Deputy PM: Centralism hinders Serbia's development

Serbian Deputy Prime Minister Verica Kalanovic stated on Wednesday that Serbia was one of the most centralized countries in Europe. She explained that this constituted an obstacle to the country's faster development and implementation of some already initiated reforms. Deputy PM: Centralism hinders Serbia's development “We will continue developing citizens' awareness regarding the necessity of systemic organization of decentralization and none of the future governments will be able to disregard the citizens' needs,” Kalanovic stated during a conference on contributions to Serbia's national decentralization strategy held at Belgrade's Megatrend University. According to her, the decentralization process would require a change in regulations, including the Serbian Constitution, which will define the jurisdictions of the three government levels, with clearly defined jurisdictions and responsibilities. The deputy prime minister said that many chances to start decentralization in Serbia had been missed since the establishment of the democratic government but that activities in the area had been intensified. She also noted that certain institutions would be shut down in keeping with the needs of the society, while new ones would be established. “Introduction of new government levels implies establishment of sustainable systems that would be funded from the existing budget funds which would be distributed more efficiently,” Kalanovic noted. “Another important topic in the decentralization process would cover the synchronization of regulations and the European practice,” she said and underscored that Serbia needed to choose its own model which would be adjusted to the needs of its citizens. Verica Kalanovic (FoNet, file) Tanjug

Deputy PM: Centralism hinders Serbia's development

“We will continue developing citizens' awareness regarding the necessity of systemic organization of decentralization and none of the future governments will be able to disregard the citizens' needs,” Kalanović stated during a conference on contributions to Serbia's national decentralization strategy held at Belgrade's Megatrend University.

According to her, the decentralization process would require a change in regulations, including the Serbian Constitution, which will define the jurisdictions of the three government levels, with clearly defined jurisdictions and responsibilities.

The deputy prime minister said that many chances to start decentralization in Serbia had been missed since the establishment of the democratic government but that activities in the area had been intensified.

She also noted that certain institutions would be shut down in keeping with the needs of the society, while new ones would be established.

“Introduction of new government levels implies establishment of sustainable systems that would be funded from the existing budget funds which would be distributed more efficiently,” Kalanović noted.

“Another important topic in the decentralization process would cover the synchronization of regulations and the European practice,” she said and underscored that Serbia needed to choose its own model which would be adjusted to the needs of its citizens.