Provincial Assembly Decision on the Provinicial administration

(“Official Journal of the APV,“ no. 37/2014)

Pursuant to Article 55, Paragraph 3 and Article 31, Line 2 of the Statute of the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina (“Official Journal of the APV,“ no. 20/14),

The Assembly of the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina, on the session held on 23rd September 2014, passed the

PROVINCIAL ASSEMBLY DECISION
ON THE PROVINICIAL ADMINISTRATION

Article 1

This Provincial Assembly Decision shall regulate the title and scope of work, activities and organisation of the provincial administration authorities and other matters of importance to the provincial administration.

Article 2

All masculine-gender nouns which are used in this Decision, which have the feminine gender, shall also include nouns in the feminine gender.

Nouns denoting official positions and functions in the provincial administration authorities shall be used in a form that expresses the gender of the person holding the office.

1. STATUS, METHOD OF WORK AND TASKS OF THE PROVINCIAL ADMINISTRATION

Status, Composition and Accountability of the Provincial Administration

Article 3

The provincial administration authorities include provincial secretariats and special provincial administrative organisations.

The provincial administration shall be accountable for its work to the Assembly of the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina (hereinafter referred to as: the Assembly) and the Provincial Government.

In order to supervise the work of the provincial administration authorities, in accordance with the Statute of the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina (hereinafter referred to as: the Statute), the provincial administration authorities shall report on his work to the Provincial Government.

Liability for Damage

Article 4

The AP of Vojvodina shall be liable for any damage caused by unlawful or improper work of the provincial administration authorities to natural persons or legal entities.

Work Financing

Article 5

Funds for financing the activities of the provincial administration shall be provided in the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina budget, in conformity with the law and other regulations.

Principles of Work of the Provincial Administration

Article 6

The provincial administration authorities shall be autonomous in execution of their tasks and shall work within and in conformity with the Constitution, the law, the Statute, Provincial Assembly decisions and other by-laws of the Assembly and the Provincial Government.

Article 7

The provincial administration authorities shall be obliged to provide everyone with equal legal protection in exercising their rights and interests.

Article 8

The provincial administration authorities shall be obliged to provide clients with prompt and effective exercise of their rights and interests, to use, in conformity with the professional rules, those means which are the most appropriate for the client if they are to achieve the goal and purpose of regulations and respect the client’s personality and dignity.

Article 9

The provincial administration authorities, in the area of employment, shall take into consideration the national composition of the population and the appropriate representation of the members of national minorities - national communities, in conformity with the Constitution and the law.

Article 10

The work of the provincial administration shall be available to the public.

The provincial administration authorities shall be obliged to enable access to their work in conformity with the law regulating the free access to information of public importance.

The provincial administration authorities shall inform the public about their activities by providing information via public media, holding press conferences and the creation of other conditions to introduce the public to the provincial administration activities.

Provincial Administration Tasks

Article 11

The Provincial administration authorities within the scope of the AP of Vojvodina competences stipulated by the Constitution, the law and the Statute shall perform executive tasks, supervision, prepare legislation to be enacted by the Assembly and the Provincial Government, and adopt administrative regulations within its competence, perform professional and developing activities, monitor the work of public services, perform the tasks delegated by the state administration, as well as other duties in conformity with the regulations.

Article 12

When performing executive tasks, the provincial administration authorities shall implement and apply the Provincial Assembly decisions, provincial decrees and other decisions of the Assembly and the Provincial Government by adopting administrative regulations and individual administrative acts which shall be the basis for adoption of decisions in administrative matters, maintenance of public records, issuance of public documents, and for undertaking and performing other administrative actions.

Provincial Secretariats shall execute supervision within the competences stipulated by law.

The provincial administration authorities shall prepare legislation drafts and proposals to be enacted by the Assembly and the Provincial Government as well as enact administrative regulations within their scope of competence.

When performing professional and development activities, the provincial administration authorities shall monitor and analyse the situation in the areas within their scope, prepare reports and information based on identified situation, undertake measures or propose to the Provincial Government to enact regulations and undertake measures for which they are authorised, prepare programmes and development and planning acts in the areas within their scope of work.

The provincial administration authorities, in the areas within their scope, shall monitor and assist the work of public institutions, in order to have their work performed in conformity with the regulations.

The provincial administration authorities shall perform the public administration's affairs when the performance of those tasks has been conferred upon them under the law.

Conferral of Provincial Administration Tasks

Article 13

According to the Provincial Assembly Decision, local self-government units in the territory of Vojvodina, public enterprises and institutions founded by the AP of Vojvodina (hereinafter referred to as holders of public powers) may be conferred with certain tasks of the provincial administration from the original competence of the AP of Vojvodina.

The Provincial Government and provincial administration authorities shall retain responsibility for the implementation of tasks even after the provincial administration tasks have been conferred.

Funds for performing conferred tasks of the provincial administration shall be provided in the AP of Vojvodina budget.

Article 14

Supervision over holders of public powers in carrying out the conferred tasks shall be performed by the provincial administration authorities within whose scope of work the conferred tasks fall.

The provincial administration authorities shall perform supervision over the performance of conferred tasks in conformity with the application of the provisions of the Law on Public Administration concerning the powers of the supervisory authority.

Acts of the Provincial Administration

Article 15

With a view to implementing laws, other regulations and general acts of the Republic of Serbia, regulations of the Assembly and the Provincial Government, provincial administration authorities shall enact administrative regulations and decisions, when they are authorized to do so under these acts.

Article 16

Provincial administration authorities shall enact rulebooks, orders and instructions, decisions and other acts, in accordance to the law, the Statute, the Provincial Assembly Decision and the general act of the Provincial Government.

The rulebook shall define in detail specific provisions of the Provincial Assembly Decisions and other general acts of the Assembly and general acts of the Provincial Government.

Orders, with a view to implementing certain provisions of the law and other regulations, shall order or prohibit action in a specific situation which is of general importance.

Instructions shall prescribe the method of work and implementation of affairs of a provincial administration authority.

Decisions shall decide in individual matters in conformity with the regulations.

Article 17

Acts included in the Article 16 that are of interest to a number of the provincial administration authorities shall be enacted by the heads of those authorities, by mutual consent.

Official Use of Languages and Scripts

Article 18

In addition to the Serbian language and the Cyrillic script, Hungarian, Slovak, Croatian, Romanian and Ruthenian languages and their respective scripts shall be in the equal official use in the provincial administration authorities, in conformity with the law.

Provincial civil servants in the provincial administration authorities shall be obliged to speak the Serbian language, and the language of minority ethnic community, which is in official use, shall it be stipulated by the act on internal organisation and job classification.

Article 19

The provincial administration authorities, in case when they are not trained to communicate in an appropriate language, may use services of the translation service that constitutes a part of the Provincial Secretariat in charge of administration affairs.

Article 20

The provincial administration authorities shall be obliged to provide financial, technical conditions and human resources to ensure official use of languages and scripts under Article 18 Paragraph 1 of this Decision.

Article 21

The Provincial Government shall monitor the use of official languages and scripts in the provincial administration authorities and undertake measures to ensure linguistic equality.

Provincial Civil Servants

Article 22

Provincial civil servants shall perform tasks within the scope of a provincial administration authority, as well as supporting assistance and technical activities.

2. ORGANISATION OF THE PROVINCIAL ADMINISTRATION

Provincial Secretariat

Article 23

Provincial secretariats shall be established to perform provincial administration tasks in one or more interrelated fields.

A Provincial Secretariat shall be managed by a Provincial Secretary.

Provincial Secretary

Article 24

A Provincial Secretary shall be a member of the Provincial Government and responsible for management of a Provincial Secretariat.

A Provincial Secretary shall represent a Provincial Secretariat, organise and ensure the performance of tasks in an efficient way, adopt acts which are within their authority, establish committees and working groups for the performance of more complex tasks within the scope of Secretariat’s work and make decisions on rights, duties and responsibilities of employees.

