Series:Centar za evropske politike - POLICY BRIEF

0.00 €

Action plan on Economic Migration 2021-2023

Action plan on Economic Migration 2021-2023

Author(s): Ana Aleksić Mirić / Language(s): English

Keywords: Economic migration; Action plan; 2021-2023; Workforce mobility; Migration policy; Labor market strategy;

It is often said that Serbia is facing a serious emigration problem that needs to be solved strategically. These views are supported by the data that the Global Competitiveness Index 2018–2019 ranked Serbia 134th out of 137 countries in the context of its ability to retain talent or prevent a “brain drain”, as well as the impression that many sectors in Serbia are affected by the trend of increased emigration of qualified workers such as nurses, bus and truck drivers, and highly educated experts of various profiles, primarily doctors and engineers. It is concluded that better working conditions and prospects for career development offered in developed countries, especially in the EU, are the strongest motivating factors for emigration. On the other hand, although less often, opinions can be heard that a large part of the migration diagnosis that is dealt with in the public sphere is not quite well interpreted. It is argued that the distorted parts of information from the very complicated migration statistics are inadequately translated into “general knowledge” and the widespread view that one of the most urgent problems facing Serbian society and the economy is mass emigration from Serbia, and especially the exodus of the “best and brightest”. This attitude significantly influenced the Government’s migration policy, so in 2019 the first version of the Strategy on Economic Migration was almost entirely focused on ways to prevent brain drain and measures to stimulate return. A significantly more balanced version of this document was adopted as the final Strategy on Economic Migration of the Republic of Serbia for the period 2021-2027.

More...

0.00 €

A Game of Hide and Seek: Asset Declarations for Public Officials

A Game of Hide and Seek: Asset Declarations for Public Officials

Author(s): Andrija Mladenović / Language(s): English

Keywords: Asset declaration; Anti-corruption; Public officials; Rule of law; Serbia; Income disclosure; Transparency; United Nations Convention against Corruption;

The asset and income declaration system is a powerful tool for rule of law and anti-corruption efforts. This mechanism works through imposing an obligation on Public Officials. In other words, according to the United Nations Convention against Corruption and the normative framework of the relevant country, public officials’ material or financial benefits – such as properties and income - shall be made available to the competent state authority. Today, according to the World Bank data, over 160 countries in the world implement assets declaration system (see Table 1 for more details). Within 30 days from the day of election, appointment or appellation, public officials in the Republic of Serbia are obliged to submit an asset declaration to the Anti-Corruption Agency, disclosing their assets and income, assets and income of their spouse or common-law partner, as well as minor children if they live in the same family household. The asset declaration is also submitted by officials whose term has ended, whereas urgent reporting is foreseen if the property or income of the public official has changed significantly in the previous year. However, due to the intensification of regional and cross-border offshore business, anti-corruption efforts in the area of asset declaration are becoming misplaced. This is because tools for tracking and detecting income and illegally acquired assets lag behind for innovative solutions aimed at hiding them from inquisitive citizens and institutions

More...

0.00 €

Transparency across public administration reform in Serbia: An underachieved priority

Transparency across public administration reform in Serbia: An underachieved priority

Author(s): Sava Mitrović,Milena Lazarević / Language(s): English

Keywords: Transparency; OECD; Good governance; Accountability; Public administration; Policy decisions; Citizen awareness; Inclusive decision-making; Stakeholder involvement;

According to the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), transparency refers to an environment in which the objectives of policy, its legal, institutional, and economic framework, as well as policy decisions and all related data and information, are provided to the public in a comprehensible, accessible, and timely manner. In a democratic society, transparency is a fundamental element of good governance which makes public administration more accountable for its work. Additionally, it helps citizens become more aware of their rights and obligations, as well as in better understanding public policy decisions, and it is a precondition for an inclusive decision-making process that involves civil society and all external stakeholders.

More...

0.00 €

Circular and return migration: What can Serbia learn from EU countries’ experiences?

Circular and return migration: What can Serbia learn from EU countries’ experiences?

