The proposal for the Law on Amendments to the Law on Special Procedures for the Realization of the International Specialized Exhibition Expo (Lex specialis) has been withdrawn from parliamentary procedure and sent to public consultation for further discussion. The Government of Serbia stated that the public hearing will provide an opportunity for broader public involvement to offer proposals and suggestions aimed at refining the proposed amendments. According to the government, this law facilitates the implementation of a project deemed important for Serbia’s overall economic development.
The decision to withdraw the bill from parliament will be made at the next government session, after which the Committee for Economy and Finance will decide on holding a public hearing. Details of the hearing will be published on the Ministry of Finance’s website, with plans to conduct it during June.
The original Law on Special Procedures for the Implementation of the International Specialized Exhibition Expo Belgrade 2027 was adopted in October 2023. The proposed amendments seek to specify the types of facilities and infrastructure needed to host the Expo in compliance with Serbia’s international obligations. The government emphasized that these amendments aim to ensure the new facilities meet the highest safety standards and provide additional support to local governments for renovating related infrastructure.
On May 16, the government reintroduced the amendments to the parliamentary procedure after initially withdrawing them in early March. However, the amendments have faced criticism from experts because they allow investors to use the facilities without obtaining a use permit and remove the requirement to conduct environmental impact assessments before construction and operation.
