1.

ITA obligation:
Article 38.7(b) (Article 73.7 (b)) of
SAA)
Competition and other economic
provisions
* Provision concerning NUTS.
MRDLSG:
At the meeting of the Subcommittee on
Economic and Financial Issues and
Statistics, held in December 2012, the
Statistical Office of RS was
commended for its progress in the
calculation of regional GDP (NUTS 2)
but it was pointed out that the issue of
regional structures was transferred to
the political level.



,


2013.
( 62 /13).

2.

SORS
The draft of the development strategy
for agricultural statistics has been
produced in cooperation with the
Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and
Water Management.
The draft is
expected to be adopted by the two
institutions in September 2013.

3.

4.

SORS
The Statistical Office of the Republic
of Serbia began the transmission of
available national (annual and
quarterly) accounts data in late
February 2013 following regular
procedure.
The amount of data sent to Eurostat
will be increasing in the future, in
accordance with their availability.
o

MLESP
In the period from November 2012 to
August 2013, a series of by-laws was
introduced along with the Law on

Social Protection.
The introduced by-laws:
1. Regulation Amending the
Regulation on the Network of
Social Protection Institutions
(Official Gazette of RS 12/13);
2. Rulebook on the Licensing of
Social Protection Service
Providers (Official Gazette of
RS 42/2013);
3. Rulebook on the Licensing of
Expert Workers in Social
Protection (Official Gazette of
RS 42/2013);
4. Rulebook on Minimal
Standards for the Provision of
Social Protection Services
(Official Gazette of RS
42/2013);
5. Rulebook Amending the
Rulebook on Expert Jobs in
Social Protection (Official
Gazette of RS 42/2013);
6. In accordance with the
commitments arising from the
General Protocol on the
Practices and Cooperation of
Institutions, Goverrnment
Bodies and Organisations in
Cases of Violence against
Women in Family and Intimate
Partner Relationships
introduced by the Government,
the Special Protocol on the
Practices of Centres for Social
Work Guardianship Organs in
Cases of Family Violence and
Violence against Women in
Intimate Partner Relationships
was produced and distributed
to all Centres for Social Work
in the country in March.
By-laws under preparation:
1.

Law Ratifying the Convention

on Protection of Children and
Co-operation in Respect of
Intercountry Adoptions (the
Draft Law was adopted by the
Government of the Republic of
Serbia and submitted to the
National Assembly as a bill);

2.

Draft
Law
on
Social
Entrepreneurship and Social
Enterprises;

3.

Rulebook
on
Family
Accomodation (at the Republic
Secretariat for Legislation);

4.

Rulebook on the Conditions

for
Reimbursement
and
Guardian Awards (at the
Republic
Secretariat
for
Legislation);

5.

Rulebook on the Procedure for

Submitting
Guardianship
Reports and Rendering of
Guardian Accounts (at the
Republic
Secretariat
for
Legislation);

6.

Rulebook on the Procedure for

Supervision of the Expert Work
of Centres for Social Work or
Guardianship Organs;

7.

Rulebook on the Procedure,

Composition and Funding of
Guardianship
Organs'
Permanent Committees for the
Inventory and Assessment of
Property of Wards;

8.

Draft Regulation on Dedicated

Transfers in Social Protection
(in the process of being
adopted);

9.

Instructions for the Inspection

of the Operation of Social
Protection Institutions and
Other Social Protection Service
Providers;

10. Instructions
for
Social
Protection Service Providers
for
Analysing
Users
Complaints;
11. Rulebook on Registers and
Documents
for
Social
Protection Service Providers.

The
process
of
drafting
amendments to the Law on Gender

5.

6.

Equality has been initiated.

