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Serbia
Voluntary National Review 2019

The Republic of Serbia is firmly committed to promoting an accelerated implementation of the 2030 Agenda in the common quest to profoundly transform our world. In the national consultations on the new global development agenda, launched in 2012, its citizens have already voiced unequivocally that Serbia We Want respects and cherishes differences and that it is a peaceful and democratic, socially just and gender-equal, intra- and inter-generationally equitable country in which every individual exercises its right to well-being and prosperity and enjoys the protection of personal dignity and freedom of choice. Within the scope of the National Sustainable Development Strategy (2009-2017) and pursuant to the EU accession negotiation process started in 2014, Serbia participated actively in the work of the OWG on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Intergovernmental Committee of Experts on Sustainable Development Financing.

The attainment of lasting prosperity for everyone everywhere within planetary boundaries by growing into sustainability is a clear, strategic, long-term national vision of the implementation of the 2030 Agenda in Serbia. In 2015, an integrated, networking institutional mechanism was established to build innovative practices in balancing all dimensions of sustainable development.

The Inter-Ministerial Working Group for the Implementation of the 2030 Agenda (IMWG) coordinates the work of all Ministries and State institutions. The partnering endeavour of the Secretariat for Public Policy in mapping the National Strategic Framework against the SDGs resulted in the Serbia and the 2030 Agenda document. The Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia diligently maps, produces or collects relevant national indicators to credibly measure progress on the SDGs.

The Focus Group of the National Assembly of Serbia for the Development of Control Mechanisms for the Process of Implementation of the SDGs, formed in 2017, initiated the first public hearing on SDGs implementation. The Assembly creates a legal framework and ensures budgeting for the SDGs. Through liaising with local, cross-border, regional and international stakeholders and through inter-parliamentary cooperation, it is becoming the centre stage for public advocacy of the SDGs.

Deep structural reforms in Serbia, including provision of sustainable public finances, the 2030 Agenda financing included, enable the highest-aiming SDGs achievement. In collaboration with the UN development system, the Government identified the inter-linkages between the goals and targets with the acquis communautaire through RIA. The MAPS mission to Serbia in 2018 provided support to improving coherence of sectoral and inter-sectoral government policies for the SDGs. The same year, the IMWG supported by the UN Country Team, organized the Subregional Conference on the Promotion and Progress on the 2030 Agenda providing momentum to the achievement of the SDGs throughout the region.

Serbia daringly advances the SDGs, determined to contribute to the regional and global transformation by finding solutions to its development challenges thus ensuring a peaceful, stable, prosperous and sustainable region and Europe in the ever-changing world. A bold, long-term vision of transforming into sustainability within the Serbian strategic framework is laid on the two pillars: the National Programme for Adoption of the Acquis 2018-2021 and the National Priorities for International Assistance 2014-2017, with projections until 2020.

Cohesive with the EU sustainability transformation, the Serbian Government established six strategic pathways for the growing into sustainability for everyone everywhere:

  • Connect, partner and integrate Serbia in Europe and the world;
  • Achieve a faster, inclusive and sustainable growth, based on economic, scientific and innovation resources;
  • Render efficient and effective public services;
  • Promote human rights and security;
  • Education for the twenty-first century;
  • Transformative digitalization.       

Serbia is striving to end depopulation, reduce inequalities, improve social inclusion and solidarity and empower women and girls to achieve gender equality. Undertaking resolute measures to combat corruption, eradicate poverty and make transition to a carbon-neutral circular economy to meet the nationally determined contributions under the Paris Agreement, Serbia has gone a long way to enhance the living conditions of everyone, of its youth and future generations first. 

Through the broad coordinated network of partners, the mainstreaming of the 2030 Agenda implementation in Serbia evolves through monitoring, reviewing, reporting and following up by the State institutions, local authorities and communities, human rights mechanisms, civil society, social partners, business communities, academia and research community, bilateral and multilateral development partners within, across, and beyond borders. Sustainable possibilities are thus being created by the whole-of-Government and whole-of-society for everyone everywhere.

