Serbia and the EU are partners in the field of public administration reform

April 16, 2024

Public Administration Reform (PAR) is a systemic and long-term process of modernizing the functioning of state and local self-government. Through the PAR process in the country, changes are introduced in its functioning and organization.

This is not a process that has an end, but which in all countries in Europe represents a continuous improvement of the functioning and organization of the state system in accordance with European principles of good public administration and the latest technological and organizational achievements.

The reform of public administration horizontally improves the business climate, and thus encourages competitiveness and economic growth. Thus, less time, money and human resources are spent on both sides, and the state apparatus is placed entirely in the service of citizens and the economy.

Effective implementation of public administration reform is an important precondition for European integration. Strengthening the administrative capacities of the state is a precondition for the implementation of all necessary reforms, envisaged in the process of Serbia's accession to the European Union. In addition to establishing full rule of law and economic governance, Serbia needs to have a capable and mature administration that can carry out a very demanding accession process. The importance of this reform for assessing the progress of a country in the process of EU integration is also shown by the fact that in the EU Annual Progress Report, PAR is where the assessment of democratization of a society is, in the chapter "Functioning of democratic institutions and public administration reform “.

The European Union expects the Government of the Republic of Serbia to adhere to the principles of the Common European Administrative Area (EAA), which is a unique process of harmonizing the systems and practices of EU member states. The principles of EAA are:

1. Reliability and legal certainty
2. Openness and transparency of the administrative system and promotion of citizen participation in the work of public administration
3. Responsibility of administrative bodies
4. Efficiency and effectiveness in the work of public administration.