As the Governments 2013 Work
Program
has
it
that
the
Government should prepare the
Bill Amending the Labour Law by
the end of September, work on a
working version of this Draft Law
is in progress at the Ministry of
Labour, so that it can be sent to the
members of the working group
social partners for consideration
and coordination.
MLESP
The National Employment Action
Plan for 2013 envisaging a special
measure for youth, the so-called
youth service package, has been
adopted (Official Gazette of RS
117/2012)
The Agreement on the
Performance of the National
Employment Service for 2013 has
been prepared and signed
Through the revision of the budget
of the Republic of Serbia adopted
on 5 July 2013, resources for
active employment measures were
reduced from 3.4 billion to 1.18
billion.
MLESP
As the Governments 2013 Work
Program
has
it
that
the
Government should prepare the
Bill Amending the Labour Law by
the end of September, work on a
working version of this Draft Law
is in progress at the Ministry of
Labour, so that it can be sent to the
members of the working group
social partners for consideration
and coordination.
Preparations are underway for the
implementation of a project titled
Improving Social Dialogue, in
which one of the planned activities
is
the
development
and
implementation of an Action Plan
which would determine guidelines
meant to reduce undeclared work,
and the promotion of

7.

The National Employment Action

Plan for 2013 envisaging a special
measure for youth, the so-called
youth service package, has been
adopted (Official Gazette of RS
117/2012)
MLESP
As part of the first component of
the twinning project Preparing
institutions of the labour market of
the Republic of Serbia for the
European Employment Strategy
pertaining to the strengthening of
the capacities of the Employment
Sector and the National
Employment Service, eight
training sessions were held on
multiple subjects in the field of
employment (European
Employment Strategy, EU
instruments for policy
coordination, state assistance, EU
negotiations, etc.), as well as 4
workshops, during which analysis
of the alignment of employment
regulations with EU regulations
was performed. The autumn of
2013 will see the beginning of the
second cycle of training.
As part of twinning projects
second component which pertains
to the strengthening of capacities
of local employment councils to
create local, data-based
employment policy, two training
cycles with the subject Labour
Market Data Analysis were held
until the end of May 2013, whose
participants were representatives
of local employment councils from
64 local governments (201
participants in all). In June 2013,
training sessions were held for the
same participants in 4 cities with
the subject The Cycle of
Employment Policy and Planning
Methods for Employment
Measures whose aim was
twofold: 1) promotion of
partnership and cooperation with a
view to encouraging the exchange
of good practices and policy
coordination at the local level, and
2) providing support for the

8.

9.

10.
11.

12.

development of local employment

council clusters, in conditions in
which such networking contributes
to the National Employment
Services efficiency.
Note by MLESP: MJPA should be
involved both in the section regarding
the statement that foreseen exemptions
for religious institutions are too broad
and in the section regarding the role of
NGOs in judicial proceedings.
MLESP
With regard to this
recommendation, we wish to point
out the following: 1) National
elections were held in 2012, as a
result of which women now
constitute a third of the Assembly,
which is above the EU average, 2)
Women hold a large number of
managerial positions in the country
(Government, ministries, NBS), 3)
In 2012, 20 local projects were
organised: a) 5 projects to
empower women in rural areas, b)
5 projects to establish e-clubs for
women, and c) Support for 10
local NGOs in cooperation with
local self-governments, 4) Gendersensitive language has entered the
media and public life.

After harmonisation with the opinions

of competent institutions, the Proposal
of the Decision Establishing the SME
Council has been submitted to the
Government of the Republic of Serbia,
but owing to the undergoing
Government reshuffle, as well as the
nature and content of the Proposal of
the Decision (), enactment of the
Decision has been deferred until the
reshuffle ends.
MFE: Implementation of the Support
Programme for Innovative, FastGrowing SMEs for 2013 has been
completed (Official Gazette of RS
18/13) support was provided to 31
SMEs as part of this programme. The
Ministry subsidises up to 50% of
justified expenses for activity
implementation, and 25292.381,14

RSD have been granted.

Implementation of the Support
Programme for Small Enterprises for
the Procurement of Equipment for
2013 has been completed (Official
Gazette of RS 31/13) a pilot support
programme for the procurement of
production equipment, machines and
parts which, at a 5% participation by
the beneficiary, allows grants of up to
25% of the investment value (up to 2.5
million RSD per beneficiary) and a
credit of up to 70% of the investment
by public call in chosen commercial
banks under more favourable terms
than those offered in the credit market.
The Ministry has selected three banks
which are to take part in the
implementation of this programme.
The public call for awarding funds to
small enterprises is in progress; 81
requests have been approved at this
point, with the total value of .
816.697,67 RSD, and the total value of
the procured equipment is
417.041.693,27 RSD.
The Serbian Development Fund and
the Serbian Export Credit and
Insurance Agency continue their
standard credit support programmes
from their own sources. In accordance
with the plan, the realisation of the
credit line to subsidise solvency in
accordance with the regulation
envisaging 600,000,000.00 for this
purpose in 2013 is in progress.