Deputy Provincial Secretary

Article 25

A Provincial Secretary may have a deputy who shall be elected by the Assembly for a four-year term of office.

Upon expiration of the Provincial Government’s term of office, the Deputy Provincial Secretary’s term of office shall also be terminated.

A Deputy Provincial Secretary shall substitute for a Provincial Secretary and assist them within the competence determined by a Provincial Secretary.

In case of extended period of inability to work of the Provincial Secretary, which shall be established by the Provincial Government, a Deputy shall substitute for an absent Provincial Secretary and have all the authority of the Provincial Secretary.

A Provincial Secretary may authorise a Deputy Provincial Secretary to attend and participate in the work at the Provincial Government sessions without voting rights.

Under Secretary of the Provincial Secretariat

Article 26

A Provincial Secretariat may have an Under Secretary who is accountable to a Provincial Secretary for their work.

An Under Secretary shall assist a Provincial Secretary in managing personnel, financial, IT and other affairs and in harmonizing the work of internal units of a Provincial Secretariat and shall cooperate with other bodies.

An Under Secretary shall be appointed and discharged by the Provincial Government for the four-year term on a Provincial Secretary’s proposal.

Assistant Provincial Secretary

Article 27

Assistants Provincial Secretaries may be appointed in a Provincial Secretariat.

An Assistant Provincial Secretary shall manage the field of work of a Provincial Secretariat for which a department shall be established and shall be accountable to a Provincial Secretary for their work.

An Assistant Provincial Secretary shall be appointed and discharged by the Provincial Government for a four-year term on a Provincial Secretary’s proposal.

Special Advisor to the Provincial Secretary

Article 28

A Provincial Secretary may have a Special Advisor.

A Special Advisor to a Provincial Secretary shall, by order of the Provincial Secretary, prepare proposals of acts, draw up opinions and perform other tasks for the Provincial Secretary.

The rights and obligations of a Special Advisor to a Provincial Secretary shall be regulated by a contract.

The number of special advisors to a Provincial Secretary shall be stipulated by the act of the Provincial Government for each Provincial Secretariat.

Special Provincial Administrative Organisations

Article 29

Special provincial administrative organisations shall be established to carry out professional and thereto related executive activities.

Special provincial administrative organisations shall comprise institutes and directorates, whereas different names may also be determined by a regulation.

In the Articles of the Association of the Organisation set out under Paragraph 2 of this Article it is explicitly specified that it is a special provincial administrative organisation that shall perform tasks within its scope of work as well as exercise public powers in conformity with regulations governing the work of the provincial administration.

A special provincial administrative organisation shall be managed by a Director appointed by the Provincial Government for a four-year term on the proposal of the President of the Provincial Government. A Director of the special provincial administrative organisation shall be accountable to the Provincial Government.

Rulebook on the Internal Organisation and Classification of Jobs

Article 30

The internal organisation of the provincial administration authorities shall be regulated by the Rulebook on the Internal Organisation and Classification of Jobs. The Rulebook on the Internal Organisation and Classification of Jobs in a Provincial Secretariat shall be adopted by a Provincial Secretary, whereas in a special provincial administrative organisation by a Director./p>

The Rulebook on the Internal Organisation and Classification of Jobs shall enter into force upon receiving consent of the Provincial Government.

Conflict of Interests

Article 31

A Provincial Secretary, Deputy Provincial Secretary, Under Secretary and Assistant Provincial Secretary as well as a Director of a special provincial administrative organisation shall be subject to the rules on preventing conflicts of interest.

3. PROVINCIAL SECRETARIATS AND THEIR SCOPE

Provincial Secretariats

Article 32

Provincial Secretariats are:

1. Provincial Secretariat for Agriculture, Water Management and Forestry,

2. Provincial Secretariat for Education, Regulations, Administration and National Minorities – National Communities,

3. Provincial Secretariat for Culture and Public Information,

4. Provincial Secretariat for Health Care, Social Policy and Demography,

5. Provincial Secretariat of Finance,

6. Provincial Secretariat for Interregional Cooperation and Local Self-Government,

7. Provincial Secretariat for Urban Planning, Civil Engineering and Environmental Protection,

8. Provincial Secretariat for Science and Technological Development,

9. Provincial Secretariat for Energy and Mineral Resources,

10. Provincial Secretariat for Sports and Youth,

11. Provincial Secretariat for Economy, Employment and Gender Equality.

Provincial Secretariat for Agriculture, Water Management and Forestry

Article 33

The Provincial Secretariat for Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management, in conformity with the law and the Statute, shall perform tasks of the provincial administration in the fields of agriculture, water management, forestry, hunting, animal husbandry, aquaculture, beekeeping and veterinary medicine, which refer to the preparation of acts for the Assembly or the Provincial Government which shall form the basis for the adoption of the programme of measures to support the implementation of the agricultural policy; prescribe the conditions and the manner of distribution of funds earned from the agricultural land use; establish a special budget into which the funds from the agricultural land use shall be directed; establish a budget fund for water, forests and hunting; determine professional tasks aimed at improving agricultural production; establish and take over agricultural extension services and exercise the founder’s rights thereof; establish the forecasting-reporting services and exercise the founder’s rights thereof; propose terms of exports and imports of certain agricultural products to the competent Ministry; adopt a long-term program of measures to implement the farming programme for the territory of AP Vojvodina as well as the annual programme for its implementation; establish Scientific and Professional Animal Husbandry Council; enact, implement and supervise the regular and extraordinary measures of defence against external and internal waters; manage water resources and artificial and natural watercourses in the territory of the AP of Vojvodina; adopt planning documents in the field of integral water management; establish a public enterprise for water management in the territory of the AP of Vojvodina and exercise the founder’s rights thereof; establish a public enterprise from the competences of the Secretariat.

The Provincial Secretariat for Agriculture, Water Management and Forestry shall also perform tasks stipulated by the laws in the fields of agriculture, water management, forestry, hunting, animal husbandry, aquaculture, beekeeping and veterinary medicine when it is prescribed by these laws that the tasks should be performed by the competent authority of the autonomous province.

The Provincial Secretariat for Agriculture, Water Management and Forestry shall perform those public administration tasks as conferred, which are conferred upon the provincial administration authorities by the laws specified in Paragraph 2.

The Provincial Secretariat for Agriculture, Water Management and Forestry shall receive and process documents for award of incentives and other resources from the AP of Vojvodina budget in the field of agriculture, forestry, hunting, water management and animal husbandry.

The Provincial Secretariat for Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management shall perform executive, professional and development tasks of the provincial administration and shall supervise the implementation of regulations under Paragraph 1 of this Article. In the fields falling within its scope it shall monitor, supervise and assist the work of public enterprises and public services founded by the AP of Vojvodina.

The Provincial Secretariat for Agriculture, Water Management and Forestry shall also perform other tasks when it was conferred upon it by the law, the Provincial Assembly Decision or other regulation.

Provincial Secretariat for Culture and Public Information

Article 34.

