The 53rd General Assembly of the Standing Conference of Towns and Municipalities (SCTM) was held in Belgrade on November 18th 2025, focusing on marking two decades of cooperation between the Swiss Confederation and SCTM.
At the opening of the event, the attendees were addressed by Snežana Paunović, Minister of Public Administration and Local Self-Government, via video message; Anne Lugon-Moulin,, Ambassador of the Swiss Confederation to Serbia; Andreas von Beckerath, Head of the Delegation of the European Union to the Republic of Serbia; and on behalf of the host city, Belgrade, Igor Jovanović, Deputy President of the City Assembly, welcomed the delegates.
Igor Jovanović – SCTM is the pillar of modern, responsible and open local government in Serbia
Addressing the gathered representatives of local self-governments, Igor Jovanović, Deputy President of the Belgrade City Assembly, emphasized that the capital is one of the founders of SCTM.
“I am speaking before people who are in daily contact with citizens and who know best that society and the state are most effectively built at the local level—in our municipalities and towns. I am speaking about topics that are not merely technical or professional but about the very heart of every stable and democratic state, local self-government as the foundation of public administration, the basis for modern development, and the most visible face of the state to every citizen,” he said, adding that everyday life unfolds in cities and municipalities.
He stressed that citizens clearly recognize whether decisions are made in their best interest, which is why it is crucial that local self-governments have sufficient competencies, resources, and political weight for decisions to be not only technical but developmental, bold and long term.
“Belgrade knows this well, as the city that demonstrates every day how essential strong local policy is for the entire country. But it also knows that its strength does not lie in being the largest, but in being part of a network of all our towns and municipalities, a partner to all of you and a segment of one common system that must function as group, if we want Serbia to advance. That is why SCTM is an indispensable partner,” Jovanović said.
He underlined that thanks to years of dedicated work, SCTM has become a pillar of modern, responsible and open local government in Serbia, a place for exchanging experience, learning, and building standards. He also emphasized the long-standing partnership with the Government of Switzerland, which, as he noted, “has consistently supported the development of local self-governments in Serbia, focusing on capacity building, service efficiency, administrative improvements and strengthening local democracy.”
“This cooperation has shown that when local self-governments have a reliable partner, stable support and a clear vision, they can build professional and modern institutions that directly improve citizens’ lives. Today we face two major challenges, but also two great opportunities: The first, and greatest, is involving citizens in decision making, enabling them to participate in budget planning, public consultations, proposing solutions and monitoring the use of public funds. The second challenge is ensuring balanced development across all parts of Serbia. Together, we must reduce the differences between larger and smaller, wealthier and poorer, urban and rural areas,” said Jovanović, wishing the participants successful discussions, constructive dialogue and good decisions.
Snežana Paunović – Improving the Law on Local Self-Government in 2026
Addressing the Assembly via video message, Snežana Paunović, Minister of Public Administration and Local Self-Government, expressed regret that she could not attend in person, wished the attendees successful work, and expressed hope that the Assembly would generate shared ideas for future implementation.
“Local self-government units are the first point of contact between citizens and the state, so it is crucial to improve the quality of their work. For many years, we have had a partnership that has yielded continuous progress. Challenges lie ahead, and I am confident we can do more, just as I am confident that willingness exists on both sides. The projects we jointly implement will continue, but we also have the responsibility to design new ones, to help municipal assembly presidents, mayors and municipal presidents respond to citizens’ needs in the best way,” Paunović said.
She highlighted the importance of well-trained personnel, noting that it is well understood that local self-government and public administration are not competitors on the labor market. She added that the status of employees must improve, which will in turn improve their relationship with citizens who expect efficient problem solving.
“The Ministry will deliver far more than what is expected of us. We have proposed amendments to laws concerning civil servants, which will soon be before the National Assembly. They relate not only to salaries but also to an important issue, the Law on the Digitalization of Civil Registry Books, which is a significant step forward for local self-governments. Implementation will take time, but it will make public administration more accessible to citizens. In 2026, we will work on improving the Law on Local Self-Government, and in this regard, we expect the assistance of SCTM, all ideas are welcome. I look forward to our next meeting and believe in our cooperation,” the Minister said.
Anne Lugon-Moulin – Our cooperation is based on shared values
Anne Lugon-Moulin, Ambassador of the Swiss Confederation to Serbia, said she was impressed that the Assembly has been held 53 times and that this year marks 20 years of partnership between SCTM and Switzerland, during which stronger, more accountable and more democratic local self-governments across Serbia have been built.
“Our cooperation is based on shared values, how to improve the efficiency of local self-governments, ensure transparent and reliable procedures, how to deliver them and how to enable citizens to participate in community life. For Switzerland, these principles are not just at the core of the rule of law; they are a way of life, reflecting how our country has been built over centuries. We are proud to be part of SCTM, a partner that shares these same values. Over the past two decades, my country and its organizations have invested nearly 17 million euros to help this organization grow, strengthen and become a respected and independent voice of local self-governments,” the Ambassador said.
She emphasized the joint results achieved together with other partners, including strengthening decentralization through the legislative framework, particularly the Law on Referendum and Citizens’ Initiatives, the Law on Local Self-Government, regulatory reforms, and the registration of 700 local procedures, making them simpler and clearer, especially for business clients. She added that 44 support packages were provided to improve budgeting procedures, budget agendas, anti-corruption tools, administrative efficiency and the standardization of local administrative procedures, as well as systemic capacity building at the local level.
