In my fist post here I wrote that Serbia has not reached any of the Millennium Development Goals/Milenijumski razvojni ciljevi (MDGs) yet.
However, new 'mid-point' report is prepared, and it shows that some things have changed for the better.
Let’s see what has happened since previous report (2006) with these eight goals.
1st: Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger
The goal to extinguish extreme poverty has been reached already in 2007: It dropped from 14% to 6,6%. Thus, in this sphere the best results were achieved.
The most vulnerable groups remain: rural population, uneducated and unemployed, children, old people, families with two or more kids. However, poverty among the Roma continue to be several times more widespread than among the majority population.
The world economic crisis and its effects on Serbian economy worsened labour market indicators in 2009 and appearance of new poor and extremely poor is possible.
2nd: Achieve universal primary education
Compared to 2006, there is a significant increase in the number of children enrolled in preschool education, since it has become obligatory in this period.
The percentage of children not registered for primary education is 4,3%. In total 94,8% finishes primary school. Although the schooling system in the country is considered equitable, attention should be paid to improving educational conditions for the children in rural areas and for the Roma.
3rd: Promote gender equality and empower women
According to the report, there are contradictory tendencies when it comes to gender equality in Serbia. Although there are some improvements in the ratio of employed women and in the number of entrepreneurs and self-employed, there are still significant inequalities. They are particularly evident in women’s limited access to the positions of economic power, and especially so among marginalized social groups.
4th, 5th, 6th: Reduce child mortality, Improve maternal health, Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases
Child mortality in Serbia has dropped and it is to be expected that this goal will be reached by 2015.
Although there are improvements in the health of women in reproductive age, the overall fertility rates are decreasing.
Smoking is in decline, but obesity is growing.
7th: Ensure environmental sustainability
Environmental protection has significantly progressed. This has been achieved both through the legislative measures and with practical actions. However, a lot still needs to be done, in a number of areas. (related story No1, related story No2)
8th: Develop a global partnership for development
In the period 2005-2008 Serbia has had dynamic economic growth, important influx of foreign direct investments and improvement in economy’s efficiency. World economic crisis has, however, worsened negative trends (for example foreign trade deficit), and privatision process is practically finished which means an end to investments on that basis. Increased access to modern technologies would certainly affect decreasing the gap between Serbian economy and those of developed countries. Intensifying the state investment into science, education, research and development would certainly contribute to the goal too.
There is that old quote (liked by one of our ex presidents): “Statistics are like bikinis. What they reveal is suggestive, but what they conceal is vital.» This report definitely does not show how everyday life in Serbia looks like and what citizens are concerned about, but it gives an indication of the framework in which our lives take place.
Photo credit: LjubaR
Related to MDG’s you quite well wrote “This report definitely does not show how everyday life in Serbia looks like and what citizens are concerned about, but it gives an indication of the framework in which our lives take place.”
I agree. From my viewpoint I see that progress reports published by European Commission, related to association process, give a bit deeper view to this issue. Last report published the 2009 concluded e.g. that Serbia has demonstrated its commitment to moving closer to the EU by building up a track record in implementing the provisions of the Interim Agreement with the EU and by undertaking key reforms. Of course there was lot of issues to develop more.
Also political rights and civil liberties in Serbia have developed quite good according survey made by Freedom House; economic freedom (by WSJ and Heritage Foundation) and competitiveness (by World Economic Forum) need more work. (More e.g. in “Freedom in Balkans and Eastwards in http://arirusila.wordpress.com/2010/05/01/freedom-2010-in-balkans-and-eastwards/
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Now Visa arrangements, free trade, bilateral agreements with Russia and some EU programs are hopefully giving more boost to development in Serbia. However I hope that Serbia does not develop its administration and legislation according EU standards only because of fulfilling EU needs. The primus motor should be the needs of the beneficiaries aka Serbs not EU elite in Brussels.
Ari, thank you very much for the comment and data.
Serbia already has 30 thousand people in the state administration, four times more than ten years ago. It is often very inefficient. On the other hand, experts for EU and other international projects are lacking. So, although I understand what you want to say by pointing out that we should not try to have administration like EU, it is in a way difficult to think it would be worse. As for the EU laws, what is wrong with them? I thought they are in general written by quite high standards.
Larisa, my comment may be a bit foggy. The aspect which I wanted to highlight was motivation. The point was that development should be made because of your own needs, not because of EU. With this approach also the outcome will be more effective as there will be more commitment to work as in case if you only work according orders to fulfill EU membership standards.
Speaking about efficiency EU is not an ideal model. For example in Finland if EU is giving some environmental aid to some farmer, the administration cost may be five times higher than the actual aid to farmer.
Honestly my picture about EU is a bit skeptical. In my earlier article “Wester Balkans and European perspective” - http://arirusila.wordpress.com/2008/06/23/western-balkans-and-european-perspective/ - couple years ago I described it as follows:
“EU was meant to be an association of independent regions that pursue their own policies and serve the interests of their people. Today´s EU has Parliament sitting and travelling between Strassbourg and Brussels with zero power and authority. Instead Commission, their army of bureaucrats, lobbyists from different interest groups are keeping EU as their playground. Due the high risk of corruption EU tries to limit damages with Auditors (In Brussels I once heard that there is more auditors in EU than people who are really implementing some practical task). The Parliament´s Puppet democracy is showed by interpreting all speeches/documents to all EU languages and verse, sad that no one is listening or reading them.”
“Today EU member states are paying more or less their taxpayers money to common budget and are receiving more or less back through some 500 different EU programmes. When common bureaucracy, Puppet democracy and corruption are taking increasing share so on the field one sees less money and actions. The bottom line is that EU´s ability to absorb enlargement is questionable and even if it could come bigger what´s the idea to join to it.”
Unfortunately my picture about EU has not much changed better during last years.
From my point of view “privileged partnership”, which has been offered to Turkey, could indicate a possible search of “third way” between EU member- and non-membership. It could be a pragmatic model of the future relations not only between Turkey and the EU but between EU and e.g West Balkans too.
Ari, thank you for the clarification.
I think similarly about the prospects of Western Balkans relationship with the EU.
Glad to know about what is really happening in Serbia. To be honest, I am surprised and happy to see improvements
Thanks, Andrea. There is a lot of work still to be done, in all of these spheres, but it is good to know that there is a noticeable progress
I agree with you!