The Provincial Secretariat for Culture and Public Information, in conformity with the Law and the Statute, shall perform tasks of the provincial administration in the field of culture, protection of cultural heritage, cinematography, endowments, funds and foundations, library services, publications, inter-regional cooperation in the field of culture, as well as protection of intellectual property rights in the field of culture pertaining to the preparation of acts for the Assembly or Provincial Government which shall: determine the needs and interest of citizens in the territory of Vojvodina in the field of culture; govern needs and interest in the field of culture of minority ethnic communities and provide means for their implementation; establish archives, museums, libraries, theatres, institutes and other institutions in the sphere of culture and exercise founder’s rights thereof; propose a part of Cultural Development Strategy of the Republic of Serbia relevant to the territory of the AP of Vojvodina; determine the Cultural Development Program of the AP of Vojvodina in conformity with the Cultural Development Strategy of the Republic of Serbia; determine awards and regulate the manner and procedure for their awarding to encourage cultural creativity in specific areas of culture, or to make a special contribution in the field of cultural creativity; provide resources for work, investment and current maintenance, that is, financing for a part of a programme of cultural institutions, founded by the AP of Vojvodina; establish standards, criteria and procedures for allocating funds to institutions and organizations, whose founder is not the AP of Vojvodina, which contribute to the development of culture and art in the AP of Vojvodina, or ensure the development of culture of minority ethnic communities, and prepare acts providing funds for their work, investment and current maintenance and equipment, that is, programmes; prescribe additional working requirements for the operation of the Archive of Vojvodina in Novi Sad, the Serbian literary, cultural and scientific society of Matica Srpska in Novi Sad, the Museum of Vojvodina in Novi Sad, the Museum of Contemporary Visual Art in Novi Sad and the Theatre Museum of Vojvodina; determine the eligibility for the start of work and performance of activities by institutions of protection of culture in the territory of the AP of Vojvodina.

The Provincial Secretariat for Culture and Public Information shall perform executive, professional and development tasks of the provincial administration and supervise the implementation of the regulations under Paragraph 1 of this Article. In areas within its scope it shall monitor, supervise and assist the institutions and public services founded by the AP of Vojvodina.

The Provincial Secretariat for Culture and Public Information shall achieve international cooperation in the field of culture in the projects of interest for the development of culture in the territory of the AP of Vojvodina.

The Provincial Secretariat for Culture and Public Information in the field of cultural heritage protection shall; initiate proceedings for identification of immovable cultural property in the territory of the AP of Vojvodina; determine the prerequisites to undertake technical protection measures and other works on the immovable cultural property when the project and documents for these works are drawn up by the Institute for Protection of Cultural Monuments for the territory of Vojvodina; notify the Provincial Institute for the Protection of Cultural Monuments in Novi Sad, within the statutory period, about identified prerequisites when those prerequisites are identified by an institute within the territory of the AP of Vojvodina; grant approvals for the project and documentation with a view to undertaking technical protection measures and other works on the immovable cultural heritage when the project and documents are drawn up by the Institute for Protection of Cultural Monuments within the territory of the AP of Vojvodina; provide opinions on spatial and urban plan drafts for the territory of the AP of Vojvodina and notify the competent authority if the plan lacks the required content.

The Provincial Secretariat for Culture and Public Information, in the field of cultural property protection, cinematography, endowments, funds and foundations, library services, issuing publications and protection of intellectual property rights and copyright and related rights and undertaking measures against piracy, shall, in conformity with the law, perform conferred tasks of the state administration which shall be conferred upon the AP of Vojvodina authorities by the law.

The Provincial Secretariat for Culture and Public Information, in conformity with the law and the Statute, shall perform duties of the provincial administration in the field of public information and broadcasting, which refer to the preparation of acts for the Assembly or the Provincial Government which shall: regulate matters of provincial interest; determine the public interest of the citizens of the AP of Vojvodina and enact a development strategy in the field of public information in the territory of the AP of Vojvodina in conformity with the republic strategy in the field of public information.

The Provincial Secretariat for Culture and Public Information shall monitor and determine the current state in the field of public information as well as perform tasks with a view to improving and encouraging of public information in the territory of the AP of Vojvodina – by ensuring funds and other conditions for providing public interest in the field of public information; allocates funds on the basis of implemented calls for proposals and individual allocations on the basis of principle on the allocation of state aid and protection of competition, without discrimination; secure funds or other conditions for the operation of mass media in the languages of minority ethnic communities in accordance with the law; secure a part of funds or other conditions for unhindered exercise of rights of persons with disabilities for the purpose of unhindered receiving of information intended for public; secure a part of funds for financing activities of the public media service and for projects developing new technologies and archive digitalisation, projects of digitalised technological equipment, development of new distribution services in accordance with the possibilities available by digitalisation and other projects of specific social interest in accordance with the law regulating the public information and in accordance with law, it shall submit to the Media Registry data on the sums the Secretariat approved to newspapers.

The Provincial Secretariat for Culture and Public Information shall perform tasks related to ensuring the transparency of work of provincial authorities and organisations; monitor mass media and electronic media, prepare and draft overviews of their content and make relevant analyses; issue publications on the AP of Vojvodina.

The Provincial Secretariat for Culture and Public Information shall perform executive, professional and development activities of the Provincial administration and perform supervision on the implementation of regulations on public information and media as a conferred task.

The Provincial Secretariat for Culture and Public Information shall cooperate with republic authorities and authorities of the local self-government and perform other tasks when they have been conferred upon it by the law, the Provincial Assembly Decision or any other regulation.

Provincial Secretariat for Health Care, Social Policy and Demography

Article 35

The Provincial Secretariat for Health Care, Social Policy and Demography, in conformity with the law and the Statute, shall perform tasks of the provincial administration in the field of health care related to the preparation of acts for the Assembly or Provincial Government which shall: regulate matters of provincial interest in health care and health insurance and improve health care, health and pharmaceutical services in the territory of the AP of Vojvodina; determine measures to ensure and implement health care of interest to the citizens in the territory of the AP of Vojvodina, as well as measures to ensure and implement activities in the field of public health of interest to the citizens of the AP of Vojvodina; adopt special health care programmes for certain categories of population, i.e. types of diseases that are specific for the AP of Vojvodina, and for which a special health care programme has not been adopted at the republic level; adopt a special programme in the field of public health for the territory of the AP of Vojvodina; found health care institutions (general hospitals, special hospitals, clinics, institutes, the Clinical Centre, the Institute or Agency of Public Health, Institute of Blood Transfusion and Department of Antirabies Protection) and exercise founders’ rights thereof; propose a plan of health care institutions network in the territory of the AP of Vojvodina; provide its opinion on the abolition, merger and division of health care institutions founded by the AP of Vojvodina; determine weekly work schedule, the start and end of working hours in health care institutions founded by it; determine weekly work schedule, the start and end of working hours in health care institutions and private practices in the territory of the AP of Vojvodina during an epidemic and elimination of consequences caused by natural or other major disasters and emergency situations in the territory of the AP of Vojvodina; determine the minimum work to be done during a strike of health care institutions in the territory of the AP of Vojvodina; found the Medical Council of Vojvodina and the Ethics Committee of Vojvodina; propose a director of the Provincial Health Insurance Institute and take measures for the provision and implementation of activities in the field of public health of interest to the citizens of the AP of Vojvodina.

The Provincial Secretariat for Health Care, Social Policy and Demography, shall perform executive, professional and development tasks of the provincial administration, supervise and monitor implementation of the provisions under Paragraph 1 of this Article. In the area within its scope it shall monitor and assist the work of health care institutions founded by the AP of Vojvodina authorities.

The Provincial Secretariat for Health Care, Social Policy and Demography shall: put forward a proposal to the Minister competent for health affairs to determine the number of trainees in health care facilities with the headquarters in the territory of the AP of Vojvodina that health care facilities are obliged to employ, so as to obtain internship experience on an annual basis; put forward a proposal to the Minister competent for health affairs regarding the Medical Staff Development Plan for health care institutions that are located in the territory of the AP of Vojvodina; put forward a proposal to the Minister competent for health affairs to determine referential health care institutions for certain fields of health services in the territory of the AP of Vojvodina; provide opinion on the proposal regarding acquisition of the title of head physicians for doctors of medicine, doctors of dental medicine and bachelors of pharmacy in the territory of the AP of Vojvodina;

The Provincial Secretariat for Health Care, Social Policy and Demography shall cooperate with humanitarian and expert organisations, unions and associations in the field of health care; create databases in the field of health care; monitor the work of health care services in the territory of the AP of Vojvodina.