“These are significant achievements, but challenges remain, as you know better than I do. They will keep us engaged in the near future. First, the social contract between citizens and local authorities must continue to exist, as is the case in my country. Second, although Serbia has experienced visible economic growth, regional disparities remain large. Switzerland has a strong and balanced regional development system, and I am confident we can assist in reducing these disparities through prudent public finance. Finally, fiscal transfers to the local level are still not predictable, which makes medium- and long-term planning difficult for many of you who represent local authorities,” the Ambassador said.
She also stressed the importance of local self-governments, noting that they are today more important than ever, they are the face of local administrations that citizens encounter every day.
“Therefore, Switzerland remains committed to this area, and local governments will continue to be a central theme in the future, as reflected in our newly approved program for 2026–2029, which will support Serbia on its EU path. I admire the work of mayors and local leaders, you face challenges, limited resources and great expectations, yet your efforts ensure the country continues to grow,” she said, thanking SCTM and its staff for their professionalism and for proving they have the capacity to build bridges between local and national authorities, between municipalities and citizens, and between tradition and innovation.
Andreas von Beckerath – The EU will remain a partner in strengthening local communities
Andreas von Beckerath, Head of the EU Delegation to Serbia, thanked SCTM for the tradition of inviting EU ambassadors to address the Assembly. This, he said, reflects and confirms the importance of local self-government for both the EU and Serbia’s EU path.
“This gathering is important because it brings together a large number of local leaders in one place. As local representatives, you are the ones expected to deliver to citizens’ expectations. You are on the front line of public service, the level of government closest to daily life. Local leadership is crucial for Serbia’s development, democratic governance and European integration. That is why the EU has been and will continue to be your partner in strengthening local communities and delivering numerous improvements and reforms for the benefit of Serbia’s citizens,” he said.
He emphasized that reforms are essential to bring the country closer to EU membership. They should not be carried out because Brussels demands it, but because they benefit citizens and improve everyday life. Over the past two decades, the EU has supported the modernization of public services, infrastructure, environmental protection and inclusion across Serbia. “Together, we have invested in schools and kindergartens, improved waste management systems, supported digital transformation and created new opportunities for people in towns and villages.”
“Public administration is another vital area of partnership. Modern, transparent, citizen-oriented administration, at both local and national levels is key to building trust and ensuring access to quality services. The EU will continue to support these reforms, helping make administration more efficient, reliable and accountable to citizen needs. But our work is not only about projects and programs, it is also about listening. As an ambassador, I am committed to hearing directly from you and from the citizens you represent, to understand your priorities and challenges and, most importantly, how the EU can help you most effectively,” said von Beckerath, adding that he looks forward to visiting municipalities across Serbia and seeing first-hand the results of joint work.
Goran Cvetanović – SCTM is a community that brings together people, cities, ideas and our visions
Participants also had the opportunity to watch a film about SCTM’s 2025 achievements, after which Goran Cvetanović, Mayor of Leskovac and President of SCTM, presented the organization’s results. He emphasized that since the establishment of SCTM, the goal has remained the same, to jointly solve the problems of cities and municipalities and represent the interests of citizens. He added that over more than seven decades, SCTM has grown into a stable, influential and respected organization bringing together all local self-governments in Serbia.
“Today we can say that SCTM is the most important voice of local authorities in the country—a partner to state institutions, the EU and international organizations, but above all to the cities and municipalities that form the core of this organization. This year has been dynamic and successful for SCTM, and every result shown is the product of joint work of all local self-governments, our professional staff and partners. In the first nine months alone, we held more than 70 expert events and 23 accredited trainings attended by over 3,500 participants. We provided 138 support packages to local self-governments in key areas, and 47 grant projects in 41 municipalities worth over three million euros,” Cvetanović said, adding that these results are not just numbers but proof that the local self-government system is progressing—that cities and municipalities strongly value public administration, and SCTM continues to be the central place for cooperation, exchange and joint development.
Cvetanović emphasized that in 2025, SCTM continued to actively participate in the preparation and implementation of key reforms and strategic documents. As a partner of the Ministry of Public Administration and Local Self-Government, SCTM was part of the new Local Self-Government Reform Program for 2026–2030 and actively contributes to the preparation and implementation of practically all public policies affecting local self-governments.
“This year, we also mark 20 years of cooperation between the Government of Switzerland and SCTM, which began through projects that were the first in Serbia to support citizen participation in local decision making. These projects created the foundation for strengthening local self-governments, and Switzerland’s experience with decentralization and transparency remains our motivation to improve our system further. This cooperation has grown from project-based to institutional support and now into strategic partnership, helping SCTM become one of the strongest associations of local authorities in the region,” he said.
He added that with the support of the Swiss government and other international partners, SCTM continuously improves its capacities, knowledge and mechanisms to assist cities and municipalities, an example of how trust, knowledge and shared values translate into real change that improves citizens’ quality of life.
“As we enter the new five-year strategic cycle until 2030, our vision remains the same: for every city and municipality to become a place of good governance, accessible and high-quality public services, and active communities and citizens. We will continue to advocate for the development of local self-government, for decentralization, for Serbia’s full involvement in the EU, and above all, for strong and unified cooperation among local authorities within our organization. SCTM is a community that brings together people, cities, ideas and our shared visions. It is a symbol of cooperation and solidarity among local governments in Serbia,” Cvetanović said, thanking all partners, donors, member municipalities and SCTM staff.
