NEWS

Year 2023

• December 8, 2023
  
  ELECTRONIC DATA EXCHANGE REPUBLIC OF SERBIA/REPUBLIC OF AUSTRIA – MEETING
  
  In the period from December 5 to 7, 2023, a meeting was held in Belgrade, between the Institute for Social Insurance, the Republic Fund for Pension and Disability Insurance and the Institute for Pension Insurance of Austria (Pensionversicherunganstalt - PVA), in connection with the implementation of the Agreement between the Republic of Serbia and the Republic of Austria on Social Security.
  
  At the meeting, issues of cooperation between the pension insurance institutions of Serbia and Austria in connection with the realization and use of rights from pension and disability insurance, were discussed, and in particular the possibility of establishing an electronic exchange of data on the fact of death and the amount of pensions between the competent institutions of the two countries in the field of pension and disability insurance. Concrete activities that need to be undertaken in order to conclude an agreement on electronic data exchange with the aim of preventing unjustified payment of benefits after the death of the beneficiary of rights, reducing administrative costs and improving cooperation were also agreed upon.
  
• November 24, 2023
  
  ENTRY INTO FORCE OF THE SOCIAL SECURITY AGREEMENT BETWEEN SERBIA AND FRANCE
  
  After mutual ratification, on December 1, 2023, the Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Serbia and the Government of the Republic of France on social security, which was signed in Belgrade on November 6, 2014, and published in the "Official Gazette of the RS - International Agreements", will enter into force.
  
  The agreement covers the area of health insurance, health care, pension and disability insurance, insurance for work injuries and occupational diseases, and allowance for children.
  
  Simultaneously with the Agreement, the Administrative Agreement for the implementation of the Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Serbia and the Government of the Republic of France on social security entered into force.
  
  With the entry into force of this Agreement, the General Convention on Social Security between Yugoslavia and France, which was signed on January 5, 1950, is no longer valid.
  
• November 20, 2023
  
  AGREEMENT ON ELECTRONIC DATA EXCHANGE, SERBIA-FEDERATION OF BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA
  
  To effectively implement the Agreement between the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and Bosnia and Herzegovina on Social Insurance and the Administrative Agreement for the application of the Agreement between the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and Bosnia and Herzegovina on Social Insurance, the Republic Fund for Pension and Disability Insurance and the Federal Institute for Pension and Disability Insurance concluded on November 17, 2023, at the Directorate of the Republic Fund for Pension and Disability Insurance in Belgrade, the Agreement on electronic data exchange in the field of pension and disability insurance and the accompanying document, Technical Protocol on Electronic Data Exchange. The Agreement was signed by the director of the Republic Fund for Pension and Disability Insurance Relja Ognjenović and the acting director of the Federal Institute for Pension and Disability Insurance Halil Subašić.
  
  This agreement regulates the electronic exchange of data in the field of pension and disability insurance of importance for the Implementation of the Agreement from 2003, especially the method of exchange, the volume, and type of data exchanged, data management, the method of data collection, the method of data protection, as well as the responsibility for violation of the provisions of this agreement. The purpose of the signed documents is to reduce administrative costs, prevent unjustified payments of pensions and other benefits in the field of pension and disability insurance, as well as control data that is the subject of exchange.
  
• November 14, 2023
  
  INTERNATIONAL CONSULTING DAYS, SERBIA-CROATIA
  
  International Consulting Days between the Republic Fund for Pension and Disability Insurance and the Croatian Pension Insurance Institute will be held on November 28, 2023, in Sremska Mitrovica and on November 29, 2023, in Belgrade. On that occasion, the experts of the pension insurance institutions of both countries, in direct contact and discussion, will provide appropriate expert assistance and advice to interested persons regarding the exercise of rights from pension and disability insurance, based on the work and periods of insurance completed in the Republic of Serbia and the Republic of Croatia.
  
  Persons interested in coming to the consulting days in Sremska Mitrovica and Belgrade should register their arrival following the instructions given in the poster attached.
  
  Poster, Belgrade/Sremska Mitrovica
  
• November 13, 2023
  
  MEETING BETWEEN THE LIAISON BODY OF THE REPUBLIC OF SERBIA AND THE LIAISON BODY OF HUNGARY IN THE FIELD OF PENSION INSURANCE
  
  On November 8 and 9, 2023, in Budapest, a meeting between the liaison body of the Republic of Serbia and the liaison body of Hungary was held regarding the implementation of the Agreement between the Republic of Serbia and Hungary on Social Security, in the field of pension insurance.
  