The Provincial Secretariat for Health Care, Social Policy and Demography, in the field of sanitary supervision shall, in conformity with the law, perform conferred tasks of the state administration which are conferred upon the AP of Vojvodina authorities by the law. It shall pass a decision on the determination of zones of sanitary protection of water sources in the territory of the AP of Vojvodina.

The Provincial Secretariat for Health Care, Social Policy and Demography, in conformity with the Law and the Statute, shall: perform tasks of the provincial administration in the field of social protection, protection of families and children, pregnant women, mothers on maternity leave, single parents with children, the youth, adults and the old, legal protection of family and custody, pension insurance, veteran and disability protection and civilian invalids of war, which pertain to the preparation of acts for the Assembly or the Provincial Government which shall regulate matters of provincial interest in social protection of family, children, the youth, adults and the old in accordance with law; establish, in accordance with financial possibilities, more favourable conditions for exercise of social protection if the funds for that purpose have been previously appropriated in its budget; establish and ensure higher level of protection of the family, children rights, pregnant women, mothers on maternity leave and single parents with children in accordance with the programme of demographic development of Vojvodina along with respective implementation measures; establish institutions of social protection in the territory of the AP of Vojvodina in accordance with law and act of the Provincial Government and exercise the founder’s rights thereof; found the Provincial Institute of Social Protection; give consent for the modification of activities and status changes of social protection institutions founded by the province; give consent to the statute and the act on organisation and job systematisation in social care institution founded by the province; enact the Social Welfare Improvement Programme; enact the Programme of Demographic Development of the AP of Vojvodina along with the respective implementation measures; provide its opinion on the decision proposal on a network of social welfare institutions which provide dorm accommodation, social-healthcare institutions and family accommodation and adoption centres founded by the Republic of Serbia, i.e. autonomous province, in the part which refers to the network of institutions in the territory of the AP of Vojvodina; give consent for the appointment of directors and acting directors of social work centres in the territory of the AP of Vojvodina; propose a director of the Provincial Fund for Pension and Disability Insurance.

The Provincial Secretariat for Health, Social Policy and Demography shall perform executive, professional and development tasks of the provincial administration and shall supervise the implementation of regulations under Paragraph 6 of this Article. In the areas within its scope it shall monitor, supervise and assist the work of institutions, funds and public services founded by the AP of Vojvodina and cooperate with organisations and citizens’ associations.

The Provincial Secretariat for Health, Social Policy and Demography shall monitor the implementation of conventions relating to children protection, family planning; provide funds for the implementation of the social protection improvement programme in the autonomous province, family protection, single parents with children, for the implementation of programmes and activities of disability, social-humanitarian organisations and citizens’ associations that contribute to improvement of socio-economic and social status, rehabilitation and socialisation of disabled persons and other persons in need of social assistance; provide funds for the implementation of work programmes of its founded institutions, except of institutions of dorm accommodation and provide funds for the implementation of innovative services and services of social protection of specific interest for the autonomous province.

The Provincial Secretariat for Health, Social Policy and Demography shall determine whether the requirements to start the work and performance of activities of social welfare institutions for the accommodation of the beneficiaries have been fulfilled.

The Provincial Secretariat for Health, Social Policy and Demography shall monitor the situation and propose measures in the field of providing social security for refugees, expelled and displaced persons; shall monitor implementation of the Programme of Demographic Development of the AP of Vojvodina; shall undertake activities aimed at family planning and propose measures to encourage the birth of children in the AP of Vojvodina.

The Provincial Secretariat for Health, Social Policy and Demography in the field of social protection, legal protection of family and custody, children’s social care, veteran and disability protection, protection of civilian invalids of war, in conformity with the law, shall perform conferred tasks of the state administration that are conferred upon the authorities of the AP of Vojvodina by the law.

The Provincial Secretariat for Health, Social Policy and Demography shall also perform other duties when they have been conferred thereupon by the law, the Provincial Assembly Decision or by other regulation.

The Provincial Secretariat for Health, Social Policy and Demography shall decide on appeals against the decision of social protection inspector.

Provincial Secretariat of Finance

Article 36

The Provincial Secretariat of Finance, in conformity with the law and the Statute, shall perform tasks of the provincial administration in the area of finance and economics, as well as the budget and treasury related tasks in conformity with the law.

The Provincial Secretariat of Finance, in conformity with the law and the Statute, shall provide funds for financing capital projects of importance for the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina.

The Provincial Secretariat of Finance shall: perform tasks of fiscal and macroeconomic analysis; monitor the system of public revenues and public expenditures as well as legislation on the basis of which they have been introduced, and if necessary it shall put forward the initiative for their amendments; monitor the collection of public revenues in the territory of the AP of Vojvodina and analyse the fiscal potential of municipalities and cities and inform the Provincial Government thereof; monitor and analyse the position of regions based on economic and other indicators; cooperate with competent republic, provincial, municipal and city authorities, organisations and institutions for the purpose of implementing equal regional development; participate in interregional cooperation and cooperation with relevant territorial communities of other countries with the aim of attracting foreign investments, obtaining donations and other forms of development assistance and coordinate activities with the aim of successful use of funds from pre-accession, structural and cohesion funds of the European Union in the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina.

The Provincial Secretariat of Finance shall supervise the application of provisions of the Law on Public Property and its bylaws on the acquisition, use, management and disposal of assets owned by the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina.

The Provincial Secretariat of Finance shall perform budget inspection control over lawful and purposeful spending of the AP of Vojvodina budget funds; perform control over application of the law in the field of material-financial operations and lawful and purposeful use of funds by the budget beneficiaries, organisations, companies, legal persons and other entities stipulated by the law that regulates the budget system. Provincial Secretariat of Finance shall prepare acts for the Assembly and the Provincial Government within its competence and perform other tasks stipulated by the law, the Statute and other regulations.

Provincial Secretariat for Education, Regulations, Administration and National Minorities – National Communities

Article 37

The Provincial Secretariat for Education, Regulations, Administration and National Minorities – National Communities, in conformity with the law and the Statute, shall perform tasks of the provincial administration in the area of preschool, primary and secondary education, student accommodation, non-formal adult education and education of national minorities - national communities, pertaining to the preparation of acts for the Assembly or the Provincial Government which shall regulate matters of provincial interest in the field of preschool, primary and secondary education; establish institutions for preschool, primary and secondary education in the territory of the AP of Vojvodina and exercise the founder’s rights thereof; regulate matters of provincial interest in the area of student accommodation; ascertain the manner and procedure for allocation of places in dormitories; more precisely regulate the matters of provincial interest in respect of the organised and institutional education outside the school system with a view to professional upgrading and training of adults in the territory of the AP of Vojvodina; more specifically regulate issues of provincial interest in ensuring the exercise of rights of persons belonging to national minorities - national communities to education in their native language at the level of preschool, primary and secondary education in the territory of the AP of Vojvodina.

The Provincial Secretariat for Education, Regulations, Administration and National Minorities – National Communities shall perform executive, professional and development tasks of the provincial government and monitor the implementation of regulations under paragraph 1 of this article. In areas within its scope, it shall monitor, supervise and assist the work of institutions and public services founded by the AP of Vojvodina.

The Provincial Secretariat for Education, Regulations, Administration and National Minorities – National Communities, in the field of preschool, primary and secondary education shall cooperate with the Ministry responsible for education in the process of establishing school administration; in agreement with the competent Minister it shall approve textbooks and teaching aids for specific subjects of interest to national minorities - national communities; in agreement with the competent Minister it shall adopt curricula in certain subjects of interest to national minorities - national communities and determine the conditions and methods of organising teaching in the languages of national minorities - national communities; it shall approve textbooks and teaching aids for languages of national minorities - national communities, it shall provide opinions in the process of adoption of curricula and adopt relevant curricula for the languages of national minorities - national communities.

