Law on National Councils of National Minorities
Law 72/2009, with Constitutional Court decision 20/2014 and amendments 55/2014 and 47/2018, regulates national councils. They exercise minority self-government in culture, education, information and official-language use.
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Minority self-government and elections
The National Councils of National Minorities Act governs minority self government institutions in culture, education, information and official language and script use. It covers council elections, organisation, funding and supervision of legality. The applicable text includes Official Gazette RS 72/2009, 20/2014 (Constitutional Court decision), 55/2014 and 47/2018. Powers therefore cannot be copied solely from the original 2009 text.
Members of one national minority may elect one national council. Councils exercise public powers conferred by law in the specified fields; they are neither territorial governments nor general authorities for every community need. Legal personality arises through registration with the ministry responsible for human and minority rights. Article 4 provides a 30 day period for deciding a complete registration application; the final decision may be challenged in administrative court proceedings.
Electoral participation requires attention to the minority's separate electoral roll. Under Article 47, entry is made solely upon personal request. Registration on the general electoral roll does not replace this check. Minority members should verify their entries and the rules of the particular election, including whether election is direct or through an electoral assembly.
If a local authority refuses entry onto, or removal from, the separate roll, Article 56 provides an appeal to the ministry. It decides within 15 days, and its final decision may be challenged in administrative proceedings. This route differs from election objections and complaints about a council's ordinary work.
For example, parents seeking support for minority language education can identify which specific council power corresponds to their request. A council's response does not replace a decision by the competent education authority. An association seeking support for a cultural programme separately checks funding conditions; community membership is not an automatic entitlement to funds.
The 47/2018 amendment's transitional rules concerning alignment after the next elections and financing from the 2019 budget refer to that historical transition.
This explanation is informational; translations are editorial, not official. Check current election guidance, council powers and the remedy available in the particular procedure.
What is this for?
Explains elections, organisation and the councils’ limited public powers.
Who can use it?
Minority members with relevant electoral standing and council members.
When should it be used?
For the special electoral roll, elections or cultural self-government matters.