The Ministry of Public Administration and Local Self-Government today commenced activities on preparing a Local Self-Government System Reform Programme, which would deal with the establishment of a functional and efficient distribution of competencies between different levels of government.
“This is the first time in the history of Serbia that a strategic document relating to local self-government has been drafted, and as such it has been recognized within the Public Administration Reform Strategy and Action Plan (2018-2020), thus further increasing the significance of this document, our contribution to its quality and its role, after all, in the work of local self-government units”, stated Minister Branko Ružić.
He explained that the Local Self-Government System Reform Programme should enable further development of the local self-government system, so that this segment of the public administration system could more successfully respond to the needs of citizens, the economy and become ready in due time for European integration and other important challenges.
“The results of the future reform of the local self-government system must be the improvement of citizens’ lives, full respect for all their rights and significant improvement of the quality, accessibility and efficiency of public services, which are key for the intensive development of the local community”, the minister added.
The Minister added that all proposals for future changes that should enable or facilitate the performance of work of local self-governments shall be considered within the Local Self-Government System Reform Programme and called on local self-government units to become actively involved and contribute to the drafting of this document.
He thanked the SCTM and the Government of Switzerland, which provides support in this activities through the Swiss Cooperation Office in Belgrade.