The Provincial Secretariat for Education, Regulations, Administration and National Minorities – National Communities in the field of preschool, primary and secondary education and student accommodation, in conformity with the law, shall perform conferred tasks of the state administration which are conferred upon the AP of Vojvodina by the law.

The Provincial Secretariat for Education, Regulations, Administration and National Minorities – National Communities, in conformity with the Law and the Statute, shall perform tasks of the Provincial Administration pertaining to the preparation of acts for the Assembly or Provincial Government which shall: regulate organisation and work of the provincial administration; more specifically regulate the content and layout of the seal of the AP of Vojvodina authorities, local self-government units and holders of public powers, with their seat on the territory of the AP of Vojvodina; determine development strategy for interculturalism, promotion of multiculturalism, tolerance and coexistence of national minorities - national communities living on the territory of the AP of Vojvodina; regulate the exercise of rights in the field of human rights and the rights of persons belonging to national minorities - national communities and establish their additional rights; provide funds for financing i.e. co-financing of: national minority councils, associations and organisations of national minorities - national communities, churches and religious communities as well as promotion of the exercise of rights of persons belonging to of national minorities - national communities on the territory of the AP of Vojvodina; regulate the use of the AP of Vojvodina name in associations’ names; regulate examinations for the languages used in the work of authorities and organisations of the provincial administration. Provincial Secretariat for Education, Regulations, Administration and National Minorities – National Communities shall also prepare acts whose preparation is not within the scope of other provincial administration authorities.

The Provincial Secretariat for Education, Regulations, Administration and National Minorities – National Communities shall monitor the harmonisation of regulations and by-laws in the legal system in the process of their enactment and see to their normative-technical and linguistic accuracy (proofreading).

The Provincial Secretariat for Education, Regulations, Administration and National Minorities – National Communities is the publisher of the "Official Journal of the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina" and shall ensure the publication of regulations and other acts of the Assembly, the Provincial Government, provincial authorities and other bodies and organizations.

The Provincial Secretariat for Education, Regulations, Administration and National Minorities – National Communities shall provide, in accordance with the needs of provincial and other authorities, translation and interpretation from the Serbian language into languages of national minorities - national communities and vice versa, as well as translation from world languages into the Serbian language and vice versa.

The Provincial Secretariat for Education, Regulations, Administration and National Minorities – National Communities shall monitor and overview the situation in the field of religion, churches and religious communities, achieve cooperation and undertake measures to assist their activities which they perform in the public interest, in accordance with law.

The Provincial Secretariat for Education, Regulations, Administration and National Minorities – National Communities shall monitor and analytically analyse the situation in the field of protection and exercise of human and minority rights and propose measures to be undertaken in this field.

The Provincial Secretariat for Education, Regulations, Administration and National Minorities – National Communities in the fields of official use of language and script, bar examination, state qualifying exams, exams for court interpreters, expropriation and seals, in conformity with the law, shall perform conferred tasks of the state administration that are conferred upon the AP of Vojvodina by the law.

The Provincial Secretariat for Education, Regulations, Administration and National Minorities – National Communities shall prepare acts for the Assembly and the Provincial Government in the fields of its competences, if so authorized by a special regulation.

The Provincial Secretariat for Education, Regulations, Administration and National Minorities – National Communities shall perform other tasks when they are conferred upon it by the law, the Provincial Assembly Decision or other regulation.

Provincial Secretariat for Interregional Cooperation and Local Self-Government

Article 38

The Provincial Secretariat for Interregional Cooperation and Local Self-Government shall, in conformity with the Law, the Statute and within foreign policy of the Republic of Serbia, perform the tasks of the provincial administration related to: interregional cooperation and maintaining the relations between the AP Vojvodina and other territorial communities of other countries, initiating and maintaining memberships in European and global associations of regions; preparation, concluding and monitoring the implementation of agreements with corresponding territorial communities of other countries; preparation of visits of representatives of territorial communities and other forms of autonomies of other countries; preparation of participation of the representatives of AP Vojvodina at conferences of European and global associations of regions; creation, collecting, keeping and publishing information about the cooperation with corresponding territorial communities of other countries; preparation of reports and information and proposing development programmes and plans from its scope of work; coordination of activities of all provincial administration authorities in the process of programming instruments of European Union; creation of conditions for the realization of projects financed from the EU funds, donations and other forms of development aid; participation in activities of preparing and implementing macro regional strategies; participation in education of specific units within diplomatic and consular offices of the Republic of Serbia, in accordance with law, which will represent and improve economic, educational and tourist capacities of AP Vojvodina; monitoring of the establishment of diplomatic and consular activities on the territory of AP Vojvodina; participation in establishing balanced regional development on the territory of AP Vojvodina, in accordance with law.

The Provincial Secretariat for Interregional Cooperation and Local Self-Government shall, in conformity with the Law and the Statute, perform tasks of the provincial administration, in the field of local self-government, pertaining to: the preparation of acts for the Provincial Government which propose the dissolution of an assembly of the local self-government unit on the territory of AP Vojvodina to the Government of the Republic of Serbia; prepare the reports and information for the Provincial Government and the Assembly and propose development programmes and plans from the Secretariat’s area of competence; give prior consent to the assembly of the local self-government unit on the territory of AP Vojvodina when determining holidays and deciding upon the names of streets, squares, boroughs, villages and other populated areas on the territory of the local self-government unit, direct and support local self-government units and local community self-government to ensure legality and efficiency of their work; coordinate and encourage the cooperation between AP Vojvodina and the units of local self-government on its territory in the field of developing efficient and modern local self-government; support and encourage the measures in the field of the establishment of systems of local self-government, intermunicipal networking, equating the capacities and the modernization of the work of the local administration; monitor the establishment of local community self-government in local self-government units as well as the other forms of the direct participation of citizens in the decision making process at the local level; provide expert legal opinion and advice in regard to the application of law and other acts that are of direct impact to the development and establishment of local self-government and the work of the authorities of local self-government unit; initiate proceedings to assess the constitutionality and legality of the statute or other general acts of local self-government units if the Secretariat considers that this regulation is not in accordance with provincial regulations; control of compliance of general acts of local self-government unit with its statute, taking measures and providing expert assistance in its implementation; control the compliance of an individual act against which judicial protection is not provided with law or general act of the local government units and taking other related measures; monitor the application of the regulations concerning the direct participation of citizens in establishing local self-government; monitor the process and procedures of conducting local elections.

The Provincial Secretariat for Interregional Cooperation and Local Self-Government shall perform other tasks when they are conferred by law, provincial assembly decision or any other regulation.

Provincial Secretariat for Urban Planning, Civil Engineering and Environmental Protection

Article 39

The Provincial Secretariat for Urban Planning, Civil Engineering and Environmental Protection shall, in accordance with the law and the Statute, perform the tasks of the provincial administration in the field of spatial and urban planning and construction, related to the preparation of acts for the Assembly or the Provincial Government which shall: design, enact and implement documents on the spatial development of the AP Vojvodina; design, enact and implement the regional spatial plans and spatial plans for special purposes; propose measures and activities of the implementation programme of the spatial plan of the Republic of Serbia on the territory of AP Vojvodina, regional development plans and spatial plans for special purposes and monitor their implementation; establish a public company for spatial and urban planning and design and exercise founder’s rights thereof.

The Provincial Secretariat for Urban Planning, Civil Engineering and Environmental Protection shall perform executive, expert and development tasks of the provincial administration; conduct supervision and monitor the implementation of the regulations from Paragraph 1 of this Article. Within the scope of its competency, the Secretariat shall monitor, supervise and assist the work of public companies and public services founded by the AP Vojvodina.

