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The Government of the Republic of Serbia

In the service of citizens

Improving local self-government priority in EU integration process

Belgrade, 9 May 2008

Director of the EU Integration Office Tanja Miscevic said today that building the administrative capacities of local self-governments is one of the most important tasks in the process of Serbia’s European integration.

Speaking at a panel discussion titled, “The role of local self-government in the process of joining the EU”, she stressed that a large part of the legal norms, which Serbia is beginning to harmonise with EU regulations, regard local administration and citizens who are closest to the institution of local self-government.

She said that there are large differences between certain municipalities in Serbia in the level of development, and one of the reasons for slower local development is inadequate development of administrative capacities.

According to her, for local administration to be able to respond to great needs and requirements by the citizens, its staff must be trained as they are in the EU, where town twinning projects can be very beneficial.

The EU supports the twinning projects and its member states are very interested in supporting municipalities and regions in non-member countries, said Miscevic.

She said that as part of these projects, local administration servants get visas free of charge and under a fast-track procedure.

The panel is part of the fair of civil society organisations organised by the Agency for cooperation with NGOs and European harmonisation from May 7 to 9.