13.
14.

SEIO With the donors support, a

document titled Needs of the Republic
of Serbia for International Assistance
2014-2017 with projections up to 2020
(NAD) is being completed. The
document will contain goals by sector,
priorities, measures and indicators.
These objectives, prirorites and
measures will be derived from the
reference sectoral strategic documents
or from the National Programme for the

Adoption of the Acquis. The Document

will be sent to the Government for
adoption in September.
MFE By-laws for IPA components I,
IIa, and IIb have been delivered to
relevant institutions for their opinion,
and their adoption is planned no later
than the end of September 2013.

15.

In the period from 8 to 12 July 2013, an

audit was performed with a view to
determining the steps to be taken and
the ways to overcome high-risk
findings defined in the auditors Final
Report. It was established that all highrisk findings have been removed or
reduced to low-risk findings, with the
exception of the legal basis findings
which will be resolved once
Regulations
are
adopted
and
implementation
agreements
and
operational agreements have been
signed.
SEIO With the donors support, a
document titled Needs of the Republic
of Serbia for International Assistance
2014-2017 with projections up to 2020
(NAD) is being completed. The
document will contain goals by sector,
priorities, measures and indicators.
These objectives, prirorites and
measures will be derived from the
reference sectoral strategic documents
or from the National Programme for the
Adoption of the Acquis. The Document
will be sent to the Government for
adoption in September.
MRDLSG: The priority of MRLDSG
to adopt the National Regional
Development Plan, which will be
harmonised with the future IPA 20142020 programming and implementation
system, has been clearly defined. The
harmonisation of the new regional
policy with the EU trends and practices
does not only touch on the approach to
defining policy and its implementation
but also on the approach to and
methodology of strategic policy
planning.

A new regional development policy

observing sectoral principles has been
developed and accepted by the
competent ministries.
As an integral part of the NRDP, the
regional development strategy has been
developed, defining four major
priorities: people, location, production
capacities,
and
administrative
capacities.
Regional policy measures which will
have a national and regional character
have been formulated. At this point, 17
operational areas (economy, small and
medium
enterprises,
tourism,
information
and
communications
technology, trade, agriculture and rural
development, business infrastructure,
transportation, energy, environment,
climate
change,
employment,
education, science, technology and
healthcare) and 10 competent ministries
have been identified, with whose
cooperation
17
implementation
measures have been developed.
The measures are a result of dialogue
with key stakeholders spanning all
levels, observing the partnership
principle.
Methodology
for
the
financial
allocation of funds according to region
and priority based on formulated
criteria and an implementation system
(coordination, monitoring, support) are
being developed.
The new regional development policy
will be characterised by a coordinated,
integrated sectoral-territorial approach,
whose implementation will be the
responsibility of line ministries.

16.

The Decision Forming a Work Group to

Prepare the Draft Law Amending the
Law on Regional Development, no.
119-01-13/2013-02 of 20 March 2013,
has been issued, a meeting of the work
group has taken place and the coments
and suggestions of the members of the
work groups regarding amendments to
the Law on Regional Development
have been aggregated.
MFE In July 2013, a new
employment process was initiated at the
Department of Finance and Contracting

of EU Assistance Funds for 19

executive posts and at the Department
for the National Fund for EU funds
management for 6 executive posts.
17.

