53rd SCTM General Assembly – Certificates of Appreciation Awarded and New Agreements Signed to Improve the Work of Local Governments

During the ceremonial part of the 53^rd General Assembly of the Standing Conference of Towns and Municipalities (SCTM), held on November 18^th 2025 in Belgrade, 15 local governments received certificates of appreciation for successfully implementing support packages. In addition, as part of two projects involving 89 towns and municipalities, agreements were signed to launch a new cycle of support.

Certificates Awarded for Advancing Good Governance Principles

As part of the project “Improving the Application of Good Governance Principles in Local Governments”, certificates were awarded to 15 local governments in three areas:

• Improving administrative efficiency and effectiveness: Arilje, Veliko Gradište, Kosjerić, Temerin, Ćuprija
• Improving citizen participation and transparency: Bogatić, Boljevac, Kuršumlija, Mionica, Pantelej (Niš)
• Improving accountability and preventing corruption: Vrbas, Vlasotince, Vrnjačka Banja, Lebane, Subotica

Certificates were presented by Goran Cvetanović, SCTM President and Mayor of Leskovac; Zoran Kasalović, State Secretary at the Ministry of Public Administration and Local Government; Anne Lugon-Moulin, Ambassador of the Swiss Confederation to Serbia; and Marko Vujačić, Head of the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) Programme for Southeast Europe.

In his address, Marko Vujačić highlighted that UNOPS has been successfully cooperating with the SCTM for 15 years, alongside 20 years of cooperation between the Swiss Confederation and the SCTM. He noted that various projects and activities share the same goal – improving responsible, transparent, and efficient local governance.

“Today we are marking an important activity we are proud of – the provision of support packages to municipalities within the “PRO Programme – Local Governance for People and Nature”, implemented by UNOPS with the support of the Swiss Confederation. The support packages include the preparation of 170 regulations, which means more efficient procedures, higher quality services, and greater transparency,” Vujačić said, adding that these packages have a positive impact on citizens’ everyday lives, while the needs and challenges of local governments remain.

The project “Improving the Application of Good Governance Principles in Local Governments” is part of the PRO Programme – Local Governance for People and Nature, jointly implemented by UN agencies in Serbia – UNOPS, UNICEF, UNFPA and UNEP – in cooperation with the Government of the Republic of Serbia and with financial support from the Government of Switzerland.

Improving the Availability and Efficiency of Services for Vulnerable Groups

The SCTM General Assembly also marked the launch of support packages aimed at improving the availability and efficiency of services for vulnerable population groups – through the establishment of one-stop administrative service centers. This support is provided within the “Partnership for Good Local Government" Programme, funded by the Government of Switzerland. In the coming period, support will be provided to the municipalities of Aleksinac, Bosilegrad, Varvarin, Vladimirci, Vlasotince, Petrovac na Mlavi, Prokuplje, Raška, Svrljig and Surdulica, as well as the cities of Jagodina and Kraljevo.

The signing ceremony was attended by Anne Lugon-Moulin, Ambassador of the Swiss Confederation to Serbia; Radovan Arežina, Acting Assistant Minister of Public Administration and Local Government; and Nikola Tarbuk, SCTM Secretary General.

Ambassador Lugon-Moulin emphasized that the signing ceremony marks the beginning of delivering support to vulnerable groups in the selected towns and municipalities.

“This initiative is not only about administrative efficiency but also about improving citizens’ access to services and the realization of their rights. This is especially important for those who need public services the most, who face administrative barriers in their daily lives, and who often find administrative procedures unclear,” she said. She added that the participation of municipalities demonstrates their commitment to improving both the efficiency and inclusiveness of local services, ensuring equal access for all citizens. She stressed that the goal of the initiative is to support local governments in providing higher-quality, more transparent, and more accessible services to all residents.

77 Towns and Municipalities to Receive Support in Human Resource Management

Agreements were also formally signed in the area of human resource management under the “EU for Human Resource Management in Local Government – Phase 3” Programme, funded by the European Union. The Programme includes 77 towns and municipalities across Serbia. Agreements were signed by representatives of local governments, State Secretary Zoran Kasalović, Mauro di Veroli, Head of Cooperation of the EU Delegation, and Nikola Tarbuk, SCTM Secretary General.

State Secretary Zoran Kasalović explained that the support packages provide a structured and methodological framework that offers local governments direct, practical, and comprehensive assistance.

“Their strength lies in enabling a clearly defined development path – from assessing the current situation, through improving the normative and institutional framework, to applying competency-based procedures and instruments. This approach introduces standards, measurability, quality, and sustainability into human resource management. The packages include the analysis of existing acts, harmonization of regulations, strengthening administrative capacities, preparation of work plans, maintenance of personnel records, conducting recruitment procedures, and evaluating employees. A key added value is the introduction of monitoring and evaluation systems, which enable local governments to track their progress and plan further development,” Kasalović said, expressing gratitude to the European Union for its support.

Mauro di Veroli emphasized that this is the third phase of long-term EU support aimed at developing a professional and sustainable human resource management system at the local level. He recalled that cooperation with the SCTM began in 2016 through partnership with the Council of Europe and the SCTM.

“The European Union has allocated more than 10 million euros through this Programme to establish and implement human resource management within the legal framework,” he said, adding that municipalities are acting as active participants in the EU integration process. The goal, he noted, is to empower employees, train them in various skills, and motivate them.

“The signed package of agreements is not just a tool, but a catalyst for change that enables the implementation of strategies and continuous professional development,” he said.

Within the “EU for Human Resource Management in Local Government – Phase 3” Programme, support will be provided to the following towns and municipalities: Aleksandrovac, Aleksinac, Aranđelovac, Arilje, Bajina Bašta, Batočina, Bački Petrovac, Bela Palanka, Bela Crkva, Belgrade, Beočin, Bečej, Bogatić, Bojnik, Bujanovac, Veliko Gradište, Vlasotince, Voždovac, Vrnjačka Banja, Gadžin Han, Golubac, Žabalj, Žabari, Žitorađa, Zaječar, Zrenjanin, Ivanjica, Jagodina, Kanjiža, Kikinda, Knjaževac, Kovin, Kostolac, Kragujevac, Krupanj, Kuršumlija, Lazarevac, Lebane, Leskovac, Loznica, Ljubovija, Medveđa, Merošina, Mladenovac, Nova Varoš, Novi Beograd, Novi Pazar, Novi Sad, Palilula–Niš, Pantelej, Petrovac na Mlavi, Pirot, Plandište, Požarevac, Požega, Priboj, Prijepolje, Prokuplje, Raška, Svrljig, Sjenica, Smederevo, Sombor, Srbobran, Sremski Karlovci, Stari Grad, Subotica, Surdulica, Surčin, Temerin, Topola, Tutin, Ćuprija, Užice, Čačak, Šabac and Šid.