Draft Action Plan for 2026 in the Field of Public Procurement Presented

Organised by the Public Procurement Office, a round table was held at the Palace of Serbia, where the Draft Action Plan for 2026 for implementing the Public Procurement Development Programme in the Republic of Serbia for 2024–2028 was presented. This document outlines the goals and indicators used to measure the outcomes of the reform process, aiming to make public procurement more competitive, transparent, and economical. This aligns with the requirements of negotiating chapter 5 on Serbia's accession to the European Union.

Representatives of state bodies and institutions took part in the discussion, and the consultative process remains open to all interested parties through the eConsultations portal and e-mail. The public may submit their comments and suggestions by October 3, 2025.

Aleksandra Krivokapić, Deputy Director of the Public Procurement Office, highlighted that the European Commission, in its annual report, recognises the adoption of action plans and the enhancement of the Public Procurement Portal's functionality as significant steps: "In the previous period, the Office implemented various activities, including developing new functionalities of the Portal in line with amendments to the Law on Public Procurement, which is acknowledged as a positive outcome with the support of the EU project."

Marijana Trifunović Stefanović, team leader at UNDP, which is implementing the project "EU support for public finance management in Serbia," highlighted that upcoming steps will focus on strengthening cooperation between relevant institutions and further digitalisation: "Through workshops and training with the prosecutor's office and the police, as well as collaboration with the Agency for the Prevention of Corruption, we will continue to promote transparency in the system. In 2026, the emphasis will be on the further development of the Portal and user training, because digitalisation is essential for more efficient public procurement.”

The project "EU support for public finance management in Serbia," financed by the European Union and implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in partnership with the Centre for Excellence in Finance (CEF) and the Ministry of Finance of Slovakia, continues to be a partner to the Office in this process. It provides expert support for developing practical tools, delivering training, and introducing new techniques, aiming to establish a sustainable and fair public procurement system and assist Serbia's progress in the European integration process.