Kuzmanovic announces suspension of special laws and review of public investments

Vladan Kuzmanovic, a candidate of the Student List and a professor at the Faculty of Civil Engineering, has stated that among the first measures in the construction sector will be the suspension of special laws, known as lex specialis, as well as a review of major public investments. He noted that contracts for projects found to be overpriced, corrupt, or not in the public interest would be terminated, while other projects should be allowed to continue.

Discussing the Student List program for the construction sector, Kuzmanovic said that approximately 20 experts had worked on it and that the proposed measures were categorized into short-term, medium-term and long-term ones.

According to him, short-term measures are intended to be implemented within six months to a year, medium-term measures within one to three years, and long-term measures within two to four years.

He identified the repeal or harmonization of these special laws, the lex specialis, with existing legal regulations as one of the initial steps.

– A short-term measure, for instance, would be to suspend all such special laws, lex specialis, or to integrate them into the existing legal framework. This would prevent situations where a private project is designated as being in the public interest, as was the case with the Belgrade Waterfront project – he said.

He also announced the formation of an independent expert commission tasked with reviewing public investments.

– An independent expert commission will be established to review all public investments, with a mandate to report to the Government on a quarterly basis. They will provide reports every three months – he stated.

"Blacklist" of construction companies and revocation of licenses

Among the measures he announced is the creation of a register of construction companies that have violated the law or professional standards.

– The third measure is a register of construction companies that have breached laws or professional standards. They will be placed on a blacklist and will no longer be eligible to undertake projects financed from the state budget – said Kuzmanovic.

According to him, there are also plans to establish a new Court of Honor.

– A new Court of Honor will be formed within the Serbian Chamber of Engineers. In accordance with existing regulations, those who have violated professional standards will have their licenses revoked – he noted.

As he added, the Student List intends for these changes to be implemented "patiently, yet decisively."

When asked what citizens might notice first, Kuzmanovic replied that one of the initial changes should be greater transparency regarding contracts and public investments.

– Citizens will see that contracts are no longer entered into so easily. They will be transparent. Citizens will be able to see what is happening. Previously, everything here was classified as a secret. The Ministry of Construction will provide weekly updates on developments, ensuring that citizens are kept informed – he said.

Review of major infrastructure projects

Kuzmanovic also announced a review of previously initiated projects suspected of being significantly overpaid, in some cases, by three to four times their actual value.

– In all the projects where we have pointed to corruption, it is evident that they were overpaid, by as much as three to four times. For projects that the commission determines to be overpaid and not in the public interest, the contracts will be terminated. Other projects will continue – he said.

Kuzmanovic noted that terminating such contracts did not necessarily mean the state would be liable for damages.

– People assume the state will have to pay damages. No, that is not true. Under both our domestic laws and international law, a contract that is harmful and corrupt can be terminated. We have sufficient expertise to ensure these contracts are terminated without the state incurring any losses – Kuzmanovic stated.

Ministarstvo građevinarstva, saobraćaja i infrastrukture Republike Srbije

Građevinski fakultet Beograd

Inženjerska komora Srbije Beograd

Ministry of Construction Transport and Infrastructure

Faculty of Civil Engineering

Serbian Chamber of Engineers

Expo

Vladan Kuzmanović

Student List

Law on Public Procurement

Morava Corridor

Belgrade Subway