About this learning event

The Study Visit will take place in Belgrade, Serbia. It is a part of the WeExperience component of the project WeLead: EU Scheme for Young Professionals in the Western Balkans, aiming to encourage young professionals from the Western Balkans’ public administrations to step out as emerging leaders of ideas, people, and reforms.

The Study Visit will allow young representatives from the public administrations from the Western Balkans region to visit Serbian institutions, exchange experience with their counterparts and other representatives there, and to deepen their knowledge in the EU accession process. It will also contribute to enhancing a stronger professional network between young civil servants and between administrations of the Western Balkans’ countries.

Since the beginning of the EU accession negotiation process, Serbia has opened 22 chapters and provisionally closed 2. As a part of the negotiation process with the EU, the country works on i) the gradual integration with the EU single market, (ii) regional economic integration, (iii) fundamental reforms, and (iv) increased financial support. To that end, Serbia adopted its Reform Agenda that covers reform milestones in (i) business environment and private sector development; (ii) green and digital transition; (iii) human capital; (iv) fundamental rights and the rule of law.

The Study Visit will provide the participant with the opportunity to learn about the most successful experiences, but also the challenges in the EU accession negotiation process of Serbia. It will be a great opportunity for creating partnerships, and initiating innovations in public administration across the region, bearing in mind the different paces of the EU integration process in the Western Balkans’ economies.
In addition, the study visit would be an opportunity for further exchange of experiences in the implementation of the Principles of Public Administration according to the most recent OECD SIGMA assessment for the Western Balkans to improve the country’s preparedness for the public administration reform.

Participants will learn about the progress of Serbia in the PFM-related EU negotiation chapters. Also, learning from Serbian institutions about their experience and challenges in public procurement, statistics, and financial control chapters, as well as fulfillment of economic criteria, would be a value-added for the young representatives from other countries, particularly those from the countries that are in the first stage of the EU negotiation process. The study visit will also provide an opportunity to visit the National Bank and exchange experiences, and learn about the differences in the monetary policies across the region in the EU accession.

Target audience

WeExperience participants - third generation

Partners

This event is delivered as part of the EU-funded multi-beneficiary project “EU Scheme for Young Professionals in the Western Balkans” (WeLead) implemented by the CEF.