The project is designed to give Serbia’s citizens access to consultative processes on spending priorities. At a meeting held on 24th, 25th and 26th of August in Kraljevo, BIRN Serbia gathered representatives of the Budgeting Departments of the local authorities who exchanged experiences in the budgeting process.
The main topic was improving the budgeting processes by increasing the public participation. The basis for the discussion on how to introduce PB practices in the 2013 budget was the Analysis of existing local budget trends, a report prepared by BIRN associates – experts in the field of finances and economy.
The meeting also provided participants with information on concepts and goals of participatory budgeting, role of local self-governance in it, timeline, preconditions and mechanisms of public participation, relevant stakeholders and necessary resources.
The meeting in Kraljevo will be followed by many other activities within the project Participatory Budgeting that will last until February 2013