Exchange 5 - Four new LSGs are supported in the local planning and programme budgeting process

Within the framework of the competition for support to local self-governments in planning and programme budgeting, which was announced under Component 2 of the Exchange 5 Programme, which is financed by the EU from the IPA 2014 funds, the following local self-governments were selected: Nova Varos Municipality, Kanjiza Municipality, Trstenik Municipality and Pancevo Town.

The competition was announced in the period from 23 January to 21 February 2019, and during the indicated period a total of 25 local self-government applications were received, which were evaluated in accordance with the Competition Guidelines.

Members of the Evaluation and Selection Committee were representatives of the Budget Sector of the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Public Administration and Local Self-Government, as well as representatives of the Standing Conference of Towns and Municipalities (SCTM).. In the capacity of an observer, a representative of the Sector for Contracting and Financing Programmes from the EU funds from the Ministry of Finance participated in the work of the Commission.

This was the second call for local self-governments to receive this kind of support, while eight local self-governments were selected as part of the first competition at the end of 2017. Selected towns and municipalities will receive expert assistance to improve business processes at different stages of the budget cycle in accordance with the Guidelines for the Development of Programme Budget, and also the Regulation governing the process of managing capital projects, as well as support during the preparation of budget execution reports in accordance with the Guidelines for Monitoring and reporting on the programme performance. Support also includes topics of gender budgeting and openness/transparency of the budget (the development of manuals through the budget for citizens for the purpose of public involvement).

We thank all local self-governments that participated in the competition and thus recognised the importance and quality of the support provided by the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Public Administration and Local Self-Government and the SCTM to the towns and municipalities in the field of local planning and programme budgeting.

We congratulate the selected LSGs, and we take the opportunity to remind that within the Exchange 5 Programme, all local self-governments in Serbia are provided with advisory support for local planning and programme budgeting issues, and that SCTM expert team is available in that regard.