Optimus - Center for Good Governance

and of the ''Support to Local Governments in Serbia in the EU Integration Process'', a Program funded by Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), took place on April 12th this year in the premises of SCTM.

“Advisory Committee has the role of high-level forum which provides general guidance and advice to the Joint Executive Committee which was formed by the support of local governments in Serbia in the process of European integration. The aim of this body is the synchronization, coordination and oversight of both programs, that will implement the activities of great importance for the further development of cities and municipalities in Serbia and efficient access to the EU”, said Vladimir Jovanović, manager of the Program ''Support to Local Governments in Serbia in the EU Integration Process'.

Joint Program Advisory Committee is consisted of representatives of Ministry of Human and Minority Rights, Public Administration and Local Self-Government, Ministry of Environment, Mining and Spatial Planning, Ministry of Economy and Regional Development, EU Integration Office, Gender Equality Office, Government Office for Regulatory Reform and RIA, Chamber of Commerce and selected localities. It is chaired by Mr. Djordje Staničić, Standing Conference General Secretary. Donor community representatives, active in the local government sector, will participate as observers.

Mr. Staničić represented the general context of two projects. An important goal is raising the institutional capacity of local governments in Serbia, as well as raising awareness of the importance of this process, he said. The ultimate goal of the SCTM, according to Djordje Staničić, is “to raise the capacity of cities and municipalities in Serbia to a level that will lead to a process that we are expected to be implemented in an effective way, citizens also to be satisfied and that, as a state and society, as painlessly as possible, we get through the necessary changes that await us”.

Slađana Kočević Karavdić, Director of OPTIMUS, Center for Good Governance, addressed the participants explaining the importance of regulatory reform and focus of OPTIMUS’ efforts in the project “Improving Environment for Businesses at the Local Level through Regulatory Reform”.
“It is of great importance that Serbian Government recognized the significance of regulatory reform on all levels as a precondition for improvement of business environment as an essential requirement for new investments and efficient support to SMEE. Systemic regulatory reform of administrative procedures related to the operations and introducing a Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA) in 6 selected cities and larger municipalities, will lead to reducing the risk and cost of doing business in selected municipalities. It will also lead to development of framework for sustainable reform in these selected municipalities”, she said.

Katarina Milanović, Deputy Director of OPTIMUS, stressed that, so far OPTIMUS had done the scoping of 15 cities/municipalities to participate in the regulatory reform as part of Project Component 2 implementation. “Based on criteria such as: economic size and even regional distribution, concentration of private enterprises, strategic focus of government, openness of the local government to reform, financial contribution by local governments for the reform, and synergies with other donor projects, 6 localities are short listed for the regulatory reform implementation. As soon as election period pasts, it is expected to sign the agreements with three cities/municipalities in the first round of the Project”, Ms. Milanovic said.
Representatives of SCTM reminded that program ''Support to Local Governments in Serbia in the EU Integration Process'' has the aim to “strengthen capacity of Local Governments to respond to EU accession requirements through enhanced effectiveness of SCTM to support members´ interests and development” and aims to contribute to strengthening democracy and balanced sustainable development of cities and municipalities.