Focal point
Documents & Reports

National Reports

National SD Strategy
Report Topics covered Process
2007 NSDS Profile
Link to Country's NSDS

National Indicators of SD
Report Topics covered Process
2007 Indicators Profile

Partnerships & Commitments
The below is a listing of all partnership initiatives and voluntary commitments where Serbia is listed as a partner or lead entity in the Partnerships for SDGs online platform
Biodiversity Strategy of the Republic of Serbia

The Republic of Serbia recognizes and supports global strategic goals for biodiversity - 'Aichi targets', adopted during the Conference of the Parties of the Convention in Nagoya in October 2010. Source: Ministry of Environment and Spatial Planning, Republic of Serbia The Biodiversity Strategy and its Action Plan are in full accordance with the Serbian National Sustainable Development Strategy, which envisages the achieving of the level of allocation for environmental protection at 1.5% of GDP by 2014, whereas this allocation for environmental protection is set at 2.5% in 2017, which corres...[more]

Partners
Action Network
Sustainable Development Goals
Financing Energy Efficiency Projects

According to the Annual Program draft, the anticipated amount of funding for energy efficiency raising projects is RSD 1,300,000,000.00 (approximately EUR 1 300 000). These funds are anticipated to be given as grants. Source: The Law on Environmental Protection Fund (Official Gazette No 72/09 and 101/11), provides the adoption of the Annual Program for Financing Energy Efficiency Projects in 2012. The annual programme has been adopted in first quarter of 2012 (March, 2012). According to the Annual Program draft, the anticipated amount of funding for energy efficiency raising projects is RSD...[more]

Partners
Action Network
Sustainable Development Goals
Global Partnership for Sustainable Tourism

The Global Partnership for Sustainable Tourism is an organizational network of tourism stakeholders of the public and private sectors, non-profits, UN agencies and programmes, international organizations and academic institutions. Partner organizations share the common vision and understanding of the goal of "sustainable tourism" and collaborate internationally, regionally or nationally to transform tourism globally. The mission is to transform the way tourism is done worldwide by building partnerships to support the implementation of sustainable tourism practices at destinations through adop...[more]

Partners
United Nation Environment Programme (UNEP), Ministry of Tourism of the Republic of Croatia, the Government of France, Ministry of Tourism of the Kingdom of Morocco, Ministry of Environment of the Republic of Korea, the Travel Foundation, World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)...[more]
Action Network
Sustainable Development Goals
IHO Hydrography Capacity Building Programme for Coastal States

The IHO capacity building programme seeks to assess and advise on how countries can best meet their international obligations and serve their own best interests by providing appropriate hydrographic and nautical charting services. Such services directly support safety of navigation, safety of life at sea, efficient sea transportation and the wider use of the seas and oceans in a sustainable way, including the protection of the marine environment, coastal zone management, fishing, marine resource exploration and exploitation, maritime boundary delimitation, maritime defence and security, and o...[more]

Partners
International Hydrographic Organization (IGO); 87 IHO Member States (Governments); International Maritime Organization (UN); World Meteorological Organization (UN); International Association of Marine Aids to Navigation and Lighthouse Authorities (NGO)
Action Network
Sustainable Development Goals
Renewable Energy Feed-in Tariffs

Serbia developed stimulating feed-in tariff system for energy produced from renewable sources in power plants with a capacity of less than 10 MW. Source: Serbia developed stimulating feed-in tariff system for energy produced from renewable sources in power plants with a capacity of less than 10 MW. Feed-in tariffs are guaranteed for every renewable energy source for the period of 12 years with a possibility for extension.

Partners
Action Network
Sustainable Development Goals
Strategy for Waste Management

Waste policy and legislation, adopted by the Government of the Republic of Serbia in 2003, includes National waste management strategy. Source: The Ministry of Environment and Spatial Planning, Republic of Serbia Waste management in the Republic of Serbia is based on a number of laws, bylaws and regulations (almost 30) which have to be harmonized with the EU legislation. Waste policy and legislation includes National waste management strategy. This policy determines creation of Regions/Districts for waste management. Taking into account specific conditions and waste management practices in the...[more]

Partners
Action Network
Sustainable Development Goals
United Nations