The "Legal Support to Negotiations” project (Policy and Legal Advice Centre - PLAC IV) continues more than a decade of European Union support to the process of comprehensive alignment of the national legislation of the Republic of Serbia with the EU acquis. PLAC IV is not just a project - it is a key investment in Serbia’s future, aimed at stronger and more prosperous membership in the European Union.
The overall objective of the project is to enable the Serbian administration to conduct accession negotiations effectively and to successfully manage the overall process of European integration and pre-accession assistance, leading to EU membership.
Why is this important for every citizen of Serbia?
For our country to function in line with other EU Member States, it needs to comply with certain rules - standards of quality, safety, and functionality. This is exactly what PLAC IV does for Serbia. It aligns laws and regulations, opening the door to:
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Equal business conditions: Domestic companies can compete in the European market, bringing new opportunities for growth and development.
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Stronger rights: Citizens receive better consumer protection, greater rights in the field of environmental protection, and safer products.
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Economic prosperity: Trade is facilitated, investments are attracted, and a more stable business environment is created.
Project activities
In practice, teams of domestic and international experts working under PLAC IV cooperate with institutions on drafting and improving laws, by-laws and other regulations, as well as strategic documents, action plans and guidelines. In this way, continuous expert support is ensured for state institutions in the process of aligning national legislation with the EU acquis.
In addition to normative support, the project strongly focuses on strengthening the capacities of the public administration to implement aligned regulations in practice. Through direct cooperation with institutions, PLAC IV helps identify potential challenges in implementing new legal solutions and contributes to establishing effective coordination mechanisms among competent authorities.
To ensure sustainable and effective application of aligned regulations, an assessment of the effects of new legal solutions is carried out by considering the administrative, financial, and economic implications of their alignment with EU law.
To support implementation - not only the adoption of regulations - the project regularly organises round tables, workshops, and training sessions for civil servants, as well as the business and professional community. These activities enable better understanding of legislative changes and their practical application in line with EU regulations.
The project covers 15 negotiation chapters, which represent priority areas for project activities:
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Chapter 1: Free movement of goods
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Chapter 3: Right of establishment and freedom to provide services
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Chapter 6: Company law
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Chapter 8: Competition policy
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Chapter 9: Financial services
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Chapter 10: Information society and media
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Chapter 11: Agriculture and rural development
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Chapter 12: Food safety, veterinary and phytosanitary policy
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Chapter 13: Fisheries
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Chapter 14: Transport policy
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Chapter 15: Energy
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Chapter 25: Science and research
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Chapter 27: Environment and climate change
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Chapter 28: Consumer and health protection
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Chapter 32: Financial control
- Sector
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- All Sectors Included - Horizontal project activity
- EuropeAid reference
- NEAR/BEG/2023/EA-RP/0175
- Components
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- Increasing the level of alignment of national legislation with the EU acquis and ensuring its effective implementation
- Building the capacities of relevant national structures for the successful conduct of accession negotiations
- City / District
- Serbia
- EU Contribution
- 2,393,800 €
- Negotiating chapter
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- 1 - Free movement of goods,
- 3 - Right of establishment and freedom to provide services,
- 6 - Company law,
- 8 - Competition policy,
- 9 - Financial services,
- 10 - Information society and media,
- 11 - Agriculture and rural development,
- 12 - Food safety, veterinary and phytosanitary policy,
- 13 - Fisheries,
- 14 - Transport policy,
- 15 - Energy,
- 25 - Science and research,
- 27 - Environment,
- 28 - Consumer and health protection,
- 32 - Financial control
- 1 - Free movement of goods,
- Implementation period
- June 2024 - October 2026
- Beneficiary
- Ministry for European Integration and the Negotiating Team for the Accession of the Republic of Serbia to the EU
- Implemented by
- IBF