Key points in the reform of Serbian security services

Belgrade Center for Security Policy (BCBP) is organizing a public debate “Key points in the reform of Serbian security services”, which will be held on Thursday, September 28, 2017, starting at 11 am, at the Zira Hotel (Mikonos Hall, Ruzveltova 35, Belgrade).

The main topic of the discussion will be the legislative reform of the security and intelligence system of the Republic of Serbia with goal of building mechanisms of accountability and strengthening the rule of law. The event will bring together representatives of the security services, independent state institutions, the academic community, civil society and the media.

Speakers at the event will be:

• Ferenc Katrein, former Chief Adviser to the Director General of Constitution Protection Office

• Svetko Kovac, former Director of Military Security Agency (VBA)

• Miroslav Hadzic, Chairman of the BCSP Managerial Board

  Discussion moderator: Predrag Petrovic, Executive Director of BCSP

Discussion topics at the event:

• How to curb the politization of security-intelligence?
• How can the intelligence component of Serbia's security intelligence system be improved?
• Should VBA and VOA be merged? What are the advantages and disadvantages of this solution?
• Are the police powers of the BIA and the VBA the powers that can or cannot hinder the reform of the agencies?
• Is the joint monitoring center a rational solution?
• To what extent is the monitoring and controling over the work of the security services possible?
• What should be supervised and controlled in the work of the security services?
• Which institutional models and monitoring mechanisms have proven effective?
• What fits the needs the best, expert and/or political control of security services?

Event is supported by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands through the project “LEGASI – Towards Legislative Reform of the Security and Intelligence System“, within the MATRA program.

In the framework of the “LEGASI”project, BCSP has made efforts to address legislative deficiencies in regard to governance, competences, operational work and the control and oversight of the security services of the Republic of Serbia. To this end, BCSP has proposed solutions for improving the legal framework on the Serbian security and intelligence system, based on a detailed analysis by legal expert Prof. Bogoljub Milosavljevic. Moreover, BCSP has offered analysis of the main issues in the security services' practice in Serbia, as well as an insight into the experience of two EU countries (including the Netherlands) in regulating security-intelligence systems, and a comparative analysis of the Western Balkan region. Legislative proposals drafted during the project were discussed with representatives of security community, civil society and Academia, including undergraduate and graduate students, in Belgrade, Novi Sad, Novi Pazar and Niš. A Dutch expert was invited to speak at a panel discussion on the future of Serbian security services in the EU integration process, and to provide detailed input on intelligence governance through series of three interviews. Parliamentarians from other European countries were interviewed about their work in overseeing security services.