To make public procurement in Serbia faster, more transparent, and more modern, a new 2026 Action Plan of the Public Procurement Office was prepared and adopted on 5 March. The Plan foresees further digitalisation of processes, stronger oversight, and greater professionalisation, all aimed at improving the efficiency of the system. As part of the broader Public Procurement Development Programme for 2024–2028, it sets out clearly defined activities and timelines to ensure better services for citizens and businesses, as well as more responsible use of public funds.
The preparation of the Action Plan was preceded by a consultation process, during which the draft was presented and feedback was collected to further improve it. In this process, the project “EU Support to Public Financial Management in Serbia” provided support to the PPO, contributing to the development of the Plan and the involvement of the professional community.
One of the key steps is the further development of the Public Procurement Portal by introducing new and improving existing functions. New electronic forms (eForms) are being introduced that will simplify procedures, and make it easier to track data. This means users will have easier access to information, while procedures become faster and clearer.
The Action Plan foresees regular training for public procurement staff, including preparation for the certification exam twice a year. Also, practical tools will be developed that will help in evaluating the value of procurement, preparing the necessary documentation, as well as in improving procurement rules in the areas of research, development and innovation, with clear instructions for their application.
The project "EU for Public Finance Management in Serbia“, funded by the European Union under IPA 2021 and implemented by the UNDP in partnership with the Centre of Excellence in Finance (CEF) and the Ministry of Finance of the Slovakia, remains a partner to the PPO in this process, providing expert support for the development of practical tools, training, and the introduction of new approaches, with the aim of building a sustainable and fair public procurement system and contributing to Serbia’s progress in the EU integration process.