SERBIA Country Profile

Private Anti-Corruption Initiatives

  • Media: Freedom of the press is constitutionally protected and both print and broadcast media are highly active in Serbia promoting a wide range of perspectives. However, according to CMI Corruption in Serbia 2007, there are no reliable analyses on corruption conducted by the Serbian media. There is a widespread consensus that the key problem rests not with the bribery of individual journalists, but with the direct or indirect influence by political parties and business interests who finance media outlets. Libel remains a criminal offence in Serbia and journalists will practice self-censorship to avoid politically sensitive issues like corruption, Kosovo, and the ongoing UN War Crimes Tribunal in The Hague. Freedom House Nations in Transit 2008 reports that state television was ordered to broadcast sessions of Parliament, and the state television found itself in a dilemma on whether to meet demands by SRS to broadcast the ICTY court proceedings against the President of the Serbian Radical Party, Vojislav Seselj. Reporters Without Borders 2010 ranks Serbia 62nd out of 175 countries on the, while Freedom House 2009 ranks the county 83rd out of 195 countries and describes its press environment is 'partly free'. Media ownership concentration has increased slightly with the growing presence of foreign companies. Internet access is unrestricted, though the government regularly monitors its content. According to Reporters Without Borders 2008, the Serbian radio and TV station B92 was publicly accused in 2007 of being 'paid to take an anti-Serbian stand'.

  • Civil Society: Freedom of association and assembly are constitutionally protected in Serbia, and both domestic and foreign NGOs operate freely within the country, conducting anti-corruption seminars and training. However, according to Freedom House 2008, civil society in Serbia remains relatively undeveloped, particularly in the form of alliances and networks that lead to greater public debate concerning corruption. A Law on Associations was prepared and adopted by government, but not accepted by Parliament by the end of 2007, and an Ombudsman for citizens was appointed in June 2007.

  • Transparency Serbia (Transparentnost Srbija): Transparency Serbia is the most active and prominent NGO committed to fighting corruption in Serbia. It was established in 2001 and has contributed advocating and building public awareness on a range of corruption/anti-corruption related issues. The most sustained efforts have been on the drafting and implementation of the Serbia's public procurement legislation, conflict of interest and financing of political parties and electoral campaigns regulations, as well as the Law on Free Access to Information of Public Importance 2003. Transparency Serbia's work focuses on systemic problems and remedies, and their activities include surveys, analyses, reports, round tables, and conferences. Transparency Serbia introduced the Anti-Corruption Legal Advisory Centre (ALAC) in 2006 as an anti-corruption legal advisory centre that counsels citizens on available legal and administrative remedies when confronted with corruption.

  • Argus Project (formerly 'Clean Hands'): Beta News Agency's (in Serbian) Argus Project was launched in 2002 and provides a regional forum for the exchange of information and experience that can contribute to the fight against corruption. The aim of the project is to fight corruption and organised crime in Serbia. The site collects media articles on the fight against corruption throughout Southeastern Europe, as well as a number of other resources such as relevant legislation and links to relevant institutions.

  • Center for Development of Non-Profit Sector (CRNPS): The CRNPS has launched a project in partnership with 8 local NGOs on citizen monitoring of municipal budgets, the first project of its kind in Serbia.

  • Centre for Security Studies (CSS): The CSS is a non-profit NGO and independent think tank that has worked on corruption issues since 2001. It is involved in education, research and advocacy campaigns, including the organisation of conferences and round table discussions to discuss issues of regional or global policy significance, the publication of policy papers, consultancy on development strategy for NGOs, and a number of other activities. CSS also produced The Pulse, a corruption-monitoring monthly, which contained information on developments, policies, problems, issues and processes relating to corruption in Serbia, as well as briefly summarised results of the expert work on the design of new laws and platforms to fight corruption.

  • Resource Center of Regional Anti-Corruption Initiative for SEE (RAI-SEE): The RAI-SEE (formerly Stability Pact Anti-Corruption Initiative) was adopted in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, in February 2000 and aims at coordinating international and national anti-corruption efforts in Serbia and several other regional member countries. The RAI-SEE promotes the adoption of international legal instruments, good governance, strengthening the rule of law, transparency and integrity in business operations and the development of an active civil society in order to fight corruption.