Overall objective: Strengthening the practical application of rule of law principles in Serbia by enhancing administrative and judicial practice, increasing transparency in public authority actions, building the capacity of local communities and CSOs for procedural participation and fostering institutional accountability in environmental and good governance decision-making.
Specific objectives:
- Enhancing judicial and administrative practice to achieve higher standards of legality in decision-making, thereby strengthening the protection of the public interest and securing more reliable mechanisms for safeguarding public goods through public participation in decision-making processes;
- Building the analytical and operational capacities of local civil society organizations, activists, and young professionals for the independent and effective use of available legal mechanisms in decision-making processes;
- Raising institutional accountability and public awareness regarding mechanisms for controlling administrative performance, thereby fostering an environment where institutions consistently uphold their procedural obligations and citizens develop informed expectations concerning transparency.
Expected results:
- Enhanced legality and transparency of administrative and judicial proceedings through documentation analysis, preparation of objections/comments, and submission of inspection complaints, appeals, lawsuits before the Administrative Court, and criminal complaints.
- Increased procedural certainty and legal empowerment of local communities by providing legal and mentoring support to local initiatives and CSOs across Serbia;
- Built professional capacity of the next generation of youth through the successful implementation of the Academy for young professionals and a functional Alumni network;
- Enhanced regional cooperation and exchange of practice in environmental law by organizing one Regional Conference;
- Raised public awareness and institutional pressure on decision-makers through the production and distribution of press releases and educational visual materials on identified irregularities;
- Strengthened internal and technical capacity of RERI for more effective case management, data analysis, and long-term sustainability through completed strategic planning and team training on GIS tool application.
Key activities:
- Protection of the legal order and public interest: Review and analysis of the documentation, preparation of objections/comments, and filing of complaints with inspection authorities, appeals, lawsuits before the Administrative Court, and criminal complaints.
- Support and empowerment of local actors: Provision of legal and mentoring support to local civil society organisations (CSOs) and activists in drafting legal submissions.
- Capacity Building and Networking: A multidisciplinary Academy for Young Professionals will be organized and implemented, alongside an annual Regional Environmental Law Conference aimed at exchanging judicial practice and strengthening regional cooperation.
- Organizational Capacity Enhancement: Strategic planning process, GIS training for the team, implementation of peer-exchange visits, and procurement of digital tools.
The project is implemented from 1 October 2026 to 31 May 2027 under the Belgrade Open School’s programme “Civil Society for Advancing Serbia’s Accession to the European Union – Europe ASAP”.
RERI’s work is supported by Sweden through the Belgrade Open School’s programme “Civil Society for Advancing Serbia’s Accession to the European Union – Europe ASAP”.