Author(s): Ana Milinković,Jelena Žarković Rakić / Language(s): English

Keywords: Circular migration; Return migration; Serbia; EU countries; Best practices; Migration policy; Workforce mobility; Knowledge transfer; Economic development; Migration management;

In the last decades, Serbia has been facing serious demographical challenges. The low rates of natural increase in population combined with the negative net migrations caused depopulation at the state level. This trend is the strongest in rural areas and less developed regions. Circular migration (repeated legal migration of the same person between two or more countries), whose importance has been increasing both globally and in Serbia in the past decade, could lead the way out of this problem. Although today, it is much easier to emigrate from Serbia than it used to be in the past – primarily due to the termination of sanctions and the democratisation process, and later, visa liberalisation and bilateral agreements with some European Union (EU) countries on the facilitated movement of labour, Serbia hopes for further procedure simplification, especially in the context of EU integration. As an EU candidate, Serbia should be ready for all the upcoming changes.

More...

0.00 €

Public consultations and policymaking in Serbia: Form over substance

Public consultations and policymaking in Serbia: Form over substance

Author(s): Milica Škorić,Miloš Đinđić,Milena Lazarević / Language(s): English

Keywords: Public consultation; Stakeholder involvement; Policymaking; Participation; Transparency; OECD; Regulatory tools; Policy effectiveness; Public engagement; Policy solutions;

Public consultation is the process employed to involve the public and stakeholders in policymaking. The core values of this process are participation and transparency – in a process open to the public, the competent authorities, together with the target groups and stakeholders, come to policy solutions and define the desired change. According to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), public consultations are one of the crucial regulatory tools used to improve the transparency and effectiveness of regulations and policy documents.

More...

0.00 €

France, the Western Balkans, and the European Union: Boosting Societal Cooperation

France, the Western Balkans, and the European Union: Boosting Societal Cooperation

Author(s): Strahinja Subotić,Miloš Pavković,Kristina Nikolić / Language(s): English

Keywords: France; Western Balkans; Engagement; Regional Youth Cooperation Office (RYCO); French Development Agency; National Strategy; EU enlargement; Council of the EU; Policy impact; Civil society;

Although the relations between France and the Western Balkans (WB) have a long history, the intensity of French engagement in this region has varied over time and today there is arguably space for improvement. In fact, after two decades of modest interest in the region, France has recently signalled its intention to intensify its engagement in the Western Balkans. Over the last several years, France has actively supported the creation and development of the Regional Youth Cooperation Office (RYCO), extended the mandate of the French Development Agency to the countries of the region, and adopted the National Strategy for the Western Balkans. Considering that France holds the presidency over the Council of the EU in the first half of 2022, at a time when there is an apparent enlargement impasse, France has an excellent opportunity to increase French, but also the EU’s, level of impact in this region in the upcoming period. For this reason, how and to what extent France will engage with the Western Balkans is expected to become a matter of increasing importance in the eyes of governments, experts, think-tanks, and other civil society organisations.

More...

0.00 €

What do citizens tell us about administrative services? The second public perception survey in the Western Balkans

What do citizens tell us about administrative services? The second public perception survey in the Western Balkans

Author(s): Stefan Stojković / Language(s): English

Keywords: Public perception; Administrative services; Western Balkans; Citizen feedback; Service quality; Public administration; Survey results; User satisfaction;

Most of citizens in the Western Balkans perceive that dealing with public administration has become easier in the past two years (57%). This view is more pronounced in Kosovo, Serbia and Albania (73%, 65% and 63% respectively), on the one hand, than in Bosnia and Herzegovina and North Macedonia (38% and 48%) on the other. Figures in Montenegro are around the average with 55%.

More...

0.00 €

(Non)transparency as a mirror of (ir)responsibility: How do the government and state administration bodies report on their performance?

(Non)transparency as a mirror of (ir)responsibility: How do the government and state administration bodies report on their performance?

Author(s): Milica Škorić / Language(s): English

Keywords: Transparency; Accountability; Government reporting; State administration; Performance evaluation; Public sector; Responsibility; Governance;

Good governance implies governance that focuses on citizens, their well-being and satisfaction. One of the main attributes of good governance is transparency in the work of institutions and the decision-making process, in order to provide the public with timely information about activities and decisions that may have an impact on everyday life. With transparent insight into decisions of public interest, citizens in democratic societies have the opportunity not only to be informed but also to point out shortcomings and demand accountability, thus creating an unbreakable link between transparency and public accountability for the results achieved. Public reporting about work and performance is one of the ways to ensure government transparency in practice. In Serbia, the long-standing problem of non-transparent annual reporting on the work of the Government and the administration results in a lack of accountability towards citizens.