  At the meeting, issues regarding the implementation of the agreement on social security related to the confirmation of the insurance periods in cases of overlapping and pension payments were discussed, and on that occasion, agreements were reached that should contribute to more effective implementation of the Agreement and faster and easier realization of rights from pension and disability insurance for insured persons and beneficiaries of rights from both Contracting State.
  
  During the two-day meeting, information about the changes in legislation in the area of pension insurance in both Contracting States, as well as the information regarding the newly concluded international agreements in the field of social security, were exchanged.
  
• October 24, 2023
  
  INTERNATIONAL SOCIAL DATA EXCHANGE CONFERENCE
  
  In Bonn, on October 16 and 17, 2023, in the organization of the German Post (Deutsche Post) with the support of the German Pension Insurance (Deutsche Rentenversicherung) and the Federal Ministry of Labor and Social Policy of Germany (Bundesministerium fur arbeit und soziales), the International conference on data exchange in the field of social insurance was held.
  
  The conference was attended by experts from more than 30 pension and social insurance institutions from Germany, Austria, Switzerland, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Spain, as well as representatives of the European Commission and the International Social Security Association (ISSA). Various topics were discussed, such as: Social security in Europe - Interoperability, Worldwide – Digital - Automated Monitoring of the payment requirements for pension benefits (overview by country), Remote data transmission sPAD, Digitalization in social security (Estonian experience), Overpayment after death - weaknesses in the Execution in the recovery procedure, Death data comparison – Success model, as well as the Challenges of cross-border data exchange experiance of the Czech Social Security Administration.
  
  The delegation of the Republic of Serbia at the conference was consisted of representatives of the Institute for Social Insurance and representatives of the Republic Fund for Pension and Disability Insurance.
  
• October 23, 2023
  
  MEETING WITH THE LIAISON BODIE OF THE REPUBLIC OF FRANCE - Center for European and International Social Security Relations (CLEISS)
  
  On October 19th and 20th, 2023, in Paris meeting between the Liaison Body of the Republic of Serbia and the Liaison Body of the Republic of France in the field of social security was held. At the meeting, the content of bilingual forms in the field of health insurance, pension and disability insurance, injuries at work and occupational diseases and family allowances was agreed upon, which created the necessary conditions for the implementation of the new Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Serbia and the Government of the Republic of France on social security and the Administrative agreement for the implementation of the Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Serbia and the Government of the Republic of France on social security, which will enter into force on December 1st, 2023.
  
  The new Agreement will replace the Convention on Social Insurance between Yugoslavia and France, which has been in force since 1951, and will enable the persons to whom it applies to exercise their rights more quickly and easily.
  
  From December 1st, 2023, insured persons of the Republic of Serbia will be able to use the right to emergency health care during a temporary (tourist) stay on the territory of the Republic of France.
  
• October 20, NEGOTIATIONS FOR THE CONCLUSION OF AN AGREEMENT ON SOCIAL SECURITY WITH ALBANIA
  
  In Belgrade, in the period from October 17th to 19th, 2023, the first round of negotiations between the competent authorities of the Republic of Serbia and the Republic of Albania for the conclusion of the Agreement between the Republic of Serbia and the Republic of Albania on social security was held. At the meeting, the two delegations exchanged detailed information on the mandatory social insurance systems, which, after entry into force, will include the areas of health insurance, health care and maternity, pension and disability insurance and insurance for work injuries and occupational diseases.
  
  The two delegations agreed on provisions related to the basic principles of the future agreement, equal treatment of insured persons and beneficiaries of rights, avoidance of overlapping periods of insurance, transfer of benefits, special provisions related to exceptions in its application (detachment), as well as exercise of rights in the field of health insurance and pension and disability insurance.
  
  The continuation of negotiations is planned during 2024.
  By concluding the Agreement on Social Security with Albania, i.e. upon its entry into force, it will be possible to use health care in the other Contracting State during a temporary stay or residence, exercising the right to a pension by adding up the insurance periods that have been completed in both Contracting States, as well as obtaining and other rights and benefits from social security.
  
