The Serbian government yesterday adopted a Bill on financing political activities, which will be forwarded to the Parliament under emergency procedure.

The Bill incorporates all recommendations by the European Commission and the Venetian Commission.

At yesterday’s session, the government also passed a Bill on the royal complex in Dedinje, regulating its status, management, use and maintenance issues.

The government also adopted a Conclusion on transferring a part of the share in Kragujevac-based Metal Sistemi Company.


Bill on financing political activities in sync with EU standards

Serbian government Public Relations Coordinator Slobodan Homen stated that at today’s session, the government adopted a Bill on financing political activities, incorporating all recommendations by the European Commission and the Venetian Commission, fully synchronised with EU standards.

Homen told a press conference following the session that the Bill will be forwarded to the Parliament under emergency procedure.

He specified that allocations from the state budget will remain the same, that is, 0.15%.

One of the provisions states that political parties which receive funding illegally will have those funds confiscated, if it is proved that this is a criminal act, Homen observed.

The main idea of this law is transparency, because every donation will have to be available to the public, He explained, adding that this is the right way to control party financing.

Head of the Office of Media Relations Milivoje Mihajlovic stated that the government adopted a Conclusion on transferring a part of the share in Kragujevac-based Metal Sistemi Company.

Mihajlovic explained that the government will sign an agreement with this company, thus acquiring 57% of company assets and transferring 10% onto company employees.

The Serbian government today adopted a Conclusion on the adoption of the agreement on realisation of investment project by Gorenje in Zajecar which includes the opening of 300 jobs, he said.

Mihajlovic stated that the government authorised Minister of Economy and Regional Development Nebojsa Ciric to sign the contract.

Mihajlovic added that the Serbian government authorised Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Mirko Cvetkovic to sign an agreement on regulating relations between the government and the company Nitex because there is a great interest of the company Benetton to open a factory in Nis, which should employ 2,000 people.

The government also passed a Bill on the royal complex in Dedinje, defining it as property of general importance that will be financed from the state budget, Mihajlovic observed.

The Bill will regulate the status, management, use and maintenance issues of the royal complex, he said, specifying that the complex will be open to the public and organised visits will be determined by a special decree, once the Bill is passed.

The Bill sates that the complex can be used by its present residents, the royal house of Karadjordjevic, as decided in 2001, Mihajlovic added.

Job specification of several ministries that were formed by combining two or more previous ministries during the government’s reconstruction is under way and will be completed within 15 days.