The new cycle of trainings in applying the good governance concept and principles in local self-governments in Serbia has been launched when the representatives of 33 local self-governments attended the first of the seven thematic trainings. The training, which was held in Vrnjačka Banja on 26-28 June 2019, is part of the Swiss PRO Programme supported by the Swiss Government.

The new cycle of trainings aims to expand the pool of experts in local governance. The trainees acquired knowledge in how to practically apply good governance principles – accountability and rule of law, transparency, participation, non-discrimination and equity, efficiency and effectiveness.

“By applying the acquired knowledge, local self-government representatives will help improve governance in their cities and municipalities, and, consequently, the quality of life of the citizens and the functioning of the local economy. This will be achieved, inter alia, by increasing the level of regulation and, thus, the foreseeability of the actions of the public sector at the local level,” Swiss PRO Programme Good Governance Advisor Dragan Mladenović emphasised. 

In addition to the good governance concept and principles, the three-day training also focused on the fundamentals of public policy and decentralisation, as well as their links with good governance practices at the local level.

The first training was attended by representatives of the local self-governments of Valjevo, Šabac, Loznica, Krupanj, Gornji Milanovac, Jagodina, Ćuprija, Svilajnac, Rekovac, Varvarin, Kraljevo, Vrnjačka Banja, Kragujevac, Topola, Rača, Lapovo, Knić, Užice, Požega, Čajetina, Prijepolje, Majdanpek, Veliko Gradište, Žabar, Žagubica, Niš, Aleksinac, Dimitrovgrad, Smederevo, Smederevska Palanka,  Velika Plana, Zaječar and Sokobanja.

The training is part of the support the Swiss PRO Programme has been extending local self-governments to improve their governance. The support will entail also the introduction and improvement of e-Government and provision of e-services, alignment of local regulations with the new laws, which will be achieved in cooperation with the Standing Conference of Towns and Municipalities, and the improvement of public service provision to citizens and businesses. With a view to establishing long-term cooperation on embedding good governance principles in the work and operations of local administrations, 96 cities and municipalities signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Swiss PRO Programme in May 2019.