Opposition sends request to International Bureau of Exhibitions to cancel Expo 2027

Representatives of the opposition parliamentary parties in Serbia, on the initiative of the National Movement of Serbia (Narodni pokret Srbije – NPS), sent a letter to the International Bureau of Exhibitions (Bureau International des Expositions – BIE) with the request that that organization cancel the holding of the specialized international exhibition Expo in 2027 in Belgrade.

NPS said in a statement that the opposition had stated in the letter that “a high-quality and non-corrupt implementation of the specialized exhibition, in accordance with the rules of the International Bureau and international conventions, would be good for Serbia,” but that it was worried because “the government wants to misuse the exhibition itself for corruption and the execution of projects in violation of international conventions and the laws and procedures of Serbia, which would directly harm the reputation of Serbia and its citizens, as well as the reputation of the International Bureau of Exhibitions.”

They stated that the construction of the Expo 2027 complex had encountered serious challenges, so the state, as they claim, “decided to resort to further removal of the regulatory framework, which creates serious potential risks for the safety and health of participants.”

– Also, the aforementioned 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 learned what the value of the project is, because in the media the figures range from one to 18 billion euros – the letter says.

The law on special procedures for the implementation of the “Expo” project, adds the parliamentary opposition, was adopted in 2023, and the Government of Serbia then proposed it together with the budget for 2024 and 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, even though it was mandatory. The Assembly decided to combine the debate on this law with numerous other unrelated issues. In the end, there was no discussion at all about the submitted amendments to the proposal of this law – the announcement reads.

Based on that Law, according to the opposition parties, the works will be contracted without applying the Law on Public Procurement, which creates “a big risk that the costs will be higher than they would be in conditions of full competition, which is the current practice of the authorities.”

The letter states that the conduct and implementation of the exhibition under such conditions would “permanently damage the reputation of the Expo exhibitions and the Bureau,” because “under the mask of Expo, the implementation of infrastructural and other projects that have no direct connection with the Expo is planned.”

They added that those projects were not being implemented on the 25-hectare area planned for the implementation of the specialized exhibition, “with a high probability of corrupt actions and a complete absence of fair competition.”

– Also, bearing in mind the recent events, the 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 itself, especially with the new changes in the law which further reduce the obligations of construction supervision of the buildings being raised – the opposition stated.

The letter appeals to the International Bureau for Exhibitions to consider the allegations, ensure that they act in accordance with their rules and international conventions, deny permits and cancel the holding of the specialized exhibition in Belgrade.

The statement was signed by members of parliament groups: Narodni pokret Srbije - Novo lice Srbije, Stranka slobode i pravde, Zeleno-levi front - Ne davimo Beograd, Srbija centar SRCE, Pokret slobodnih gradjana (PSG) - Stranka demokratske akcije Sandzaka (SDA) - Partija za demokratsko delovanje (PDD) and Ekoloski ustanak.

The Committee on Finance, State Budget and Control of Public Spending of the National Assembly of Serbia removed from the agenda the criticized Bill on Amendments to the Law on Special Procedures for the Realization of the International Specialized Exhibition Expo 2027. The bill is not on the agenda of the Assembly session scheduled for Tuesday, but it has not been withdrawn from the parliamentary procedure.

Narodna skupština Republike Srbije

National Assembly of Serbia

Narodni pokret Srbije

Novo lice Srbije

Stranka slobode i pravde

Zeleno levi front

Ne davimo Beograd

Srbija centar SRCE

Pokret slobodnih građana

Stranka demokratske akcije Sandžaka

International Bureau of Exhibitions

Bureau International des Expositions

Partija za demokratsko delovanje

Ekološki ustanak

Expo 2027

cancellation of Expo 2027

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Law on Special Procedures for the Realization of the International Specialized Exhibition Expo 2027

Law on Public Procurement