Intro
On 4 March 2026, citizens, environmental advocates, researchers, institutional representatives, and other local stakeholders gathered in Negotin, Serbia, for the FIC-Fighters citizen event. Although the phosphogypsum (PG) stack is located in the nearby little village of Prahovo, the workshop took place in Negotin — the municipality to which Prahovo belongs — to encourage wider community participation and dialogue.
The event created a space where local voices could openly discuss the environmental, social, and economic impacts linked to the phosphogypsum stack. Through participatory exercises and collective reflection, participants explored both present concerns and future possibilities for the area. Furthermore, the workshop reinforced one of the project’s central objectives: connecting scientific knowledge with citizen engagement to promote transparency, circular economy solutions, and inclusive governance.
Context
Prahovo is a small industrial village located on the banks of the Danube River in eastern Serbia. For decades, the town has been closely linked to chemical production, particularly the manufacture of phosphoric acid and related by-products. Together with nearby Negotin, Prahovo has developed as an important local economic centre, where industry, transport, and river connectivity have shaped both the landscape and everyday life of the community. Its strategic position along the Danube also places the area within an environmentally sensitive region connected to one of Europe’s major river systems.
Unlike other FIC-Fighters case studies, where industrial activity ceased decades ago, in Prahovo the chemical plant — currently operated by the Elixir company — remains fully active. While local industry continues to provide employment and economic stability, residents are also calling for stronger environmental monitoring, more open dialogue with the industry, and the exploration of safe and sustainable reuse options for PG materials in line with circular economy principles. The case study therefore reflects a broader European challenge: how industrial regions can balance economic activity, environmental safeguards, and community wellbeing through transparent governance and long-term regeneration strategies.
The Workshop
The workshop brought together 15 participants from different backgrounds, including environmental activists, retired experts, agricultural workers, residents, municipality staff, and employees connected to the industrial sector.
The dynamic was designed as a participatory and interactive session, combining information, dialogue, and group work. After a short introduction to the FIC-Fighters project and the Prahovo case study, participants were invited to take part in the conversation by creating a trust-based, open and collaborative atmosphere. From the very beginning, the discussion flowed naturally, as many participants already had some personal knowledge, memories, or professional experience related to the topic and its wider local context.
The core of the event was organised around two hands-on activities. In the first activity, participants worked in small groups to map perceived changes associated with the phosphogypsum deposits and the surrounding industrial area. They reflected on both past and present experiences, identifying who is most affected and which issues should be prioritised. After this activity, an informative session, delivered by colleagues from the University of Novi Sad, provided expert knowledge about phosphogypsum and the Prahovo stack.
The second activity shifted the focus toward the future: participants imagined possible scenarios for the area over the next 10–15 years, creating fictional newspaper articles that expressed hopes for environmental improvement, stronger public participation, circular reuse of PG, and renewed trust between citizens, institutions and the Elixir company.
Insights from the discussion
Several common themes emerged throughout the discussions:
- Environmental pollution — particularly related to agricultural land, airborne PG dust, and the Danube River — remains one of the community’s main concerns.
- Citizens expressed frustration about the perceived lack of transparency and communication between institutions, industry, and the local population.
- Participants identified factory workers, agricultural workers, and residents living closest to the industrial area as the groups most affected by the PG stack.
- Despite these concerns, many participants showed optimism about the future and supported circular economy approaches for the reuse and recycling of phosphogypsum.
- The workshop also revealed a strong desire for more environmental education, public information, and citizen involvement in local decision-making.
Interestingly, the atmosphere evolved throughout the event. While the first discussions focused heavily on risks and dissatisfaction, the future-oriented exercises encouraged participants to imagine cleaner landscapes, stronger communities, and more sustainable economic opportunities for the region.
Download the full workshop report here
What it means for the project
This citizen event shows that the environmental challenges linked to phosphogypsum are not only technical and ecological issues: they are also closely tied to questions of trust, participation and community identity.
For the FIC-FIGHTERS project, this workshop helped to provide valuable insights into how citizens perceive an active industrial site in their territory and how they envision pathways toward regeneration. The event reinforced the importance of participatory governance and transparent communication when addressing complex environmental issues.
The discussions also highlighted the potential role of circular economy solutions in reshaping local perceptions of phosphogypsum — transforming it from a symbol of environmental concern into a possible resource for future development, provided that safety, monitoring, and public trust are ensured.
The outcomes of the workshop will contribute to future policy recommendations, transregional exchanges, and ongoing citizen engagement activities within the project. They also reaffirm the importance of creating spaces where communities can actively participate in shaping the future of their territories.