FAOLEX Database

Serbia - Aqualex Profiles

Framework Law

The main law applicable to water resources management, which covers all of the following areas: administration; management, conservation and use of freshwater resources; water rights; waterworks; water supply
Water Law.
Date of text: 07 May 2010

Constitutional provisions

Constitution of the Republic of Serbia.
Date of text: 30 November 2006

Right to water: No Right to Water related provisions.

Natural resources: Natural resources-State assets-article 87: Natural resources, goods which are stipulated by the Law as goods of public interest and assets used by the bodies of the Republic of Serbia shall be the state assets. Natural resources shall be utilized under the terms and in a manner stipulated by the Law. Foreigners may obtain a concession right for natural resources and goods, as well as other rights stipulated by the Law (Art. 85) Article 183: Autonomous provinces shall, in accordance with the Law, regulate the matters of provincial interest in agriculture, water economy, forestry, hunting, fishery.

Agriculture

Water used for irrigation, forestry and aquaculture
Regulation determining melioration areas and their boundaries.
Date of text: 09 November 2018
Regulation on the conditions in terms of technical-technological equipment and organizational and staff capacity when performing tasks in the field of water management, as well as on the method of keeping records on issued and revoked licenses.
Date of text: 21 March 2012
Law on Agricultural Land.
Date of text: 05 April 2020

Water Supply and Sanitation

Provision of water services by public utilities or commercial organizations; water supply for domestic, industrial or other purposes; right to safe and clean drinking water and basic sanitation; quality of piped water; sewerage
Law amending the Water Law.
Date of text: 07 December 2018
Law amending the Water Law.
Date of text: 16 December 2016
Law on the Ratification of the Loan and Financing Agreement between KfW, Frankfurt am Main and the Republic of Serbia, amounting to 25,000,000 euros for the "Water and Sewerage Programme in Medium-Sized Municipalities in Serbia phase II”.
Date of text: 30 September 2011

Governance

The political, social, economic and administrative systems that govern water management and conservation; good practices; good governance; decentralization; water user’s associations
Regulation on the establishment of the National Conference for water.
Date of text: 21 July 2011

Infrastructure

Waterworks; water supply systems; dams; hydropower systems; irrigation systems
Law amending the Water Law.
Date of text: 07 December 2018
Law amending the Law on the navigation and inland waterways.
Date of text: 10 November 2016
Regulation on the content and management of water facilities cadastre.
Date of text: 05 May 2011

Water Resources Management and Water Rights

Ownership and control of water resources; abstraction and diversion of water; allocation and quotas; riparian rights; priority of rights; free water use
Law amending the Water Law.
Date of text: 07 December 2018
Law amending the Water Law.
Date of text: 16 December 2016
River basin management plan for the Danube river basin in Serbia.
Date of text: 05 April 2020

Water and Environment

Water in environmentally-sensitive areas; ‘water demand’ by ecosystems; protection forests; water conservation zones; environmental impact assessment
River basin management plan for the Danube river basin in Serbia.
Date of text: 05 April 2020
Regulation determining water units and their boundaries.
Date of text: 17 January 2018
Regulation determining water area boundaries.
Date of text: 12 October 2017

Water Quality and Pollution Control

Control of pollution and quality of freshwater bodies and groundwater; agricultural point and non-point sources of pollution; water quality standards
River basin management plan for the Danube river basin in Serbia.
Date of text: 05 April 2020
Regulation determining the cases in which water permit is required.
Date of text: 24 March 2017
Regulation on water fees for 2016.
Date of text: 01 February 2016

Groundwater

Freshwater resources located below the surface of the earth; aquifers; groundwater abstraction; well-sinking; boreholes; hydrogeology
Water regulatory Law.
Date of text: 05 April 1998
River basin management plan for the Danube river basin in Serbia.
Date of text: 05 April 2020
Regulation on contents of the special water management plan.
Date of text: 17 January 2017

Disaster Resilience

Water-related hazards; flood; drought; water shortage; adaptation to climate change; early warning system/emergency intervention system
Law on Meteorological and Hydrological Activity.
Date of text: 05 April 2020
River basin management plan for the Danube river basin in Serbia.
Date of text: 05 April 2020
Regulation on the adoption of the operational plan for flood control (2016).
Date of text: 19 January 2016

Transboundary Waters

Transboundary effects; international basin institutions; international agreements; transboundary coordination; transboundary aquifers
Law on the ratification of the Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Serbia and the Organization for Education, Science and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in connection with the establishment of Water Centre for sustainable development and adaptation to climate change.
Date of text: 08 September 2014
Law on the confirmation of the Convention on the protection and use of transboundary watercourses and international lakes.
Date of text: 05 April 2020
Cooperation Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Turkey and the Government of Republic of Serbia in the field of water.
Date of text: 10 October 2017

Policies

Sustainable urban development Strategy of the Republic of Serbia until 2030.
Date of text: 13 June 2019
Water management strategy of the territory of the Republic of Serbia until 2034.
Date of text: 18 January 2017
Republic of Serbia Intended Nationally Determined Contribution (INDC).
Date of text: 30 June 2015
River basin management plan for the Danube river basin in Serbia.
Date of text: 05 April 2020
National sustainable development strategy of the Republic of Serbia.
Date of text: 05 April 2020

Main basins

No basins available