade is a masterpiece protected by law as a cultural monument: experts, Serbian & European, agree that it can & must be restored.

Grateful for this large interview published today in Serbia’s oldest daily #POLITIKA. #7MostEndangered pic.twitter.com/l07FbBwfUY

— Sneška Quaedvlieg-Mihailović (@SneskaEN) July 12, 2025