Identified obstacle

Due to the absence of a national legal framework in Serbia, Serbian municipalities are not able to become full members in European Groupings of Territorial Cooperation (EGTC). Their role is limited to that of observers, which excludes them from participating in strategic decision-making, accessing institutional benefits, and engaging in long-term governance opportunities reserved for full EGTC members.

Solution aimed for

The pilot action intends to prepare an updated draft of the EGTC law for Serbia, in cooperation with the relevant Serbian ministries to facilitate Serbia’s transition from observer to full EGTC membership.

Planned activities

• Organising stakeholder workshops and awareness-raising events to inform local authorities, civil servants, and regional development actors about current legal barriers and to promote the added value of structured cross-border cooperation among citizens and the civil society.
• Drafting, endorsing and presenting a joint declaration calling for legal reform and formalising political support for Serbian EGTC participation.
• Producing legal briefs and policy recommendations to support the adoption of an EGTC Law and/or the ratification of the Third Protocol to the Madrid Outline Convention.
• Developing a technical roadmap for the establishment of a Serbian national coordination body.
  Disseminating the results.

Expected long-term results

The pilot action will strengthen the institutional capacity of Serbian and Hungarian municipalities engaged in cross-border cooperation and enable balanced and effective participation in shared governance structures. Local administrations will have enhanced ability to access EU funding and the general public will benefit from a more efficient use of cross-border infrastructure, greater alignment in service provision, and increased opportunities for socio-economic development. All of this will lead to comprehensive regional cooperation, stronger territorial cohesion and a strengthening of the integration of Serbian municipalities as equal partners of their EU member counterparts.