Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina Strengthen Inspection Oversight Through Regional Cooperation and Digital Innovation

A session of the Coordination Commission for Inspection Oversight was held at the Palace of Serbia, dedicated to analyzing the work of national inspections and exchanging experiences with representatives of the Federal Administration for Inspection Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina (FUZIP).

The session was opened by Snežana Paunović, Minister of Public Administration and Local Self-Government, who emphasized that this meeting represents an important step in establishing lasting cooperation and the exchange of good practices between institutions of the two countries. The Minister expressed great satisfaction that the delegation of the Federal Administration for Inspection Affairs of BiH is visiting Belgrade as part of the first study visit envisaged by the project.

Paunović added that the Republic of Serbia continuously works on modernizing public administration, including the improvement of the inspection oversight system. Praising the results achieved in the field of digitalization, she particularly highlighted the importance of the eInspector information system, which has enhanced coordination, efficiency, and control of inspection work. She reminded that inspection services play a key, yet often insufficiently visible, role in protecting the public interest, noting that the goal of the Minister of Public Administration and Local Self-Government is for inspections to be recognized as partners to citizens and businesses — preventing irregularities and encouraging compliance through proactive action.

Ivana Prvulović, Director of the Federal Administration for Inspection Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina, shared more information about the organization and functioning of FUZIP and the importance this institution holds for citizens and the business community in the Federation of BiH. She particularly emphasized the value of cooperation and mutual exchange of best practices between inspections, expressing her belief that through joint engagement, it is possible to improve the protection of citizens’ rights and enhance the quality of inspection services.

Violeta Jovanović, Executive Director of NALED, stated that inspection oversight is crucial for legal certainty, fair competition, and citizens’ trust in institutions. In this regard, NALED continuously cooperates with the relevant ministries to strengthen capacities through digitalization and reinforcement of the preventive role of inspections. Jovanović added that today’s session, attended by representatives of the Federal Administration for Inspection Affairs of BiH, confirms the importance of regional cooperation and experience exchange in building efficient and modern inspection systems.

During the session, it was emphasized that the Minister of Public Administration and Local Self-Government will continue implementing reforms aimed at improving the quality of work and the position of inspectors through workforce renewal, more flexible employment conditions, and better material status for inspection officers.

Special emphasis was placed on the importance of digitalizing inspection processes and introducing modern technological solutions, including Chatbot systems for communication with citizens and businesses, which enable faster and more efficient information exchange.

Participants agreed that cooperation and experience exchange among regional institutions play a vital role in strengthening institutional capacities, improving inspection oversight, and developing systems that better respond to the real needs of citizens and businesses.

At the end of the meeting, it was concluded that this exchange will serve as a solid foundation for future joint initiatives and long-term cooperation between the Republic of Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina in the field of inspection oversight.

The visit was organized as part of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) project “Support to Strengthening the Capacities of the Federal Administration for Inspection Affairs,” financed by the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) and implemented by NALED. 

Photo: Zorana Jevtić