Effectiveness, transparency of Serbian legislative process needs improvement, says OSCE/ODIHR assessment

The lawmaking process in Serbia can be strengthened through a more precise and effective delineation of its two stages – policy development and the drafting of legislation, and would benefit from more public consultation, says an OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) assessment presented in Belgrade on 7 February 2012.

The assessment, drafted in co-operation with the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia and the OSCE Mission to Serbia, was prepared through the analysis of legislation and procedures as well as meetings with stakeholders. It was undertaken following an official request from the Legislative Committee of the National Assembly.

The assessment covers the entire legislative process from preparation to drafting, publication and evaluation, and offers recommendations on how to improve the quality of legislation through making law drafting more effective and transparent.

Recommendations include improving the co-ordination between the Government and National Assembly to introduce legislative programming and planning at parliamentary level, establishing a comprehensive and consistent procedure for civil society consultation and mandatory policy impact assessments.

The ODIHR Director Janez Lenarčič said: ”Reforms to lawmaking are a long-term process that requires political support, unceasing commitment and the involvement of many actors - both state and non-governmental.” He noted the readiness of his Office to assist Serbia in implementing the recommendations.

“The assessment is a starting point for making responsible changes to the legislative process,” said Slavica Đukić Dejanović, the Speaker of the Serbian National Assembly.

Representatives of the Serbian National Assembly, the Government, the Office of the President of the Republic, the Constitutional Court, the Assembly of the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina, the National Bank of the Republic of Serbia, independent state institutions, international organisations, non-governmental organisations and national and international experts took part in the event.