Since its establishment in March 2004, the Serbian European Integration Office (SEIO) has organised a large number of seminars and other forms of training for Serbian civil servants in accordance with the requirements of the different phases of Serbia’s integration into the EU.
In the upcoming period, the training provided and coordinated by SEIO should achieve four specific objectives:
Acquiring specific knowledge in certain areas of the acquis communautaire, which should constitute an upgrade and deepening of the knowledge already acquired through training hitherto organised by SEIO;
Acquiring specific knowledge regarding coordination of the European integration process;
Continuation of horizontal training of as many as possible civil servants regarding basic elements of the EU setup and EU law;
Networking of civil servants in charge of EU integration related tasks.
The training organised by SEIO includes the bases of EU functioning, institutional organisation and decision-making processes and procedures, as well as introduction to law and policies of the EU. Specific topics pertaining to harmonisation of national legislation with specific areas of the acquis communautaire, experiences of the new EU member states, specific aspects of implementation of the harmonised legislation and institution-building, external and internal coordination of EU related business are also dealt with at the training sessions organised by SEIO. A special emphasis is placed on negotiating and lobbying techniques, as additional topics of huge importance for the EU integration process.
The hitherto organised training has been implemented through bilateral assistance of the EU member states, assistance of domestic and foreign foundations and through utilisation of EU funds. In addition to civil servants, the target groups of the different training events have included representatives of the NGO sector, businesses, media, as well as headmasters/headmistresses and students of various schools in Serbia.
During the month of November 2007, a number of training events have been organised by SEIO:
In the framework of the programme “Serbia and the Stabilisation and Association Agreement with the EU”, implemented in cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Federal Republic of Germany, the Capacity Building International, Germany (INWENT) and the Institute for European Politics, Berlin, 11 seminars are organised in 2006-2007. There are two seminars organised in November 2007:
Consumer Protection and Product Safety, 20-21 November 2007
The aim of this workshop is to consider possibilities to promote and protect consumers’ interests, as well as health and safety. It includes practical aspects of information exchange and reaction regarding dangerous products through the EU Rapex early warning system as well as concrete experiences of a neighbouring country in this area.
The Community Programme for Employment and Social Solidarity – PROGRESS, 22-23 November 2007
The workshop familiarises participants with the possibilities offered by the PROGRESS programme. It discusses the general objectives, the policy context, the financial framework and the guidelines for the implementation of the programme, as well as the roles of the European Commission and of national governments in coordinating the programme and possible activities in its five sections. In a practical exercise participants are introduced to the drafting of project proposals, as well as the right approach to formulating a successful project.
In the framework of the Twinning Project “Capacity Building Regarding the European Integration Process” (4th Project Component), implemented in cooperation with the governments of the Republic of France and the Republic of Slovenia, the SEIO organises a number of seminars for Serbian civil servants, dealing with various aspects of the EU integration process. SEIO’s partners in the implementation of the 4th component of the Twinning Project (training component) are the Centre for European Studies (CEES), the National School for Public Administration of the Republic of France (ENA) and the Institute for Political Studies (IEP), Strasbourg. There are 2 seminars organised in November 2007:
Lobbying in the European Union: How to improve Serbia’s position in Brussels and Strasbourg? 1 November 2007
Simulations of EU accession and multilateral negotiations, 15-16 November 2007
As one of its regular training programmes, which has been organised for several years already, SEIO coordinates a comprehensive training programme for civil servants entitled “Procedures and Law of the European Union”. This training module is conducted through 5 one-day seminars, each addressing a distinct topic, starting from the history of European integration and ending with EU institutions and policies. The programme is financed through various kinds of bilateral and domestic assistance and it is implemented by SEIO in partnership with the Belgrade Open School. The last such module in 2007 is organised from 6 November till 13 December.
For further information please contact
Ms. Milena Lazarevic, Ministry of Public Administration and Local Self-Government