• September 25, 2023
  
  13TH MEETING OF DIRECTORS OF THE FUNDS/ INSTITUTIONS FOR PENSION AND DISABILITY INSURANCE OF THE STATES OF THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA HELD
  
  In Bečići, Montenegro, from 21th to 22th of September, 2023, the 13th meeting of directors of funds/institutions for pension and disability insurance of countries created on the territory of the former SFRY was held, with the participation of representatives of the funds of Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina - the Federation BiH and Republika Srpska, Serbia, North Macedonia and Montenegro. The meeting was hosted by the Fund for Pension and Disability Insurance of Montenegro. Representatives of the Institute for Pension Insurance of Austria also attended the meetings as guests.
  
  At the 13th meeting, information on changes in state legislation since previous meeting was exchanged, as well as information on statistical data in the field of pension and disability insurance, and also, the question related to the procedure for recalculating pensions and collecting claims arising from compensation claims was discussed. The special topic of this year's meeting was "The second pillar of the pension system - advantages and disadvantages".
  
  Representatives of the Institute for Social Insurance and the Republic Fund for Pension and Disability Insurance attended the meetings on behalf of the institutions of the Republic of Serbia.
  
• September 12, 2023
  
  INTERNATIONAL CONSULTING DAYS, SERBIA- GERMANY
  
  International consulting days between the Republic Fund for Pension and Disability Insurance and the German pension competent institution (Deutsche Rentenversicherung), will be held on September 26, 2023, in Novi Sad, and on 27 and 28 September 2023. in Belgrade. On that occasion, the experts of the pension insurance institutions of both countries, in direct contact and discussion, will provide free legal assistance to persons who exercise their rights from pension and disability insurance through the implementation of the Agreement between the SFR Yugoslavia and the Federal Republic of Germany on social security.
  
  Professional assistance is free and, before the pandemic caused by the virus Covid 19, it was organized every year in Germany in March and in Serbia in September, in different cities, to inform interested persons about the conditions for exercising the rights from pension insurance, about the amount and payment of benefits, about the completed periods of insurance, about the status of the claims they submitted, as well as about other issues in this area.
  
  All interested persons must report their arrival on the consulting days in Novi Sad, i.e. Belgrade, and make an appointment following the instructions listed in the attached poster.
  
  Plakat
  
• June 30, 2023
  
  MEETING BETWEEN THE LIAISON BODIES OF THE REPUBLIC OF SERBIA AND THE REPUBLIC OF AUSTRIA - ELECTRONIC DATA EXCHANGE IN THE FIELD OF SOCIAL INSURANCE (EDAS PROJECT)
  
  In Belgrade, in the period from June 27th to 29th, 2023, several meetings of representatives of liaison bodies and competent social security holders of the Republic of Serbia and the Republic of Austria were held, at which issues related to the establishment of electronic data exchange in the field of social security between competent institutions of the two countries.
  
  Meetings of the Steering Group of the EDAS (Electronic Data Exchange Austria Serbia) project were held, as well as meetings of individual working groups - the Working Group for Law, the Working Group for Information Technologies, and the Working Group for Cost Reimbursement. The meeting of the Steering Group was attended by all the coordinators of the working groups from the Serbian and Austrian sides. Numerous issues related to electronic data exchange were discussed and further steps and activities to be undertaken during 2023 and 2024 were agreed upon. It was also agreed to begin the implementation of two pilot projects in the field of health insurance.
  
  The meetings were attended from the Serbian side by representatives of the Institute for Social Insurance, the Republic Fund for Health Insurance, the Republic Fund for Pension and Disability Insurance, and the Social Insurance Fund for Military Personnel (SOVO), and from the Austrian side by representatives of the Federation of Social Insurances (DVSV), the Pension Insurance Institution (PVA), Austrian Health Insurance Fund (ÖGK) and the Embassy of the Republic of Austria in Belgrade.
  
  The activities within the EDAS project are carried out by the competent institutions starting in 2020, and the project includes all social security holders of both countries and the goal is to establish an electronic exchange in the implementation of the Agreement between the Republic of Serbia and the Republic of Austria on social security, which will expedite current exchange data by paper means, enable faster processing and resolution of individual cases, a more efficient realization of the rights of the insured and beneficiaries and reduce the costs of the procedure. As a legal framework for cooperation, the Agreement on Electronic Data Exchange was signed in Vienna on April 27th, 2022, the gradual implementation of which is expected in the coming period.
  