SEIO With the donors support, a

document titled Needs of the Republic
of Serbia for International Assistance
2014-2017 with projections up to 2020
(NAD) is being completed. The
document will contain goals by sector,
priorities, measures and indicators.
These objectives, prirorites and
measures will be derived from the
reference sectoral strategic documents
or from the National Programme for the
Adoption of the Acquis. The Document
will be sent to the Government for
adoption in September.
In the context of the preparation of the
Needs of the Republic of Serbia for
International Assistance 2014-2017
with projections up to 2020 (NAD), a
draft of the methodology to identify
priority (sectoral) infrastructure projects
has been prepared, including selection
criteria for the projects.
The
methodology is currently being tested
and its final version is expected to be
harmonised in parallel with the
completion of the NAD.
MRDLSG:
Four
Regional
Development Strategies are planned for
adoption simultaneously with the
NRDP by the end of 2013.
Simultaneously with NRDP, draft
Regional Development Strategies for
two NUTS 1 regions South Serbia
have been formulated, while Regional
Development Strategies for the regions
of Belgrade and Vojvodina are
underway and will be finalised by the
end of 2013.
The Regulation on the Structure,
Development,
Harmonisation
Procedure
for
Development
Documents,
Public
Consultation
Procedure and Regional Development
Documents Public Access Procedure
and Deadlines (Official Gazette of RS
15/11) has defined the methodological

approach and structure of these

development documents, facilitating
their harmonisation (national and
regional level) and systematicity.
Regional level inputs have been
collected in order to be integrated into
the intervention measures defined in the
Draft National Regional Development
Plan.

18.

19.

20.

MRDLSG
has
begun
creating
preconditions for the regulation of the
planning, strategic and institutional
framework for business infrastructure,
whose preparation is planned by the end
of 2014.
MRDLSG: The Ministry is processing
the results of the analyses of planning
processes at the local level and is
preparing the material necessary for the
formulation of the recommendation for
local self-governments with a view to
standardising strategic planning. The
formulation of the guidelines is planned
no later than the end of the fourth
quarter of 2013, and the beginning of
2014 at the latest, depending on the
dynamics of determining the framework
for programme budgeting, whose
application to local self-government
units is planned to begin in 2015, and is
being prepared by the Ministry of
Finance.
The Office of Audit of the Management
of EU Funds currently has 11
employees out of 25 systematised posts
in total (the Director a civil servant, 7
permanent employees and 3 temporary
employees). By relocating the Office to
a suitable space, conditions have been
made to continue employment in the
future. Additionally, the implementation
of
a
two-year
project
titled
Strengthening the Capacities of the
Office, financed by the EU, began on
27 August with a view to training
auditors.

MJPA:
The National Assembly has adopted the

National Judicial Reform Strategy at a

session of the seventh extraordinary
session of 2013, held on 1 July 2013,
and the document was published in the
Official Gazette of RS 57/13. After the
Strategy was adopted, the Government
of the Republic of Serbia adopted the
accompanying Action Plan.
The
responsibility
for
the
implementation of the goals and
activities outlined by the Strategy and
the Action Plan has been entrusted to
the
Strategy
Implementation
Commission, an occasional working
body of the Government for the
purposes of monitoring the progress
and guiding and planning future
activities, consisting of fifteen members
(and fifteen deputies), representatives
of all the institutions relevant to the
implementation of judicial reform. The
administrative, expert and technical
support for the Committees operation
is
provided
by
the
Strategy
Implementation Secretariat.

21.

After all institutions participating in the

Committee in accordance with the
Strategy
had
appointed
their
representatives who would become
members, or deputies, in July and
August 2013, the Government of the
Republic of Serbia adopted the
Decision Establishing the National
Judicial Reform Strategy Commission
for the period 2013/2018 at its session
held on 25 August 2013. The Strategy
envisages that the Commission should
adopt the Rules of Procedure within
two months of its appointment.
MJPA:
After the last meeting of the
Management Board for the project
Consultancy Services to Develop an
ICT Strategy and Implementation
Roadmap for the Justice Sector in the
Republic of Serbia, at which the Final
Report with additional roadmap
documents for the implementation of
this strategy in Serbias justice sector
was approved, these documents were
submitted to the Ministry of Justice and

Public Administration on 18 August

2013.

22.
23.