The Provincial Secretariat for Urban Planning, Civil Engineering and Environmental Protection shall provide expert assistance and secure the funds for financing, i.e. co-financing to the local self-governments for the design of the spatial and urban planning documentation, technical documentation for infrastructure objects, projects by expert and non-governmental organizations in the field of spatial planning, urban planning, architecture and civil engineering; conduct expert control and provide public inspection into the regional spatial plans and spatial plans for specific purposes for the areas on the territory of AP Vojvodina; give prior consent and consent in the process of designing and enacting the spatial and urban plans of the local self-government units on the territory of AP Vojvodina and propose one third of the members of the commission for expert control of spatial and urban plans in a self-government unit; take part in conducting expert control of technical documentation of the object for which construction permit is issued in accordance with the law; monitor the development of communal infrastructure and communal activities on the territory of AP Vojvodina; take part in the work of commission and working bodies established by the competent minister in charge of urban planning and civil engineering affairs and give opinion on the Statute and other by-laws of the Republic Agency for Spatial Planning and the Engineer Chamber of Serbia.

The Provincial Secretariat for Urban Planning, Civil Engineering and Environmental Protection shall perform the conferred tasks of the state administration, in the field of spatial and urban planning, object construction and housing, which were conferred to the authorities of the AP Vojvodina pursuant to the law.

The Provincial Secretariat for Urban Planning, Civil Engineering and Environmental Protection shall, in accordance with the law and Statute, perform the tasks of provincial administration in the field of environmental protection, regarding the preparation of the acts for the Assembly or the Provincial Government which shall: put a natural asset under protection; enact an environmental protection programme for the territory of AP Vojvodina; enact a monitoring programme, an external plan for protection against accidents and natural resources and asset management plans and programmes; establish a budget fund; establish the Provincial Institute for Nature Protection and exercise the founder’s rightof; declare a state of environmental endangerment on the territory of AP Vojvodina.

The Provincial Secretariat for Urban Planning, Civil Engineering and Environmental Protection shall perform executive, expert and development tasks of the provincial administration and monitor the implementation of regulations from Paragraph 5 of this Article. Within the scope of its competency, the Secretariat shall monitor, supervise and assist the work of public companies, institutions and public services founded by the AP Vojvodina.

The Provincial Secretariat for Urban Planning, Civil Engineering and Environmental Protection shall: control the exploitation and protection of natural resources and assets on the territory of AP Vojvodina; provide continuous control and monitoring of the state of the environment; give conditions for securing the measures and terms for the environment protection, upon the request of the competent body in charge of preparing and enacting the spatial and urban plans, and on the grounds of the conditions and opinions of the competent expert organizations; take part in the process of preparing and enacting the spatial, urban and other plans (spatial plan and the grounds for the exploitation of agriculture soil, forest soil plan, water management plan and hunting management plan as well as programmes for the improvement of fishing at the fishing areas and other plans).

The Provincial Secretariat for Urban Planning, Civil Engineering and Environmental Protection shall, in the field of environment improvement, fishing and managing the fish stock in fishing waters, and in accordance with the law, perform conferred tasks, which are in accordance with the law, conferred to the authorities of AP Vojvodina. The Provincial Secretariat for Urban Planning, Civil Engineering and Environmental Protection shall perform other tasks when they are conferred in accordance with the law, provincial assembly decision or another regulation.

Provincial Secretariat for Science and Technological Development

Article 40

The Provincial Secretariat for Science and Technological Development shall, in accordance with the law that defines these areas and the Statute, perform the tasks of the provincial administration in the field of science, technological development, higher education and student accommodation, related to the preparation of acts for the Assembly or the Provincial Government which shall: establish scientific institutes and research and development centres and exercise founder’s rights thereof; regulate issues in higher education of significance to the Province; propose the member of the National Council for Higher Education; discuss student accommodation issues of significance to the Province.

ПThe Provincial Secretariat for Science and Technological Development shall, in accordance with the General Interest Programme of the Republic of Serbia, perform tasks of the provincial administration related to: housing issues of young, academic and scientific workers; promoting international cooperation and innovation activities; providing financial means for the co-financing of specific programmes of innovation activities and infrastructure on the territory of AP Vojvodina; co-financing the programme of the Novi Sad Branch of the Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts, Matica Srpska, Matica Slovačka and other institutions that perform scientific and research activities, and are of significance to AP Vojvodina; provide financial means for the co-financing of basic research programmes and technical development research programmes in AP Vojvodina, for the co-financing of participation of academic and scientific workers and students at scientific and professional development conferences abroad and for the organisation of scientific conferences on the territory of AP Vojvodina.

The Provincial Secretariat for Science and Technological Development shall perform executive, expert and development tasks of the provincial administration within the scope of competency and monitor, supervise and assist the work of institutions and public services founded by the AP Vojvodina.

The Provincial Secretariat for Science and Technological Development shall, in accordance with the law, perform the conferred tasks of the state administration, in the field of higher education and student accommodation, which were conferred to the authorities of the AP Vojvodina pursuant to the law.

The Provincial Secretariat for Science and Technological Development shall perform other tasks when they are conferred in accordance with the law, provincial assembly decision or another regulation.

Provincial Secretariat for Energy and Mineral Resources

Article 41

The Provincial Secretariat for Energy and Mineral Resources shall, in accordance with the law and the Statute, perform the tasks of the provincial administration in the field of energy, rational consumption of energy, pipeline transport of gaseous and liquid hydrocarbons and distribution of gaseous hydrocarbons and tasks in the field of geology and mining that are related to the enforcement of law as well as the preparation of acts for the Assembly or the Provincial Government.

The Provincial Secretariat for Energy and Mineral Resources shall perform executive, expert and development tasks of the provincial administration with the aim of implementing the regulations from Paragraph 1 of this Article.

The Provincial Secretariat for Energy and Mineral Resources shall monitor the situation in the energy and mineral resources sector: monitor the reliable supply of energy and energy generating products; the development and application of all types of primary and secondary energy; the investment and research and development programmes in the field of coal, oil, petroleum derivates and bio fuels, natural gas, heat and electric energy, geothermal and mineral waters and all forms of renewable energy resources; energy efficiency and rational consumption of energy; the current policy of the energy and mineral resources development and the functioning of the energy system, the production and consumption of all energy forms. The Provincial Secretariat for Energy and Mineral Resources shall co-finance projects in the field of energy that especially relate to the application of renewable energy sources and energy efficiency as well as projects in the field the consumption of mineral resources on the territory of the province; inform and train from its domain by organising meetings, conferences and fair events; cooperate with potential investors and institutions from its domain.

The Provincial Secretariat for Energy and Mineral Resources shall, in the field of energy for the territory of the autonomous province, draft the Proposal of the part of the Programme for the Realization of the Energy Development Strategy; demand data for the design of the Energy Balance from energy and other subjects; plan needs for energy in development plans as well as well as the conditions and the manner of procuring the necessary energy capacities; implement Action Plan for Energy Efficiency within competency; determine special financial and other incentives for the implementation of activities for efficient consumption of energy on its territory.

The Provincial Secretariat for Energy and Mineral Resources shall in the field of geology and mining for the territory of the autonomous province: propose the part of the Programme for the Realization of the Mineral Resources Development Strategy and the part of the Long-term Development Programme of Basic Geological Research; adopt and implement the Annual Programme of Basic Geological Research; keep records of approved research and Cadastre of approved surveyed areas; examine and record established resources and reserves of mineral resources of ground waters as well as the established potential of geothermal resources; issue decisions containing confirmation on resources and reserves of mineral resources and ground waters or established potential of geothermal resources as well as approvals for mining operations and approval for the use of mining facilities (use permit); pass decisions on: revocation and termination of approval for the exploitation of mineral resources reserves and geothermal resources and approval for facility commissioning; prepare balance sheets of resources and mineral resources, ground waters and geothermal resources; appoint a committee in the event of complete and permanent suspension of exploitation, which examines the reasons for the suspension of work, the consequences of suspension and proposes specific measures; give consent to the programme of measures adopted by the competent authority of local self-government for the use of funds from fees for using mineral raw materials and geothermal resources; keep cadastres of surveyed and exploited fields, active and rehabilitated mining facilities and deposits and balance sheets of mineral resources and geothermal resources, fields of mining waste and abandoned mines and mining facilities; keep a book of documents and a register of business entities granted to perform geological research and exploitation.