More...

0.00 €

Equalization of excise burden on strong alcoholic beverages a prerequisite for joining the EU

Equalization of excise burden on strong alcoholic beverages a prerequisite for joining the EU

Author(s): Јelena Rancic / Language(s): English

Keywords: Excise burden; Alcohol taxation; Strong alcoholic beverages; EU accession; Economic alignment; Regulatory compliance; Fiscal policy; Tax equalization;

Five years after the explanatory and bilateral screening, Negotiating Chapter 16, which refers to taxation, has not been open for negotiations. According to the 2016 and 2017 EC reports, the key problem standing in the way of opening the chapter is the unequal excise burden on domestic and imported coffee and strong alcoholic beverages. The amendments to the Excise Law, introduced in 2018, eliminated fiscal discrimination in terms of the excise tax that need to be paid on imported and domestic coffee products, but missed the opportunity to equalize the tax treatment of strong alcoholic beverages. The amendments to the law last year did not solve this problem either, and this year Chapter 16 will most likely remain closed for negotiations. Therefore, the basic recommendation of this policy brief concerns the Ministry of Finance, which should initiate amendments to the Law on excises in order to equalize the excise burden on different types of strong alcoholic beverages.

More...

0.00 €

Financial Management and Control

Financial Management and Control

Author(s): Nemanja Šormaz,Pavle Medić / Language(s): English

Keywords: Financial management; Control systems; Public sector; Budgeting; Accountability; Risk management; Internal control; Fiscal oversight; Governance; Financial accountability;

Even though it has been “on paper” for a whole decade, the actual level of implementation (and impact) of Financial Management and Control (FMC) in Serbia remains low. The focus of decision-makers is more on the form - harmonising regulation with the standards and expectations of the European Union, rather than on the essence - implementing, followed by monitoring, and measuring the concrete results of FMC. However, the environment in which FMC is expected to be developed and implemented is, as well, unfavourable, given the lack of strategic planning, managerial responsibility and open and meaningful communication with, above all, citizens, who need to be assured that the money raised from them is spent in a smart and responsible manner. This brief analyses the key achievements, indicates main obstacles in its establishment and implementation and sums up the measures needed to be implemented in order to “move” FMC from strategy on paper towards concrete benefits for the citizens.

More...

0.00 €

Financing of the Environmental Protection at the Local Level: Relationship between Revenues and Expenditures

Financing of the Environmental Protection at the Local Level: Relationship between Revenues and Expenditures

Author(s): Stefan Šipka,Dejan Maksimović / Language(s): English

Keywords: Environmental protection; Local level financing; Revenues; Expenditures; Budget allocation; Sustainability; Public finance; Local governance; Environmental policy; Fiscal management;

Financial investments in the environmental protection are one of the biggest challenges for the Republic of Serbia in the European Union accession process. Official estimates from 20111 indicate that by 2030, the costs of application of the rules under Chapter 27 (Environmental Protection) will reach €10.6 Billion, mainly for protection against water pollution (€5.6 Billion), waste management (€2.8 Billion) and the industrial pollution (€1.3 Billion). Furthermore, according to more recent estimates, the required investments, considering only the capital investments, are around €10 Billion. Inclusion of the operational investments (infrastructure maintenance costs) will result in an even higher amount.

More...

0.00 €

Financing Environmental Protection at the Local Level: The Planning of the Budgetary Funds

Financing Environmental Protection at the Local Level: The Planning of the Budgetary Funds

Author(s): Dejan Maksimović,Stefan Šipka / Language(s): English

Keywords: Environmental protection; Local level financing; Budget planning; Fiscal management; Sustainability; Public finance; Budget allocation; Environmental policy; Local governance; Resource management;

Serbia is facing serious challenges in the field of environmental protection and harmonizing its standards with those of the European Union. To overcome these challenges, it is necessary to spend at least 10 billion euros. Currently, Serbia spends less than 0.5% of its GDP on environmental protection, which is below the average sum allocated in the EU and far less than the amount allocated by the countries of Central and Eastern Europe during their accession process. Before the share of share of GDP allocated for environmental protection increases, it is important to have a quality system of planning and utilization of funds designated for environmental protection. This is particularly important in case of local self-governments, where, on one side, there is a large scope of competences with regard to environmental protection, and, on the other side, insufficient capacities, as well as different practices.

