The informal Focus Group of the National Assembly of Serbia for the development of oversight mechanisms on SDG implementation (SDG Focus Group) was established in 2017 and consists of 15 members from different political parties and parliamentary committees. Members coordinate the SDG-related work of standing committees, such as the drafting of relevant legislative proposals and amendments, budget allocations and any other major decisions to be taken by the committees. It advocates the creation of a parliamentary institutionalized framework that would ensure information and documents from the government are reviewed on a regular basis and supports MPs with information, studies, and analyses on the SDGs to ensure evidence-based decision-making.
The Focus Group holds regular hearings with public officials, civil society, academia, and other relevant stakeholders to ensure transparency and accountability. Thematic workshops and seminars, including field visits to local communities, and discussions with representatives of local governments and associations and youth groups, are also regularly organized. Members take part in various public initiatives, awareness-raising campaigns and engage in dialogue with a range of state institutions and stakeholders.
In addition, the SDG Focus Group assists parliament in overseeing the work of the Inter-Ministerial Working Group on SDG implementation, and advocates – as a priority – the funding of the most marginalized and vulnerable groups. In cooperation with other committees, it supported the organization of the “Regional Seminar on the SDGs for Parliaments of Central and Eastern Europe and Central Asia” in 2018. The SDG Focus Group partnered with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to strengthen parliamentary capacities.
Results and impact
As a result of the activities conducted by the SDG Focus Group, legislation has recently been introduced that sets quotas for women in parliament. Another achievement has been creation by the Environmental Protection Committee of the “Green Chair” mechanism that enables representatives of civil society and other relevant non-state actors to participate in the committee’s work. As a first step, the SDG Focus Group carried out a compatibility assessment of 12 legislative initiatives to see how these laws enable and contribute to the achievement of environmental targets. Public consultations resulted in the adoption of the new Climate Change Law in Serbia (March 2021), which regulates greenhouse gas emissions through specific reduction adaptation measures. The law meets the obligations set out in the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Paris Agreement and harmonizes domestic legislation with European Union regulations.
Recently, the SDG Focus Group prepared a draft declaration for parliament, upgrading its status to a permanent parliamentary body and expanding its responsibilities to include a more institutionalized approach to mainstreaming the SDGs across thematic committees. This will ensure that relevant tools and methods adopted by the Focus Group aimed at aligning national legislation and budget allocations will be a mandatory reference for committees and in parliamentary acts.
Challenges
Limited resources for additional expert staff, and the regular holding of public hearings and consultations outside parliament’s premises, including field visits and discussions with local authorities and communities, pose significant challenges. This is often further complicated by the lack of sufficient funding to address critical issues, especially in the areas of environmental degradation. Proper priority setting and the identification of country-specific targets for SDG planning, implementation and reviewing are additional challenges which require targeted support in the development of practical tools. Finally, due to electoral cycles, there is a need for continued training of MPs on the objectives of the 2030 Agenda and the creation of formalized mechanisms that integrate the SDGs in the core functions of parliament.
