The government once again attempts to legalize unlawfulness in the construction of the Expo 2027 complex. While construction works are already well underway, one question looms large: “Can the safety and health of participants really wait?”
Three months after the government first submitted the Draft Law on Amendments to the Law on Special Procedures for the Implementation of the International Specialized Exhibition EXPO BELGRADE 2027 to the National Assembly in January 2025, it has now resubmitted the proposal on May 16, 2025, again without holding a public consultation.
This initiative comes amid a prolonged socio-political crisis that shows no sign of resolution, while the public is faced daily with institutional dysfunction and the erosion of the rule of law. In such circumstances, proposing legislation that includes provisions that undermine legal certainty and compromise the safety of infrastructure, public health, and environmental protection constitutes a direct risk to the public interest.
The draft law foresees the possibility for investors to begin using buildings without obtaining an occupancy permit, effectively postponing official confirmation of a building’s safety until the end of the event. Considering that Expo 2027 is expected to attract over 3.5 million visits, such a legal maneuver disregards fundamental safety standards.
Additionally, by removing the obligation to conduct an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) prior to construction and operation, the law eliminates one of the most important legal safeguards for the protection of the environment and public health.
Adopting the proposed changes would establish a legal framework enabling responsible institutions to fully exempt themselves from liability for potential consequences related to human health, structural safety, or environmental degradation.
Equally troubling is the fact that no public consultation was conducted prior to this legislative proposal. This omission makes the government’s intentions especially transparent. Given that the proposal substantially alters the legal regime and directly concerns matters of indisputable public interest, the lack of public engagement represents a serious violation of regulatory procedure.
In light of the above, we demand the following:
- Full adherence to legal procedures and inclusion of the public in decision-making processes related to projects of such magnitude and consequence;
- Immediate withdrawal of the proposed law from the parliamentary procedure;
- A clear stance from members of parliament to reject the proposed amendments;
- Active support from experts and citizens for the demand to halt the adoption of this law.
As a lasting reminder of the tragic consequences of bypassing oversight and institutional accountability in construction projects, we recall the case of the railway station in Novi Sad, where 16 individuals lost their lives due to the collapse of a canopy. Responsibilities for the rushed procedures, carried out under politically imposed deadlines, are still under judicial review today.