MJPA:
The National Assembly of the Republic
of Serbia adopted the National AntiCorruption Strategy 2013-2018 on 1
July 2013. In cooperation with the
Belgrade Chamber of Commerce, the
strategy was presented on 29 July 2013.
Following the formulation of the text of
the Draft Action Plan for the
Implementation of the National AntiCorruption Strategy, the Ministry of
Justice and Public Administration
organised a public debate at the Palace
of Serbia in Belgrade on 15 July 2013
in cooperation with the OSCE Mission,
attended by experts and interested
members of the public, which pointed
out certain problems, oversights and
questions which the working group will
be considering.
The Action Plan was afterwards sent to
all ministries, the High Judicial
Council, the State Prosecutorial
Council,
the
Ombudsman,
the
Commissioner for Information of
Public Importance, the Anti-Corruption
Agency, the Republic Secretariat for
Legislation
and
the
European
Integration Office for their opinion.
The Government of the Republic of
Serbia adopted the Action Plan for the
Implementation of the National AntiCorruption Strategy on 25 August 2013.
On the basis of the Strategy and the
Action Plan, process organization and
planning, goals for the prevention of
corruption, definition and formation of
short-, medium- , and long-term
measures will be provided for.
The Ministry of Justice and Public
Administration will take active
participation in the cooperation with the
Anti-Corruption Agency and undertake
any measures to ensure the successful
implementation of the Strategy and the

Action Plan.

24.

The AP for fulfilling the

recommendations from the
Progress Report of the
European Commission for
2010 with a view to
accelerating the acquisition
of candidate status.
MJPA:
The Commissioner for Information of
Public Importance and Personal Data
Protection has drafted a model of the
Law on Protection of Whistleblowers.
Preparations are underway for the
establishment of a working group to
draw up a Draft Law on Protection of
Whistleblowers
based
on
the
aformentioned model. According to the
adopted
Action
Plan
for
the
Implementation of the National AntiCorruption Strategy, the deadline to
adopt the Law on Protection of
Whistleblowers is end of 2013.

Ombudsman:
The working group of the
Commissioner
for
Information
of
Public
Importance and Personal
Data Protection, headed by
the Ombudsman, has drawn
up a model of the Law on
Protection of Whistleblowers
and submitted it to the
Ministry of Justice and Public
Administration for further
procedure.
The model of the Law
envisages as one of the
alternatives
that
the
Ombudsman should provide
temporary
protection
to
whistleblowers
until
the
courts final decision, which
would
necessitate
the
enhancement
of
the
Ombudsmans capacity.

The Ombudsman has on

several occasions, publicly
and during the preparation
of the Action Plan for the
Implementation
of
the
National
Anti-Corruption
Strategy 2013-2018, called
for this law to be adopted
more quickly.
MJPA:

25.

26.

At the Judicial Supervision Division of

the Justice Department, records of
citizens
complaints
indicating
corruption are kept separately. In the
third quarter of 2013, eight complaints
were registered.
MI:
Police officer JFI gave a lecture
organised by the OSCE and the
American Embassy on the topic
Financial Investigations and the
Confiscation of Property on 2-3 July
2013 in Kolain, Montenegro.

The AP for fulfilling the

recommendations from the
Progress Report of the
European Commission for
2010
with
a
view
to
accelerating the acquisition
of candidate status.

27.

28.
29.

MJPA:
A public debate is planned, with the
presence of all relevant institutions.
Following the public debate and
comments by experts and interested
members of the public, the final text of
the law will be determined, and the law
should be adopted by the end of 2013
according to the Governments Work
Programme.

The AP for fulfilling the

recommendations from the
Progress Report of the

European Commission for

2010 with a view to
accelerating the acquisition
of candidate status.
Commissioner for Free Access to
Information of Public Importance
and Personal Data Protection:
The Government Conclusion of 2
August 2013, significant for the section
of the report regarding the necessary
funds for the Commissioners work and
the Commisioners working space has
been adopted (Government of RS
Letter 77 no. 361-6726/2013 of 2
August 2013). The Conclusion granted
the Commissioner use of the office
space at Bulevar kralja Aleksandra 15.

30.

