Local Self-Government System

Through activities in the area of the local self-government system, SCTM deals with the implementation of the basic legal framework for local self-government, which includes: (1) the electoral system; (2) the functioning of local self-government bodies; (3) citizen participation; (4) communal self-government; (5) protection of citizens' rights and the rights of national minorities; (6) legal aid; (7) public information, (8) inter-municipal cooperation; (9) the relation between local and higher levels of government, (10) the functioning and organisation of local self-government; (11) the development of the human resources function and the training of local officials; (12) strategic planning of the development of local self-government.

SCTM actively cooperates with state bodies and institutions in charge of these areas, and above all with the Office of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Serbia, the Ministry of Public Administration and Local Self-Government, the Ministry of Justice, the Office for Information Technologies and E-Government, the Personnel Management Service, the National Academy of Public Administration, the Republic Secretariat for Public Policies, the Office for Human and Minority Rights, the Provincial Secretariat for Regional Development, Interregional Cooperation and Local Self-Government, Ombudsman, and other institutions.

Legislative framework

The basic regulations governing the area of the local self-government system are the Law on Territorial Organization; Law on Local Elections; Law on Local Self-Government; Law on Capital City; Law on Referendum and People's Initiative; Law on Employees in AP and LSG; Law on Administrative Procedure; Law on Inspection Control; Law on Communal Police; Law on Public Enterprises, and the Law on the Planning System.

How SCTM contributes to the improvement of the local self-government system

SCTM actively advocates the interests of local self-government in the changes in the legal and institutional framework in the field of education, culture, sports, and youth by participating in the preparation of national regulations and policies. On the other hand, SCTM advocates and supports the effective implementation of regulations and policies in the local self-government, and through its activities it actively contributes to the development of the capacities of towns and municipalities to perform the competencies of local self-government in these areas.

In order to exchange experiences and practical knowledge between towns and municipalities, monitor the state and support the definition of the organization's policy in this area, within the framework of the SCTM operate the Committee on Local Self-Government system and the five SCTM Networks - Network of the Heads of Administrations of Towns, Municipalities, and Town Municipalities; the Human Resources Management Network, the Local Security Network and the Gender Equality Network.

The most important priorities of the SCTM in the future in this area

Intensification of the decentralization process and strengthening of local self-government by increasing the tasks for which the towns and municipalities are competent and developing local capacities for their implementation;
Reforming local administration organisation and its optimization and adaptation to the needs of local self-government;
Increasing the efficiency of administrative procedures of local self-government, reform of administrative procedure and development of e-government;
Further improvement of the human resources management system and professional development of local officers;
Strengthening the legal framework for inter-municipal cooperation, supporting development and establishing inter-municipal cooperation in the implementation of local self-government affairs;
Improving the planning system at the local level, with full application of a participatory approach in the planning process.

Intensifying the participation of citizens and the local public in the work of local self-government, especially in the preparation of the local budget and local planning and development documents.