At the initiative of the National Movement of Serbia, representatives opposition of the parliamentary parties sent a letter to the International Bureau for Exhibitions, as a credible and established international organization, in which they request the cancellation of the specialized exhibition Exspo in Belgrade.
The representatives of the parliamentary opposition pointed out that a high-quality and non-corrupt implementation of the specialized exhibition, in accordance with the rules of the International Bureau of Exhibitions and international conventions, would be good for Serbia, but they are worried about the fact that the current government wants to abuse the exhibition for corruption and the execution of projects outside of international conventions and domestic laws and procedures, which would directly harm the reputation of the country and its citizens, as well as the reputation of the International Bureau of Exhibitions.
It is emphasized that the construction of the Expo complex encountered serious challenges, so the state decided to resort to additional removal of the regulatory framework, which creates serious possible risks for the safety and health of the participants.
The exact value of the project is not known
In addition, it is added, that program was never officially discussed in the Serbian Parliament, but serves the current government as a media platform for the presentation of projects that they plan to implement under the auspices of a specialized exhibition, while at the same time the citizens never found out the exact value of the project, because in the media those figures range from one to 18 billion euros.
It is recalled that the Law on Special Procedures for the Implementation of the Expo Project was adopted in 2023, and the Government of Serbia then proposed it together with the budget for 2024 and numerous other regulations, which significantly reduced the chances of it being adequately considered in the parliament.
The Ministry of Finance did not organize a public debate on the draft of this law, although it was mandatory, and the Assembly decided to combine the debate on that law with numerous other unrelated issues, while there was no discussion on the submitted amendments to the bill.
On the basis of this Law, the works will be contracted without applying the Law on Public Procurement, and this creates a great risk that costs will be higher than they would be in conditions of full competition, which is the current practice of the government, the opposition stated.
An exhibition under these conditions would damage the reputation of the Expo
The letter states that the conduct and implementation of the exhibition under these conditions would permanently damage the reputation of Expo exhibitions and BIE, because the implementation of infrastructural and other projects that have no direct connection with it is planned under the Expo, nor are they implemented on the area of 25 hectares intended for the implementation of the specialized exhibition, with a high probability of corrupt actions and a complete absence of fair competition.
In addition, bearing in mind the recent fall of the canopy in Novi Sad and the way in which projects are carried out in Serbia, it is obvious that the current political decision-makers cannot guarantee the safety of the participants and visitors of the Expo exhibition, especially with the new amendments to the law, which further reduce the obligations of construction supervision of the buildings being built, the opposition warned.
In the letter, signed by members of the parliamentary groups: People's Movement of Serbia - New Face of Serbia, Party of Freedom and Justice, Green-Left Front - Ne davimo Belgrade, Serbia Center, Movement of Free Citizens (PSG) - Party of Democratic Action Sandžak (SDA) - Party for Democratic Action (PDD) and Ecological Uprising, the International Bureau of Exhibitions is invited to consider the allegations, ensure that it acts in accordance with its rules and international conventions, deny permits and cancel the holding of a specialized exhibition in Belgrade.
Source: FoNet