The AP for fulfilling the

recommendations from the
Progress Report of the
European Commission for
2010 with a view to
accelerating the acquisition
of candidate status.
MI:
Increased border control has been
continued.
The intensified informative campaign
has been continued.
*** flyers have been printed and
distributed throughout Serbia.
Bilateral cooperation with accredited
liaison police officers has been
intensified,
information
on
the
measures taken to-date has been
exchanged and further cooperation in
this matter
has been
agreed.
On 7 March 2013, the Government of
the Republic of Serbia adopted the
Decison Establishing the Commision
for Monitoring the Visa-Free Regime
with the EU with a new Mandate of
Two Years.
The staff of the MI Border Police
Administration
have
actively
participated in joint operations Neptune
2013, REX 2013 and Focal Points - Air,

as well as in the risk analysis network

of the Western Balkans countries and
other
activities
organised
by
FRONTEX.On 1 January 2013, a new
Article of the Criminal Code of the
Republic of Serbia, enabling abuse of
receiving asylum in a foreign country
350a, came into force. Acting upon the
provisions of this Article, 7 criminal
charges against 8 suspects have been
filed.
MFA:
MFA has daily contacts with the
Belgian Federal Refugee Bureau, the
Swiss Federal Office for Migration, the
Swedish Migration Board, Danish
National Asylum Centre, provincial
administrations for foreigners and
asylum centres in Germany via our
diplomatic and consular missions.
MFE continues to take active part in the
return of asylum seekers both by
issuing travel certificates and, in
coordination with MI, by organising
charter flights for their return and
reception.
There are no new details regarding
MFEs activity on this issue.
CRRS
- Bylaws have been drawn up, and the
final round of comment harmonisation
within the working group is currently in
progress

31.

32.

- The Migration Profile is regularly

updated and periodic reports on the
implementation of individual sector
strategies are made as part of it.
The technical working group meets
regularly.
CRRS
- Evaluation of projects submitted by
local self-government units envisaging
the solution of housing needs, economic
strengthening and social inclusion of
endangered migrant groups, including
re-admission returnees is in progress, as
part of the programme IPA 2012.

- The Implementation Team for the

Reintegration Strategy for Returnees on
the Basis of the Readmission
Agreement has adopted a work
programme for the new period, adapted
to the changing needs of the returnee
population.

33.

The AP for fulfilling the

recommendations from the
Progress Report of the
European Commission for
2010 with a view to
accelerating the acquisition
of candidate status.

34.
CRRS

35.

- Owing to intense resistance from the

local self-government, efforts to open
the third asylum centre are still
suspended.
CRRS

36.

37.

38.

- Preparations for the autumn study

exhange as part of the ENARO network
have been made. Representatives of the
Commissariat working in the asylum
field will visit Denmark and Italy, and
representatives of Czech and Italian
migration agencies will undertake a
one-week
study
visit
to
the
Commissariat
- It has been agreed that Serbia will host
the ENARO closing conference for
2013, which will take place in Belgrade
on 27-29 November.
MI:
The structure of the national database
for the validation of personal data and
fingerprints of asylum-seekers has been
defined, and the database has been set
up. The procedure for inputting
personal data and fingerprints of
asylum-seekers on the territory of the
Republic of Serbia has also been
defined. In the same period, employees
who are going to use the database were
trained.
MI:

39.

40.

The process of formulating the Action

Plan for the Implementation of the
Serbian IBM Strategy will commence
after the adoption of the new Law on
Ministries and, consequently, the
harmonisation of competent state
authorities and working bodies and
groups previously established the
fourth quarter of 2013.
MI:
As part of the same project, 15 officers
of the border police completed a fiveday training in risk analysis in July
2013, and the training is planned to be
continued in September 2013.
MJPA:
A public debate is planned, with the
presence of all relevant institutions.
After the public debate takes place and
experts and interested members of the
public give their comments, the final
text of the law will be determined, and
the law should be adopted by the end of
2013 according to the Governments
Work Programme.

41.
MI:
The Protection Unit has taken measures
to improve its operations and to correct
the
shortcomings
affecting
the
functioning of the Unit.

42.

The Protection Unit has addressed

competent organisational structure in
MI, as well as the Republic Directorate
for Property of the Republic of Serbia,
in order to eliminate problems with IT
equipment and space. Regarding this,
the
Unit
has
received
the
acknowledgement that our requests
have been taken under consideration
and that the issue will be addressed in
the following period.
Regarding staffing problems, the
Protection Unit has sent a proposal for
the Systematization which is being
implemented.