Implementation of strategic environmental assessment in Serbia: Case of spatial plan of Kolubara lignite basin

Although considered as an important tool for environmental evaluation of plans and programmes, inclusion of strategic environmental assessment (SEA) in Serbian legislation was inevitable as a part of the accession process to the European Union. The first part of this paper will focus on presentation of the SEA system in Serbia and its implication as the result of current geopolitical and environmental trends. Taking into consideration the economic importance of the mining regions, but also the damage to the surrounding environment, in the second part of this paper the authors will try to review the significance of SEA implementation in spatial planning of Kolubara lignite basin

Comparative assessment of development risks in lignite basins of Danube region in Serbia

The paper identifies the global factors of development risks in the lignite basins of the Danube region in Serbia, whose effects are enhanced due to the global economic crisis. Paper presents comparative assessment of development risks in the Kolubara and Kostolac lignite basins, by application of the comprehensive development framework approach, SSIA (Strategic Spatial Impact Assessment) and Spyder method. Increasing risks and dynamics of market and regulatory changes (especially acceptance of the Kyoto Protocol and other mechanisms), as well as the renewal of interest in the recovery of coal sector indicates an increasing pressure on the transformation of the mining and thermo-energy sector: structural, property-management, socio-economic, technical, institutional, environmental and territorial aspects. Paper argues that management of development risks in basins has an essential role in increasing competitiveness and sustainable development of the Danube region in Serbia

Development of new economic districts in Belgrade metropolitan area

Paper discusses new economic districts and spatial structures of the economic activities in metropolitan areas influenced by transitional processes and globalisation. It indicates the impacts of new economic trends and economic districts on creation of metropolitan areas' spatial organisation. Paper shows mechanisms of the agglomeration of new economic poles and spatial-economic clusters in metropolitan areas. These mechanisms have consequences on economic and spatial changes, on changes of urban, regional and social structures, on environmental degradation, etc. New economic zones in metropolitan areas are result of market pressures, the increase of economic competitiveness and influences of foreign and domestic companies on the territorial capital of those areas and their urban/ spatial structures. There are indications of possible development impacts on creation of new economic districts with the preliminary analyses of Belgrade metropolitan area. Paper concludes that new economic districts - new industrial, commercial, entrepreneurial zones that developed systematically or spontaneously in the suburban areas (along highways) of Belgrade metropolitan area, have a major role in spatial development of economic activities and in the planning of territorial organization of this area

A historical prolegomenon of the legal framework and urban land policy in serbia as a basis for urban development

The key objective of this paper is to provide an overview of the historical context and development of construction land and its relations to urban development in Serbia. The paper discusses global developmental contexts, legal frameworks and changes of the Serbian urban land policy from the end of the 19th century until today. We emphasize the delay of reforms in Serbian urban land policy as a consequence of the complexities of legal framework, especially under the conditions of the economic and societal transformation (after 2000). The paper presents the original results of the historical changes of the legal system in the field of urban land policy and its connection with the system of spatial/urban planning. Also, we provide recommendations for the future urban land policy, which include further transformations of the legal framework in the post-socialist/transitional period. There is a long lasting need for readjusting the current planning and urban land policy in Serbia, as well as for introducing new urban land policy tools

Comparative risk analysis of development of the lignite basins in Serbian part of the Danube region

The paper gives an overview of the global business risks and risks in the mining development in the Kolubara and Kostolac lignite basins in the area of the Danube river in Serbia. An identification of main risks is undertaken by application of a comprehensive development framework approach, comparative analysis and Spider method. Risks in the development of mining are emphasized by global economic and financial crisis, as well as by the adoption of Kyoto Protocol regulations and mechanisms. The paper shows that the consideration and elimination of risk factors is important for the increase of competitiveness and energy efficiency in the lignite basins as an integral part of the efforts for achieving the sustainable development in the Serbian part of the Danube region

Managing spatial development in zones undergoing major structural changes

Paper considers different aspects of spatial development management in the zones characterized by significant spatial interventions, whose consequences are structural changes in usage of space, social and economic development, environmental and ambient quality. Those are, above all, big mining regions, zones of big water accumulations and main infrastructure corridors. Paper deals with normative, institutional and organizational assumptions for managing spatial development, planning approaches, construction and spatial arrangement, searching and structuring data basis and development of information system, system of indicators and monitoring system. Special attention is given to balance and synchronization of activities during compilation of study, planning and technical documentation, as well as procedures of considering and enacting appropriate decisions by competent authorities on national, regional and local level

Post-socialist Transition and Spatial Development of Serbia

During the post-socialist transition Serbia was isolated from the mainstream trends of European integration and convergence. Its comparative advantages and competitiveness have worsened in two key aspects - in its structural qualities and in its territorial capital. The economic recovery from 2000 onwards has the form of "growth without development". Serbia has unsustainable spatial development patterns. Now, the country has found itself in the position of an economic, ecological and financial semi-colony of few powerful international political, economic and financial actors. There are shown some basic elements of the prospective future through the use the scenario approach

Post-socialist transition and empirical evaluation of the future spatial development of Serbia

Due to different political and economic factors during its post-socialist transition Serbia has been isolated from the mainstream trends of European integration and convergence. The country's comparative advantages and competitiveness have worsened in two key aspects - in its structural qualities and in its territorial capital. The economic recovery after the changes in 2000 onwards has the form of "growth without development", while the spatial development patterns have appeared to be rather unsustainable. Today, Serbia has found itself in the position of an economic, ecological and financial semi-colony of few powerful international political, economic and financial actors. In the last part, we will present results of an empiric evaluation of the three scenarios for spatial development of Serbia until 2020 based on comparative analysis of 29 indicators by applying the Spider method

The population conundrums and some implications for urban development in Serbia

Population development may reveal either a potential or constraint on functional labour markets and spatial development of the territory in concern. The first results of the 2011 Census in Serbia depict a rather bleak demographic situation, which is only the continuation of population trends from the late 20th and beginning of the 21st century, substantially fuelled by dynamic political and socioeconomic processes featuring Serbia in the past few decades. The focus is on demographic changes in relation to three correlated aspects: 1) intensive ageing process; 2) depopulation and negative natural growth; and 3) migratory movements - population exodus. This paper addresses in particular the spatial consequences and institutional aspects of recent demographic changes and their reflection on urban areas in Serbia. In the past, population movements from rural to urban areas used to colour much of the migratory balance map of the country, however this situation changed due to exhaustion of the ‘traditional’ demographic reservoirs. Still, urban primacy of the capital city Belgrade has been even intensified with the recent demographic movements, or more precisely, a tissue of the two largest cities in relative proximity - Belgrade and Novi Sad is hypertrophied in a demographic sense. Other urban settlements in Serbia, especially the smaller towns, which are numerous but demographically shrinking, have not been empowered enough to substantiate better links with smaller and larger settlements within urban-rural interface, and their role has been challenged in that respect. Demographic changes, which affect urban growth or decline, are largely to do with border effects, economic and social gaps, educational opportunities, and search of certain ‘urban lifestyles’. The latter is particularly stressed regarding the process of ‘second demographic transition’ which encompassed Serbia and is manifested by changes in the family domain, viz. partnership and parenthood, as well as by plurality of lifestyles, namely for the younger and middle-age generations (20-34 years - dominantly the people in reproductive age) who are able to exercise their residential choices towards bigger urban centres. Finally, this paper addresses the demographic determinants of languishing population growth in Serbia coupled with highly uneven territorial distributions of population and level of development, which in the last decade marks the ratio of 10:1 (measured by GDP/inh.) between the most developed and the least developed regions in Serbia