A new report authored by professors Ognjen Radonjić and Vladimir Obradović has raised serious allegations of institutional negligence, conflicts of interest, and political favoritism within Serbia’s construction oversight system, particularly during the tenure of former minister Zorana Mihajlović.
Engineer Facing Criminal Charges Assigned to Oversight Role
The report claims that engineer Milivoje Maličević, who was previously subject to criminal charges related to construction irregularities, was later engaged in supervisory roles on major railway infrastructure projects in Serbia.
According to internal documentation from the Ministry of Construction, Transport and Infrastructure, inspections conducted in 2020 revealed serious violations on the Belgrade–Stara Pazova railway section. Authorities reportedly identified safety risks, illegal construction practices, and regulatory breaches involving Chinese contractors.
Despite criminal complaints filed against Maličević for allegedly violating building permits and endangering public safety, his professional licenses remained active according to records from the Engineering Chamber of Serbia. The report states that no disciplinary proceedings were initiated to revoke his credentials.
Concerns Over Conflict of Interest
The controversy intensified after documentation showed that Maličević later worked for the Hungarian firm Utiber, which was responsible for supervising railway construction projects involving the same contractors. The professors argue that this represents a double conflict of interest, as an individual previously accused of irregular construction oversight was later tasked with monitoring compliance and safety standards.
Foreign Contractors and Political Influence
The report also criticizes Serbia’s cooperation with international contractors, including Chinese consortia such as CCCC and CRIC, as well as the French engineering company Egis. According to the authors, foreign companies with negative professional references were repeatedly allowed to participate in key infrastructure projects.
The oversight consortium, which included Utiber and Egis, signed safety approvals for the reconstruction of the Novi Sad Railway Station, later raising concerns after reports identified structural risks and construction deficiencies that could potentially threaten passenger safety.
Pattern of Institutional Negligence
The authors argue that inspection findings, criminal complaints, and safety warnings have often been treated as formalities rather than effective accountability mechanisms. They claim that authorities knowingly allowed contractors and personnel with documented violations to continue participating in state-funded infrastructure projects.
The report further accuses officials of prioritizing political and financial interests connected to the ruling Serbian Progressive Party over public safety and regulatory compliance.
Broader Implications for Public Safety and Governance
According to the report, the continuation of such practices represents a systemic governance failure, where warnings and regulatory findings fail to produce corrective actions. The authors warn that such patterns significantly increase risks to public infrastructure safety and contribute to erosion of institutional credibility in Serbia.
They conclude that without accountability reforms, infrastructure development may remain vulnerable to corruption, mismanagement, and safety hazards.
