Tim za socijalno uključivanje i smanjenje siromaštva

The Standing Conference of Towns and Municipalities (SCTM) launched an initiative for introduction of staff or offices for EU affairs in local governments. This plan, that does not imply employment, should allow for involvement of local governments into the EU accession negotiations and help increase their capacity to fulfill the responsibilities related to the EU accession. Minister of State Administration and Local Self-Government, Kori Udovički announced changes of the law that would allow for official EU affairs position in systematization at the conference about this topic held on 25 September.

The author of the model for introduction of staff and offices for EU affairs, Dragan Vujčić said that SCTM proposed there should be a staff member for EU in each town with more than 30,000 inhabitants. The cities with more than 200,000 inhabitants – Belgrade, Novi Sad, Niš and Kragujevac – could have an Office for EU Affairs. These would be tasked, inter alia, with monitoring the development of negotiations, informing municipal management about EU programmes, funds and other EU related issues and taking part in preparation and implementation of projects. As he said, they would also be tasked with maintaining communication with the staff in sectoral departments in charge of EU affairs.

Author S.V, taken from www.euractiv.rs