Slobodan Cvejić, Vice President of Serbia Centre (SRCE), has criticized the recently proposed Draft Law on Cohesion Policy Management, claiming that its main purpose is to facilitate the transfer of Aleksandar Vučić from the presidency to the prime ministership.
Cvejić argued that Serbia’s current economic policy threatens farmers’ livelihoods and favors import-oriented lobbies over domestic entrepreneurs, undermining long-standing agricultural traditions.
He also highlighted that effective management and oversight of fund allocation is impossible without a properly structured judicial framework. “Why are we discussing this now when we are still awaiting the opinion of the Venice Commission?” Cvejić questioned, warning that existing laws are often ignored or improperly enforced.
The proposed law establishes several oversight bodies, including a control unit that, according to Cvejić, should be independent or include members from EU institutions, NGOs, or other impartial sectors. Without this, he says, monitoring and accountability will remain inadequate.
Cvejić further criticized the law’s anti-fraud body as merely an internal unit within the Ministry of Finance, questioning whether it can effectively prevent misuse or violations. He warned that if these bodies are formed under current conditions, the entire process could be halted the moment OLAF identifies irregularities, jeopardizing both Serbia’s reputation and the efficient use of funds.
“This law must be withdrawn unless we can ensure independence and impartiality in program implementation,” Cvejić concluded.
