Serbian Law on Associations Enacted

The European Center for Not-for-Profit Law reports that on July 8, the Serbian Parliament approved the Law on Associations.  The Parliament’s decision marked the culmination of long efforts to bring the legal framework for associations in Serbia closer to international standards and regional best practices. 

The Law requires only three natural or legal persons to establish an association, permits informal associations to operate, and sets out rules governing the establishment of branch offices of foreign associations operating in Serbia.  Currently, those branch offices operate in a legal vacuum.  The Law envisages the Agency for Registration of Commercial Companies as a registration body for associations.  This novel approach gives rise to a number of issues, including the Agency’s non-exposure to international standards pertinent to freedom of association.

SS