Decentralization in a function of regional development in Serbia

Abstract

Decentralization is a question of sovereignty of citizens, human rights and freedom since it is concerned with each individual's right to actively participate in creation of public politics and making decisions that impact his everyday life but also the possibility to plan his children's future. Decentralized government is in position to be much better and more completely informed about condition, needs and aspirations of citizens and to reply more efficiently to those needs, creating in this way favorable conditions for development of society. Therefore, the main goals of decentralization are increasing levels of public service efficiency and effectiveness, as well as encouraging local and regional economic development. Decentralization has advantages and disadvantages, which are going to be presented in the paper. Advantages will dominate over the disadvantages, only if there is found and carefully implemented the right form of decentralization, which needs to be adjusted to a particular country. In other case decentralization will be a bad solution for citizens and serve to people who are against it. In the process of decentralization it is necessary to recognize capacity and potential of local community and region for starting integration from the highest level of government. Only acceptable model of decentralization is to give bigger authority and budget for local government where they can be more efficiently used and can solve problems of citizens better from the central authority, and not just transferring the part of central authority to regional level. To speed up the process of decentralization, the key point is to obtain the support from citizens and political elite through organized participation of local authority which will help the central authority to better understand that decentralization will increase the functionality of state organization from one side, and from the other, to make public believe that decentralization is the process which will make life better for all citizens of Serbia. Decentralization of Serbia is not a new subject. It has been spoken about for a long period of time, and since 2000, decentralization is often prioritized in political programs of democratic government. However, until 2009, decentralization process was conducted by sectors and fragments, without any coordinated access and institutional mechanisms for managing decentralization. Leading by the need for clear vision and strategic commitment about this question, in March 2009, Serbian government created an institutional framework for making and implementing Decentralization strategy. Governmental bodies, which are in charge of making this strategic document, were established and their responsibilities, composition and operation were defined. The aim of this paper is to indicate how much decentralization is important and necessary for further development of Serbia, and also to indicate on its close connection with regionalization. Furthermore, the concept and forms of decentralization, as well as its advantages and disadvantages will be highlighted. Local government will be pointed out as the most important way of decentralization and state approximation to citizens. At the and, it will be discussed about achieved level of decentralization in Serbia.