These amendments reduce public participation in urban and spatial planning to a mere bureaucratic formality, stripping it of any real significance. It is evident that the Serbian government and the Ministry of Construction, Transportation and Infrastructure are using these changes to suppress citizens and experts who oppose corrupt and detrimental projects, such as EXPO 2027 and the Belgrade Waterfront.
The Regulation was promptly put into effect. On June 4, the Agency for Spatial Planning and Urbanism of the Republic of Serbia announced that the session of the Planning Commission for the Draft Spatial Plan for the special-purpose area of the National Football Stadium – Phase IV, which also includes the expanded EXPO 2027 complex, would be held electronically on June 11 at 9 a.m.
However, the Agency overlooked a fundamental principle of the rule of law: regulations cannot be applied before they come into force. This particular regulation becomes effective on June 7.
For context, this same commission session has already been postponed twice.
RERI calls on the relevant authorities to immediately cancel the unlawful session and to put an end to yet another violation of the procedure in processes that could have serious consequences for public safety, human health, and the environment.