The first plenary session of the Intersectoral Working Group (IWG) for monitoring the implementation of the Reform Agenda of the Republic of Serbia

The National Convention on the European Union (NCEU) and the European Policy Centre (CEP) held the first plenary session of the Intersectoral Working Group (IWG) for monitoring the implementation of the Reform Agenda of the Republic of Serbia. The session was organized with the support of the regional project Western Balkan Reform and Growth Monitor, predominantly funded by the European Union, as well as the NCEU support project backed by the Open Society Foundation – Western Balkans. The meeting brought together more than 30 representatives of civil society organizations from across Serbia, gathered within this newly established NCEU working group.

The Intersectoral Working Group was established to ensure the active participation of civil society in the implementation and monitoring of Serbia’s Reform Agenda, through oversight of reform progress, analytical support, external monitoring, assessment of the impact of reforms on EU integration, and public communication of results. In its work, the IWG will cooperate with representatives of the European Union and state authorities to monitor the implementation of this strategic document, which is linked to EU support amounting to €1.6 billion by the end of 2027.

During the session, the Rules of Procedure were adopted, and the coordinators of the six IWG subgroups—covering the areas of the business environment, digital transition, green transition, human capital, fundamental rights and the rule of law, and the financial and budgetary implications of reforms—presented their respective fields of work and activity plans. They shared key insights and challenges related to monitoring reform commitments, pointing to the need for clearer planning, a more detailed monitoring methodology, and stronger internal coordination. IWG members also raised concerns about the worrying practice of using steps from the Reform Agenda to initiate changes to the legal framework that go beyond the scope of agreed reforms, with a tendency to undermine previously established legal standards across various sectors.

The session continued with a discussion of the report from the first meeting of the Reform and Growth Facility (RGF) Monitoring Committee, held on 2 October, where representatives of the European Union, the Government of Serbia, and civil society discussed the level of implementation of the Reform Agenda to date. Coordinators were presented with the key thematic segments of the meeting, ranging from an overview of the Instrument’s implementation and governance and monitoring mechanisms, to horizontal issues and a segment dedicated to WBIF investments.

The European Policy Centre also presented the methodological framework and key findings of the pilot monitoring of the Reform Agenda, prepared within the WB Reform and Growth Monitor project, as well as the functionalities of a regional digital platform that will serve for information exchange on the Western Balkans Growth Plan and the publication of expert analyses.

This platform represents an important step toward strengthening the contribution of civil society organizations, the academic community, and the private sector to reform implementation in Serbia, while enhancing transparency and regular monitoring of the Reform Agenda’s results.