Unveiling Challenges in Serbian Public Procurement
Unveiling Challenges in Serbian Public Procurement

Author(s): Ana Milinković, Andrija Mladenović
Subject(s): Public Administration, Government/Political systems, EU-Accession / EU-DEvelopment, Corruption - Transparency - Anti-Corruption
Published by: Centar za evropske politike CEP
Keywords: Public procurement; Serbia; Governance; Transparency; Accountability; Corruption; Legal framework;
Summary/Abstract: Public procurement, as a process through which government agencies acquire goods and services from external sources, represents one of the essential areas in Serbia’s EU accession process, covered by Chapter 5. The importance of this chapter was heightened in 2020 with the introduction of the Revised Enlargement Methodology. The inclusion of public procurement as an integral component of the Fundamentals cluster was a pivotal development, aligning it with other indispensable domains such as the rule of law, democratic institutions, public administration reforms, economic criteria, and more. Upon entering the EU, Serbian companies will gain the valuable right to participate in every public procurement opportunity across the EU alongside businesses from member states. Therefore, Serbia’s entire public procurement system, post-accession, must be carefully designed as a level-playing field, ensuring equal opportunities for all potential bidders from across the EU. This proactive preparation will not only facilitate the EU accession process but also equip Serbian companies to access the significantly larger public procurement market within the EU. Additionally, public procurement holds a central position in managing EU Structural Funds because each country independently conducts procurements through these funds. This strategic approach plays a pivotal role in fostering economic growth and enhancing competitiveness during and after the accession process.

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