The Provincial Secretariat for Energy and Mineral Resources shall, for the territory of the autonomous province: appoint committees and organise qualifying examination for the purpose of performing tasks of technical management, handling and maintenance: oil pipelines and indoor gas installations; in facilities for transportation and distribution of natural gas; in facilities for production, transmission and distribution of electric energy; carry out inspection through inspectors for electric power and pressurized equipment; carry out and finance basic geological research; appoint committee and organise qualifying examination for the purpose of performing tasks in the field of geothermal research and mining; issue decisions approving: applied geological surveys, exploitation of reserves of mineral resources and geothermal resources, execution of mining works, use of mining facilities; perform inspection through geological and mining inspectors.

The Provincial Secretariat for Energy and Mineral Resources shall perform other tasks when they are conferred in accordance with the law, provincial assembly decision or another regulation.

Provincial Secretariat for Sport and Youth

Article 42

The Provincial Secretariat for Sport and Youth shall, in accordance with the law and the Statute, perform the tasks of the provincial administration in the field of sport and youth, related to the preparation of acts for the Assembly or the Provincial Government that regulate the issues of significance for the Province in the field of sports, physical education and interests of youth. In the field of sport, the Provincial Secretariat for Sport and Youth shall: enable the fulfilment of needs and interests of citizens in the field of sport determined by law; determine the sport facilities and international sport events programmes of significance for AP Vojvodina, establish organizations for specific activities of interest for AP Vojvodina and exercise founder's rights thereof; closely define the conditions for the performance of sports activities of organizations in the field of sports and the use of public sport fields; determine which provincial sports federations satisfy the need and the interest of citizens on the territory of AP Vojvodina, when one sports branch has multiple registered provincial sports federations and determine which sports branches are of special significance to AP Vojvodina; keep records in the field of sports; determine the fulfilment of conditions for the organization of sporting events and provides conditions for the work, i.e. the performance of activities by the Provincial Institute of Sport and Sports Medicine and other organizations in the field of sports.

The Provincial Secretariat for Sport and Youth shall perform executive, expert and development tasks of the provincial administration and conduct the supervision over the implementation of the regulations in the field of sports. Within the scope of competency, the Secretariat shall monitor, supervise and assist the work of institutions and public services founded by the AP Vojvodina.

The Provincial Secretariat for Sport and Youth shall monitor and support the work of youth associations, federations as well as local youth offices; establish and coordinate the work of the Youth Council of the APV, in accordance with the law; prepare the programmes and propose measures for the improvement of the position of young people in line with the action plan of the youth policy; support the projects from the fields relevant to the youth; propose the establishment of awards in the field of sport and youth; give award to athletes for successful results; award scholarships to promising athletes, and award gifted and successful children and youth in the AP Vojvodina and continuously support their development.

The Provincial Secretariat for Sport and Youth shall in the field of sports, in accordance with the law, perform the conferred tasks of the state administration, which were conferred to the authorities of the AP Vojvodina pursuant to the law.

The Provincial Secretariat for Sport and Youth shall perform other tasks when they are conferred in accordance with the law, provincial assembly decision or another regulation.

Provincial Secretariat for Economy, Employment and Gender Equality

Article 43

The Provincial Secretariat for Economy, Employment and Gender Equality, in accordance with the law and Statute, shall perform tasks of the provincial administration in the field of economic and regional development, tourism, catering industry, spas and health resorts, industry and crafts, road, river and rail transport, development of logistics and intermodal transport, Category II state roads in the territory of AP Vojvodina, road traffic safety, electronic communications, fairs and other business manifestations, related to the preparation of acts for the Provincial Assembly or the Provincial Government which shall: regulate and enable a balanced regional development in the field of economy; establish organizations that deal with the establishment of the balanced regional development in the field of economy and exercise founder's rights thereof; determine and enact regional development strategic and other documents in the field of economy; determine the issues in the field of tourism of significance to the Province; determine the planning and the development of tourism; determine and enact the tourism development strategy; propose and declare the tourist area on the territory of AP Vojvodina; propose the member of the Commission for the categorization of tourist areas; propose the establishment of organizations for the improvement and development of tourism and exercise founder's rights therof; regulate the exploitation of mineral and thermal waters, spa, health and climatic resources; regulate the issues of significance to the Province regarding the field of industry; define the balanced economic development plan and agenda; define the old crafts specific to the area of AP Vojvodina as well as the measures for their improvement and development; regulate issues of significance to the Province regarding the road, river and railway transport in the development of logistics and intermodal transport, road traffic safety; regulate matters of provincial interest in the field of electronic communications and regulate planning and development of electronic communications and information society in the territory of AP Vojvodina; regulate the manner of managing, protecting, maintenance of Category II state roads on the territory of AP Vojvodina; regulate and secure the internal navigation on state waterways in the territory of AP Vojvodina; regulate fairs and other related events of significance to the Province; regulate the establishment, categorization and manner of work of the fair centres; establish the network of fair and other related events in the territory of AP Vojvodina.

The Provincial Secretariat for Economy, Employment and Gender Equality shall monitor the implementation of the programme, the measures and activities for the balanced regional development, propose one member of the Tender and Auction Commission when the subject of privatization is on the territory of AP Vojvodina; participate in the creation of strategic documents and action plans which determine the principles, goals and priorities of the development of electronic communications in the Republic of Serbia; participate in enacting of RF Bands Allocation Plan and RF Allocation Plan; participate in determining the method of using the remaining radio frequency bands intended for terrestrial digital broadcasting, as well as the provision of broadband service (digital dividend).

The Provincial Secretariat for Economy, Employment and Gender Equality shall, in the field of tourism, road, river and railway transport and the protection of intellectual property rights and other related rights in the production and trade of goods and electronic communications, in accordance with the law, perform the conferred tasks of the state administration, which are conferred to the authorities of the AP Vojvodina.

The Provincial Secretariat for Economy, Employment and Gender Equality shall perform executive, expert and development tasks of the provincial administration and conduct the supervision over the implementation of regulations within the area of competency; the Secretariat shall monitor the work of institutions and public services founded by the AP Vojvodina.

The Provincial Secretariat for Economy, Employment and Gender Equality, in accordance with the law and Statute, shall perform tasks of the provincial administration, in the field of labour and employment, related to the preparation of acts for the Assembly or the Provincial Government, establishment of funds and other legal entities within this field and the exercise of founder's rights; design the proposal for the active employment policy plan in the Province; prepare provincial employment action plans; implement the active employment policy measures in the Province, in accordance with the law, the Employment strategy and action plan in the AP Vojvodina; monitor the implementation of regulations and strategic documents in the field of employment, labour, occupational safety and health; prepare the decisions on the establishment of organizations of interest to the AP Vojvodina in the aforementioned fields; give legal opinion and directions for the implementation of regulations and other legal and other acts to the organizations, institutions and citizens; monitor the state and the implementation of regulations in the field of occupational safety and health in the provincial administration authorities; propose the activities and measures for solving problems in the field of occupational safety and health; monitors the situation and implementation of regulations in regard to the work-legal status of persons with disabilities; propose the activities and measures for the improvement of the work-legal status of persons with disabilities; encourage the employment of persons with disabilities and other categories of citizens with difficulties in acquiring employment; monitor the implementation of antidiscrimination policies in the field of labour and employment; monitor the subsidising of business subjects in the Province and the transfers towards the lower governance authorities in the field of employment; work on the preparations of presentations on the potentials of the Province in the field of labour and employment; monitor the state and the trends on the labour market in the AP Vojvodina; monitor the implementation of ratified conventions and recommendations of the International Labour Organization and make reports of their implementation; cooperate with the international, regional and state bodies, organizations and associations in the field of employment, labour, occupational health and safety; coordinate and support the work of the Provincial Socio-Economic Council, the Provincial Employment Council, Provincial Council for Occupational Health and Safety and other working bodies in the field of labour and employment; propose the Director of the Provincial Employment Service; encourage the development of the tripartite social dialogue in the Province, monitor the institutional social dialogue and the valid legal framework; monitor the activity of social partnership in the event of a crisis (failed privatization, strikes, most endangered economic branches); with the Provincial Employment Council and other interested entities, start initiatives for the changes in labour legislation and social policies; initiate the activities for the harmonization of the labour and social legislation with the normative-institutional framework and the practise of social dialogue; undertake activities concerning in raising the capacities of social partners (unions and employers) for the equal participation in the social dialogue; monitor the impact of macroeconomic elements (trends in economy, labour market, employment policy) on the functioning of the social dialogue in the Province; promote the advantages of a more developed social dialogue through continuous updates to the public regarding the actors, contents and the instruments of social dialogue; cooperate with union organizations, employers' organizations and associations; take part in resolving the issues of significance for the exercise of economic freedoms and rights of employees, material and social position of the employer and the employees; promote the development of the culture of negotiation and encourage peaceful solutions for collective labour disputes; follow a social dialogue on the local level and the work of the network of employment councils in the Province; monitor the networking of the participants in the social dialogue in the Province; monitor the conclusion of collective agreements in the Province; monitor the relationship of the public and media towards the social dialogue.

The Provincial Secretariat for Economy, Employment and Gender Equality, in accordance with the law and Statute, shall perform tasks of the provincial administration, related to: the preparation of the analytical and other materials regarding the implementation of regulations in the field of gender equality for the Assembly or the Provincial Government; activities for the improvement of gender equality in the Province; promotion of equal opportunities for men and women; monitoring of the situation and proposing measures for the improvement of the position of women and the implementation of equal opportunity in the Province; monitoring of the implementation of ratified conventions and recommendations of international organizations in this field; establishment of cooperation with non-governmental organizations, unions and other associations and media; proposal and implementation of measures of affirmative activities for the improvement of the economic and social position of women, especially vulnerable women groups, as well as the elimination of violence against women and domestic violence; cooperation with the republic and provincial administration authorities and the authorities of local self-government in the field of gender equality; activities leading towards the integration of the principle of gender equality into all aspects of the work of provincial authorities and the provision of expert support. As a conferred task, the Secretariat is responsible for the supervision of the implementation of the Law on Gender Equality on the territory of AP Vojvodina.

The Provincial Secretariat for Economy, Employment and Gender Equality shall perform tasks of the provincial administration, related to the: implementation and application of strategies for the integration of the Roma and the realization of the action plans on the territory of the Province; coordination of different projects of the integration of Roma people on the territory of the Province; establishment of coordination with the Roma councils in the Province and with corresponding organizations and bodies on the international level; encouraging and improving women and human rights and the rights of Roma men and women on the territory of the Province; the preparation of the analytical documentation for the planning and the programming of activities regarding the integration of the Roma people in the Province; the establishment of cooperation and consultations with the governmental and non-governmental organizations and authorities in the field of the integration of the Roma and the improvement of their position; the realization of projects which were founded on the goals defined in strategies and action plans, coordination of the implementation and the realization of domestic and international integration and improvement programmes for the situation of Roma; organizations of seminars, counselling, round tables concerning the issues of Roma integrations; information-documentation activities and record keeping regarding the integration of the Roma on the territory of the Province; monitoring and gathering of information regarding the measures taken in the Republic of Serbia and other countries for the purposes of improvement of the expertise regarding the integration of the Roma, as well as the monitoring of the training and professional improvement of experts in the field of Roma integration.

The Provincial Secretariat and Gender Equality shall perform other tasks when they are conferred in accordance with the law, provincial assembly decision or another regulation.

4. COMMON AFFAIRS FOR ALL PROVINCIAL SECRETARIATS

Regional and Intermunicipal cooperation

Article 44

Provincial Secretariats, within their competencies, pursuant to the Statute and the law, establish regional and inter-municipal cooperation and take care of its improvement.

Interregional cooperation

Article 45

Provincial secretariats, within their competencies and pursuant to the Statute and the law, establish interregional cooperation with the territorial communities and other forms of autonomy in other states, within the foreign policy of the Republic of Serbia and take care of its improvement and perform tasks of the provincial administration related to the preparation, conclusion and implementation of interregional agreements.

Provincial secretariats create conditions for the access and the realization of projects financed from the EU pre-accession funds, donations and other forms of aid from the area of competency of the secretariat.

5. RELATIONS OF THE PROVINCIAL ADMINISTRATION AND OTHER AUTHORITIES AND CITIZENS

Relations towards the Assembly and the Provincial Government

Article 46

Provincial administration authorities are obligated to provide notifications, explanations and data from their area of competency to the Assembly.

Provincial administration authorities shall perform the tasks in accordance with the instructions for their work provided by the Provincial Government.

The Provincial government shall direct and harmonize the work of the provincial administration authorities.

Relations between the provincial administration authorities

Article 47

The Provincial administration authorities shall cooperate in carrying out tasks of common interest, provide data and information necessary for the work, submit documents and establish other forms of joint work and cooperation.

In order to perform complex tasks that require joint works of employees from several provincial administration authorities, committees and working groups may be formed, whose composition and tasks are determined by agreement of executives.

The heads of the provincial administration authorities, when authorized to jointly adopt regulations but fail to reach an agreement, shall so inform the Provincial Government.

The relationship between the provincial administration authorities and the local self-government authorities

Article 48

The provincial administration authorities and the local self-government authorities shall cooperate and inform each other on issues of common interest.

The provincial administration authorities shall provide professional assistance to the local self-government bodies in the enforcement of laws.

The relations towards the citizens and legal entities

Article 49

The Provincial administration authorities are obliged to, in accordance with their rights and duties, enable citizens to freely exercise their rights and obligations, to provide them with necessary data and information, collaborate with citizens and preserve the reputation of the provincial administration.

Article 50

Provincial administration authorities are obliged to consider submissions, petitions and proposals submitted to them by the citizens and legal entities, to act upon them and notify the public.

Natural persons or legal entities may turn to the provincial administration authority for their opinion on the implementation of the Provincial Assembly decisions and other by-laws. Opinions of the provincial government are not binding.

The relationship of the provincial administration and the Provincial Ombudsman

Article 51

Provincial administration authorities are obliged to give free access to the data of interest for the exercise of the rights of citizens to the Provincial Ombudsman.

Provincial administration authorities are obliged to consider the implications, proposals and recommendations of the Provincial Ombudsman who is acting in the interest of citizens.

In order to facilitate smooth operation of the Provincial Ombudsman, the provincial administration authorities are obliged to take all necessary measures and activities.

6. TRANSITIONAL AND FINAL PROVISIONS

Article 52

Provincial administration bodies are obliged to harmonize the acts on their internal organization and job classification with the provisions of this Decision until 31st December 2014.

Article 53

With the entry into force of this Decision, the Provincial Assembly Decision on the Provincial Administration ("Official Journal of APV", no. 40/12 - consolidated text) shall no longer be in force.

Article 54

This Decision shall enter into force on the eighth day of its publication in the "Official Journal of the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina".

ASSEMBLY OF THE AUTONOMOUS PROVINCE OF VOJVODINA

Novi Sad, 23rd September 2014

Vice-President
of the Assembly of AP Vojvodina

Ana Tomanova Makanova m.p.

Legal Documents

Deputies in the APV Assembly

STATUT AP VOJVODINE

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