Strengthening Regulatory Governance: The Case of Serbia

Abstract

Regulatory reform has been one of the key reform areas of the government reform agenda in the past decade. It aimed to improve the competitiveness and economic growth of Serbia’s economy through the improvement of regulatory environment. The initial impetus for reform was the need to complete the transition process to market economy upended subsequently by the approximation of the legal system with the EU acquis. Following a period of ad hoc reforms, the adoption of the Regulatory Reform Strategy 2008–2011 initiated a new, strategic approach to regulatory reform, which resulted in the implementation of a government wide red-tape simplification campaign, the formalization of RIA and regulatory reform institutional framework through the establishment of a permanent Office for Regulatory Reform and RIA in the Prime Minister’s Office. A less evident progress was noted in other areas of reform, especially in public consultation and forward planning for new regulations. Further improvement of the quality of legislation and its implementation has gained heightened importance since the crisis of 2008 to ensure economic recovery and sustainable growth of Serbian economy. The establishment of a permanent institutional framework for regulatory reform confirms the readiness of the government to continue with a strategic approach to regulatory reform and to articulate that reform as a dynamic, ongoing process.