Info session on the Instrument for flexible technical support of the “EU for better business environment – EU4BE” Project held

13 / 01 / 2023

The Public Policy Secretariat in cooperation with representatives of the World Bank and the Ministry of Economy held an Info Session on the Instrument for flexible technical support within the project: "EU for a better business environment - EU4BE” in the premises of the Government of the Republic of Serbia on 23 December 2022.

The EU funded project “EU for a better business environment” is implemented by the World Bank to help the Government of the Republic of Serbia improve the business environment. The main partners in the Project include the Ministry of Economy, the Public Policy Secretariat, the Ministry for European Integration and other ministries and state institutions. The activities carried out within the framework of this project are divided into three components:

Component 1: Supporting the creation of a platform for the development of business environment reforms

Component 2: Supporting the rationalisation and simplification of business regulations, and

Component 3: Flexible business environment technical assistance facility

In her opening address to the representatives of the Ministries, the Public Policy Secretariat Director, Bojana Tošić pointed out that the aim of this Info Session is to familiarise them with Component 3, which provides funds (i.e. grants) enabling the Government of the Republic of Serbia and state institutions to implement reform initiatives and projects improving business environment, quickly and efficiently.

Duško Vasiljević, Senior Private Sector Development Specialist in the World Bank presented the activities supported by the flexible business environment technical assistance facility, examples of initiatives in implementation and mechanisms for submission, evaluation and selection of initiatives.

This assistance facility can also support initiatives that were created based on the initiative of partners from the private sector, but which were supported and nominated for support through this component by state authorities. Assistance within this component will be implemented through Public Calls for submission of proposals for project initiatives that will be announced periodically, in agreement with partners.

The first Public Call is planned for the first quarter of 2023, and detailed information about the call itself, as well as the documentation for application, will be available on the Public Policy Secretariat website.