From September 5 to 7, Vrnjačka Banja hosted a media briefing on how to better communicate public administration reform, organized by the EU for public administration reform (EU4PAR) project. The three-day gathering brought together journalists from national and local outlets, representatives of the Ministry of Public Administration and Local Self-Government (MPALSG), the Office for IT and eGovernment, and the Standing Conference of Towns and Municipalities (SCTM). They discussed why good governance matters and how new digital services make life easier for citizens and businesses.
Speakers pointed out that public administration reform is an ongoing process — services need to be constantly improved and adapted to people’s needs. While accountability and transparency are areas where progress is often faster, equality and the fight against corruption remain more challenging.
Two municipalities, Raška and Veliko Gradište, shared their award-winning experiences in a panel on good governance. Alongside Sokobanja, winner in Efficiency and Effectiveness, and Zaječar, winner in Transparency and Public Participation, Veliko Gradište was recognized for Accountability and Rule of Law, and Raška for Equality and Anti-Discrimination.
Veliko Gradište earned its prize for introducing a single administrative office, which made services to citizens and businesses more coordinated and efficient, while cutting red tape. Raška was rewarded for building homes for 18 Roma families in the Kučevski Lug settlement, giving over 80 people dignified housing and support in education, health, social protection, legal aid, and employment.
Another panel focused on ePisarnica, an electronic service that speeds up and simplifies paperwork for citizens and companies. Although available in all public bodies, about two-thirds of local governments have yet to use it, mainly due to limited staff training and digital skills. IT Office announced new training for officials so cases can be resolved more quickly and transparently in all local self-governments.
In workshops, journalists created stories based on the topics presented and learned about a new PAR campaign, which will promote the One stop shop model — a way for people to complete an entire administrative procedure at a single counter.
Public administration reform in Serbia is led by the Ministry of Public Administration and Local Self-Government, with support from the Ministry of Finance, the Republic Secretariat for Public Policies, the National Academy for Public Administration, and other members of the PAR Council, as well as strong backing from the European Union.