More...

0.00 €

Serbia’s EU accession negotiations on Chapter 32: Three years of negotiations out of the public eye

Serbia’s EU accession negotiations on Chapter 32: Three years of negotiations out of the public eye

Author(s): Miloš Đinđić / Language(s): English

Keywords: Serbia; EU accession; Chapter 32; Negotiations; Public transparency; European Union; Policy reforms; EU integration; Public awareness; Governance;

Five years have passed since Serbia began its accession negotiations with the European Union. Since then, the country has opened 16 out of the 35 negotiation chapters of the EU acquis and has temporarily closed two. Chapter 32, on financial control in the public sector, was among the first chapters to be opened, in December 2015. While Serbia has been in the process of negotiating with the EU in this area for more than three years now, it is di cult to assess the country’s progress since there has been hardly any communication to the public on developments in this field. This lack of transparency about the state of play on Chapter 32 suggests that Serbia could be struggling to achieve sufficient and speedy progress. Moreover, the absence of information about the measures Serbia has taken in this negotiation undermines democratic principles of accountability and weakens the public’s support for, and confidence in, the EU accession process.

More...

0.00 €

EU Sentiments of Serbia’s Citizens: Unpacking the Motivations Behind the Ayes, the Nays, and the Undecided

EU Sentiments of Serbia’s Citizens: Unpacking the Motivations Behind the Ayes, the Nays, and the Undecided

Author(s): Dušan Pjevović,Strahinja Subotić / Language(s): English

Keywords: EU sentiments; Serbia; Public opinion; EU integration; Citizen motivations; EU accession; Political attitudes; Public perception; National identity; European Union;

Throughout the past decade, Serbia has made progress on its path towards the EU. Important milestones range from the obtainment of visa liberalisation in 2009 and candidate status three years later, to starting the accession negotiations in 2014 and opening the first negotiating chapters in 2015. What remains a predicament, however, is the fact that the aforementioned accomplishments were often not accompanied by increased public support for the EU accession process. In fact, public support has proven to be quite volatile and relatively independent from Serbia’s EU progression rate.

More...

0.00 €

The Senior Civil Service System in Serbia: 12 Years of Simulated Depoliticisation

The Senior Civil Service System in Serbia: 12 Years of Simulated Depoliticisation

Author(s): Vladimir Mihajlović / Language(s): English

Keywords: Senior civil service; Serbia; Depoliticisation; Public administration; Governance reform; Bureaucracy; Political influence; Merit-based appointments; Civil service system; Institutional reform;

Following the adoption of amendments to the Civil Service Law (CSL) in December 2018, the Serbian Government has put the goal of depoliticisation on its 2019 agenda of priorities. The country has wrestled with this issue since the early days of its democratic transition, which started in 2000. This effort is one of the key preconditions of Serbia’s admission to the European Union (EU). Also, the depoliticisation of the public administration is important for citizens, as the public interest is best served by professional, politically independent, and competent civil servants.

More...

0.00 €

Towards a Smart Retention Policy for the Sustainable EU Integration of Serbia

Towards a Smart Retention Policy for the Sustainable EU Integration of Serbia

Author(s): Milena Mihajlović,Katarina Kosmina,Dragana Bajić / Language(s): English

Keywords: Administrative capacities; Serbia; EU membership; Public administration; Staff retention; EU accession; IPA jobs; Employee turnover; Work conditions; Civil service;

Adequate administrative capacities are one of the crucial preconditions for a successful and sustainable membership of Serbia in the EU. However, experienced employees have been increasingly leaving their public administration jobs due to inadequate work conditions. Given that over 50% of surveyed employees working on EU/IPA jobs have an intention of leaving the administration within the following year, a quality staff retention policy is essential, especially taking into account the relevance of these employees and their contribution to the EU accession and integration processes.

More...

0.00 €

Serbia’s Pursuit of Interests in the EU: Ready to Grasp Growing Opportunities?

