The EU transferred EUR 11 million into the state budget for further public administration reform. This payment marks the successful end and payment of the last part of the EU’s sectoral budget support for public administration reform, which means that the total amount of the EU’s contribution amounted to EUR 80 million. The Sector Reform Contract for Public Administration Reform covered the period from 2016 to 2020.

“Public administration reform is extremely important not only because of Serbia’s intention to become a member of the EU, but, above all, for the well-being of the citizens of Serbia. The main goal is to establish a functional public administration system that provides quality services to citizens and provides good conditions for economic growth and social development. The user experience and their point of view is the most important. Simplification of administrative procedures is necessary for efficient, user-friendly public services. The focus is on the implementation of better services and improved and modernized public administration. Budgetary support for the reform of eGovernment proved to be extremely important during the crisis caused by the Covid-19 virus”, said Ambassador Emanuele Giaufret, Head of the European Union Delegation Serbia, and emphasized that further modernization and improvement are needed, together with significant investments in human resources and continuous support to local self-governments, in order to enable even more efficient public administration services. The EU continues to support Serbia on its path to a better and more efficient public administration – a service for all citizens”, said Ambassador Giaufret.

Public administration reform support enabled a continuous reform process in all relevant areas and progress in building the administrative capacity of the state, as required by the EU accession criteria. Sectoral budget support for public administration reform provides support for six key areas of public administration – Strategic framework of public administration reform, policy development and coordination, HR management, administration accountability, implementation of services to citizens and businesses, and public finance management, together with macroeconomic stability and budget transparency. The comprehensiveness and complexity of public administration implies the internal functioning of the administration – the capacity for policy development, budgeting and coordination, merit-based hiring and firing of officials, enabling a transparent and understandable salary policy, responsible management of taxpayers’ money – as well as the administration’s relations with the outside world – its responsibility, transparency and ability to provide services to citizens and businesses.

Also, the Sectoral Budget Support Program for Public Administration Reform helped combat the challenges caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, extending the duration of the program by one year and redirecting undisbursed funds to the state budget in the form of additional support.

“The Ministry of Finance remains committed to the reform of public administration and is ready to take a key role in this process in the future, regardless of the fact that the payment of the last tranche in the amount of EUR 11 million in December 2021 marks the end of the Sectoral Budget Support Program for the public administration reform from the IPA Program for 2015. We are grateful for the excellent cooperation with the European Union and are committed to fulfilling the agreed preconditions and performance indicators”, said the Minister of Finance, Siniša Mali and added:

“The Ministry of Finance is a dedicated and reliable partner, largely responsible for the successful implementation of the Sectoral Budget Support not only in the area of Public Administration Reform, but also in the areas of Education and Integrated Border Management. Thus, in June 2021, we adopted the New Public Finance Management Reform Program for the period 2021-2025, which is an integral part of the broader Public Administration Reform Strategy 2021-2030, which confirms the determination of the Government of the REPublic of Serbia to further implement reforms“, said Mali.

“With the final EUR 11 million payment, Serbia has fully used the funds provided for in the Sectoral Reform Agreement. With the progress achieved in the implementation of the public administration reform, we managed to secure EUR 63 million of direct budget support, while the remaining EUR 17 million are used by our administration in the form of very important projects of complementary support. Successful implementation of this complex support instrument is the best indicator of the strengthened capacities of national institutions, but also of the firm commitment to continue building “administration tailored to all of us”. Despite numerous challenges, through teamwork we have improved numerous aspects of public administration, such as service provision, human resource management, accountability, public finance management and public policies”, said the Minister of Public Administration and Local Self-Government, Marija Obradović and added:

“I would especially highlight the results in the field of eGovernment, which proved to be crucial for the quick and efficient response of our administration to the Covid crisis. By putting citizens and their needs at the centre of our reform ambitions, we directly contribute to raising the quality of life and further economic development of our society, with a clear vision and unequivocal determination to ensure Serbia’s further progress on its path to European integration”, emphasized Obradović.

Jadranka Joksimović, Minister for European Integration, stated that the payment of the last tranche of EUR 80 million, which the European Union allocated to Serbia as public administration reform support, completed the efforts of the Government of Serbia to further strengthen its administrative capacities in accordance with the EU accession criteria. “Since 2016, for four years we have worked on many significant segments of the public administration reform and improved its effectiveness and transparency, but we have also shown that we are capable of efficiently managing the budget funds allocated to us as development assistance in accordance with the EU rules. Most importantly, however, we showed the Serbian citizens that with the help of the IPA funds, with responsible work, we can improve access to the services provided by the public administration, as well as improve their quality in accordance with the users’ needs. The EU accession bring us benefits even before our country becomes a member, and the EU’s support to important sectors of society is one of the visible ways in which these benefits are achieved. That is why we have already initiated negotiations with the EU to continue this kind of support from IPA 2022, and I am convinced that we will receive the support from our European partners for this”, stressed Joksimović.  

Watch the video about the donation of 18 vehicles to the Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia