Serbia – Parliament votes 131-13 to approve amendments to law on National Bank of Serbia

After several days of discussion, on the afternoon of 5 November 2012 Serbia’s National Assembly approved, by a vote of 131 to 13, an act entitled Law on Amendments and Supplements to the Law on the National Bank of Serbia (Закон о изменама и допунама Закона о Народној банци Србије).  Less than three pages in length, the act – apart from two minor modifications and additions on the subject of “financial leasing” – discusses solely the election, terms of office, and dismissal of the officers of the central bank (i.e., the Governor, Vice Governor, Board of Governors, and Board of Directors).  These changes were introduced because earlier, on 4 August, the parliament had made modifications to the Law on the National Bank of Serbia regarding the election and dismissal of officers, modifications which were widely criticized as compromising the independence of the Bank and hence impeding Serbia’s entry into the EU.

News on vote count for approval: Усвојене измене Закон о НБС (2012-11-05 15:15)

Law as approved on 15 November 2012:

Закон о изменама и допунама Закона о Народној банци Србије (PDF format)

Закон о изменама и допунама Закона о Народној банци Србије (DOC format)

Draft law as filed on 30 October 2012:

Предлог закона о изменама и допунама Закона о Народној банци Србије (PDF format)

Law with same name approved by parliament on 4 August 2012:

Закон о изменама и допунама Закона о Народној банци Србије (zipped PDF file)