Serbia’s Pursuit of Interests in the EU: Ready to Grasp Growing Opportunities?

Author(s): Strahinja Subotić / Language(s): English

Keywords: Serbia; EU integration; National interests; EU opportunities; Foreign policy; Accession process; Regional cooperation; Economic development; Serbia-EU relations;

Serbia has been progressively increasing its engagement with the EU for more than a decade. This has enabled it to get itself well acquainted with the work of the EU institutions, the EU laws and the particularities of the EU association/accession process. The question is whether Serbia could use this to its advantage. Moreover, how the existing “capital” can be used in order to further develop the present network of contacts and reap benefits from being seen as a trustworthy partner. These questions become more pertinent knowing that the interaction between the EU and Serbia is expected to increase in the following phases of the EU accession process. However, the research on how Serbia is pursuing its interests in Brussels is rather scarce and at the same time there is very little policy debate on that issue. That is why this research aimed to explore Serbia’s current administrative, financial and lobbying capacities at the EU level in the context of Serbian EU accession negotiation process, in order to acquire a comprehensive understanding of how Serbia is standing in Brussels today.

More...

0.00 €

Getting results in Public Policy: Monitoring and Evaluation with Evidence Supplied by the Civil Society

Getting results in Public Policy: Monitoring and Evaluation with Evidence Supplied by the Civil Society

Author(s): Sena Marić / Language(s): English

Keywords: Public policy; Monitoring and evaluation; Civil society; Evidence-based policy; Accountability; Policy outcomes; Governance; Public sector performance; Citizen engagement; Transparency;

Evidence clearly demonstrates that implementation of public policies in Serbia leads to broken promises. Although the Government Work Programme sets goals and planned activities, these goals are often left unachieved in practice, while there is no mechanism to measure the activities’ results or impact. In contrast to Serbia, the decision makers in countries with a more developed political culture are under constant public scrutiny that demands effective policies, credible and reliable data and evidence-based policy making in general.

More...

0.00 €

Citizen-oriented Public Administration in Serbia - Reality or Wishful Thinking?

Citizen-oriented Public Administration in Serbia - Reality or Wishful Thinking?

Author(s): Katarina Tadić / Language(s): English

Keywords: Citizen-oriented administration; Public administration; Serbia; Governance; Service delivery; Accountability; Public sector reform; Citizen engagement; Policy implementation; Administrative efficiency;

The current process of public administration reform in Serbia is conditioned by the process of European integration, and thus the reform process represents the harmonization of legislative framework and public administration functioning in Serbia with European principles and good practice. Accordingly, the emphasis is on developing citizen-oriented public administration, which has become a strategic direction of the Serbian Government. However, even though the latest report of the European Commission gives Serbia a predominantly positive assessment in the area of public administration reform (PAR),1 it also reveals its concrete deficiencies. In other words, public administration in Serbia faces numerous challenges and difficulties, some of which are reflected in the lack of capacity, but some also in the reluctance of the Government and the administration to adapt to new demands.

More...

0.00 €

Europe’s farmers taking to the streets: What will come of the recent disruptions?

Europe’s farmers taking to the streets: What will come of the recent disruptions?

Author(s): Paul O’Brien / Language(s): English

Keywords: 2024 European farmers protests; EU agricultural policy; Serbia and Western Balkans; Agricultural impact on EU accession; Farmer unrest in Europe; EU integration challenges;

Farmers have truly taken Europe by storm in the opening weeks of 2024, with protests erupting in most EU member states and causing ever-growing disruptions. German farmers blocked Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck from disembarking a ferry and blockaded roads and motorways throughout the country with their tractors. French farmers are targeting government buildings to express their anger in protests that are gaining in violence in some cases. Meanwhile, farmers in Poland are partaking in a lengthy general strike and the blockading of the border to neighbouring Ukraine. Even Brussels has seen its fair share of violent clashes between farmers and police officers, with officers being sprayed with liquid manure and tyres being lit on fire in some cases. With the important role agriculture plays in the accession process of new EU member states, these European developments, as well as any protests of this kind in the Western Balkans (WB), are hard to ignore. One is left to wonder whether the protests are justified and where the reasons for such extensive measures lie.

More...