Minister of Finance Novica Vuković in December Last year, he withdrew the public competition for the appointment of the Director of the Customs Administration, explaining that "the need for the immediate filling of the previously mentioned position has ceased", despite the fact that the institution is still in an acting state.
"Vijesti" has insight into Vuković's decision, which does not explain in detail why the need to fill this position has ceased.
This vacancy was announced by the Human Resources Administration on November 22nd at the request of Vuković's department.
Apart from the Customs Administration, the Tax Administration also has no director.
More than a year ago, at the end of 2023, the Government and the relevant Ministry of Finance made a decision to separate the single Revenue and Customs Administration into two separate institutions - the Tax Administration and the Customs Administration, which continue to function in an acting capacity because their directors have not been elected.
The Ministry of Finance does not answer questions from "Vijesti" about the reasons why directors have not been appointed, when the vacancies will be announced, and what are the reasons why the vacancy notice for the director of the Customs Administration was withdrawn.
The questions were sent out twice, in November last year and this week.
From the Customs Administration, headed by the Acting Director Maja Vučinić They instructed the editorial staff to contact the Ministry of Finance and the Human Resources Department for answers regarding the election of the director.
Vučinić was appointed acting director in July last year, and her mandate was extended after six months in January this year. According to unofficial information from the Customs Administration, a large number of personnel in important positions (customs managers and heads of customs offices, as well as heads and managers in the customs security service) who are close to former directors from the DPS have been returned to the administration.
Sava Laketic was appointed Acting Director of the Tax Administration in March last year, from which they announced to "Vijesti" that he would apply for the vacancy, which they expect to be open by the end of February, when his second term as Acting Director expires.
"Definitely one of the biggest problems of the Tax Administration is human resources. Strengthening the Administration in terms of human capacities is one of the key priorities. The previous two personnel plans were not implemented at all, and new recruitment for this year only started in November. The age structure is such that a large number of colleagues will retire in the coming period. In cooperation with the World Bank, we are conducting a so-called "skills gap" analysis, i.e. an analysis of the gap between the skills we currently have in the Tax Administration and those we need for the coming period, especially after the introduction of the integrated revenue management system, so that most activities will be focused on strengthening human capacities, strengthening IT systems, so that in about 3-5 years we will have a completely modernized Tax Administration," said the Tax Administration.
"The mandate of the current acting director lasts until the end of February, so we expect that the vacancy will be announced by then, and the current acting director intends to apply for it," said the Public Administration, which is led by acting director Sava Laketić.
As they stated, although stability in a management position is very important, at the moment this issue should not in any way burden the work of the Tax Administration or other organs of the system, therefore, the priority is to advertise for job positions that will enable the smooth functioning of the work process in the Tax Administration.
"The mandate of the current acting director lasts until the end of February, so we expect that the vacancy will be announced by then, and the current acting director intends to apply for it," said the Police Administration.
The government in April 2021, when the current Prime Minister Milojko Spajic was the Minister of Finance, merged these two administrations.
"In order to implement the revenue policy more efficiently, the proposed amendments merge the competencies of the previous Revenue Administration and the Customs Administration. It was assessed that the newly established Revenue and Customs Administration will implement tax and customs policy more effectively. Among the advantages of this amendment, the following are particularly emphasized: fiscal effect (20 percent lower costs), synergistic effect - one control unit for tax obligations, games of chance and customs, and increased efficiency in detecting customs and tax violations. Also, the new organizational model will make it much easier and more efficient to collect excise duties and taxes that many products have at once, and for products that have input VAT paid at customs, but also sales VAT in the tax office, clearer lines of responsibility for action will be established," the Government announced at the time.
The merger of the two administrations was based, among other things, on the model of Slovenia, which merged the administrations into one for more efficient functioning.
The re-separation of the Revenue and Customs Administration meant a reduction in the full mandate of the then director. Vladimir Bulajić who came to that position at the proposal of the Minister of Finance in the 43rd Government Aleksandar Damjanović after the competition was held.
Since the merger of the two administrations into one, several acting directors of this institution have been changed.
At the suggestion of the then Minister Spajić, the first acting director of UPC was Aleksandar Damjanović.
Spajić does not extend Damjanović's mandate, but rather dismisses him and appoints an acting president in his place. Milena PetričevićSoon, a conflict arose between Minister Spajić and the director, and the "gourd" definitely broke when Petričević did not issue a decision stating the termination of the concession for the "Jackpot" casino.
Then Spajić appoints Rada Milosevic for director for a full term after a competitive examination, who was arrested shortly afterwards and resigned, after which Bulajić was appointed acting director until a competitive examination was conducted where he was elected for a full term.
Six candidates applied for the competition
The Human Resources Department provided "Vijesti" with details regarding the competition for the director of the Customs Administration, which was announced in November last year.
"Acting on the decision of the Ministry of Finance to initiate the procedure for filling the position, the Human Resources Administration, on 22.11.2024. announced a public competition No. 02-100/24-3392/3 for the needs of the Customs Administration, for the position of Director. The deadline for submitting applications for the public competition is 20 days from the date of publication of the competition, in this case until 12.12.2024. ", said the Human Resources Administration.
By the expiration of the stated deadline for applying for a public competition, the Ministry of Finance, as they stated, pursuant to Article 43 of the Law on Civil Servants and State Employees and Article 4 of the Rulebook on the content, withdrawal and correction of advertisements for filling a position in a state body and the manner of inspecting the advertisement documentation, on 11.12.2024 December XNUMX adopted a Decision on the withdrawal of the public competition in question, of which the Human Resources Administration informed the six candidates who applied.
"It should be noted that Article 43 of the Law stipulates that if an advertisement or competition cannot be implemented due to changes in regulations, changes in the act on internal organization and systematization, or other circumstances that occurred after its publication, the head of the state body shall, by the expiration of the deadline for applying for candidates, withdraw the advertisement or competition and suspend the procedure for filling the position," the Directorate explained.
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