• June 23, 2023
  
  ENTRY INTO FORCE OF THE SOCIAL SECURITY AGREEMENT BETWEEN SERBIA AND AZERBAIJAN
  
  On June 1st, 2023, the Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Serbia and the Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan on Social Security entered into force. The Agreement was signed in Belgrade, on April 7, 2022, and published in the “Official Gazette of Republic of Serbia - International Agreements”, No. 3/2023.
  
  The Agreement covers the area of pension and disability insurance and it enables that persons who worked in the Republic of Serbia and in the Republic of Azerbaijan can exercise their right to a pension by accumulating period of insurance completed in both countries.
  
  At the same time, the Administrative Agreement for the implementation of the Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Serbia and the Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan on social security entered into force.
  
• June 9, 2023 godine
  
  MEDICAL REHABILITATION OF AUSTRIAN INSURED PERSONS AND PENSION BENEFICIARIES IN THE REPUBLIC OF SERBIA
  
  In the period from June 5th to 6th, 2023, a visit to the Institute for Pension Insurance of Austria (Pensionversicherunganstalt - PVA) was held in Vienna. The delegation of the Republic of Serbia consisted of representatives of the Institute for Social Insurance (ZSO), led by acting director Zoran Panović, and the representatives of the Special Hospital for Rehabilitation Banja Koviljača (RH Center Banja Koviljača), led by acting general director prim. Ph.D. Aleksandar Jokic. The visit was carried out at the invitation and in the organization of His Excellency the Ambassador of the Republic of Serbia in Austria, Mr. Nebojsa Rodić.
  
  On the first day of the visit, a meeting was held with representatives of PVA, led by General Director Winfried Pinggera. At the meeting, issues of cooperation between the social security institutions of Serbia and Austria were discussed, especially the current application and implementation of the Agreement between the RH center Banja Koviljača and PVA, which was signed on June 22nd 2021 in Belgrade. The contract regulates the provision of medical rehabilitation services to Austrian insured persons, i.e., beneficiaries of the right to pension in the RH center of Banja Koviljača. It was mutually assessed that in the previous period the contract was administered well and without major problems, as well as that the users are very satisfied with the services provided. It was concluded that there is mutual interest to continue cooperation. As part of the fulfillment of the obligations provided for in the contract, it was agreed that an expert-medical delegation of PVA will visit the RH center in Banja Koviljača in 2023 and perform an on-site inspection and evaluation of all aspects of service provision.
  
  On the second day of the visit, in the premises of the Embassy of the Republic of Serbia, a meeting of representatives of the Embassy, PVA, ZSO, RH Center Banja Koviljača and prominent representatives of our diaspora associations in Austria was held. At the meeting, in addition to the realization of the cooperation between the PVA and Banja Koviljača, there was a special discussion about the possibilities to expand and improve the cooperation between the institutions of the two countries in the field of health services and medical rehabilitation, as well as to familiarize our large population in Austria with the possibilities of providing certain health services in the Republic of Serbia. Concrete activities that need to be undertaken and proposed to competent institutions were also agreed upon, in order to realize and improve cooperation between the two countries in the field of social insurance.
  
• May 29, 2023
  
  NEGOTIATIONS FOR THE CONCLUSION OF AN AGREEMENT ON SOCIAL SECURITY WITH PORTUGAL
  
  In Belgrade from September 23rd to 25th 2023, the second round of negotiations between the competent institutions of the Republic of Serbia and the Republic of Portugal for the conclusion of the agreement on social security was held. At the meeting, the provisions of the draft agreement were discussed and the positions related to the field of health insurance and part of the provisions covering the field of pension and disability insurance were agreed upon.
  
  It was agreed that the continuation of the negotiations will be held in Portugal, at a time that will be determined later.
  
• May 18, 2023
  
  MEETING BETWEEN THE LIAISON BODY OF THE REPUBLIC OF SERBIA AND THE LIAISON BODY OF MONTENEGRO IN THE FIELD OF PENSION AND DISABILITY INSURANCE
  
  On May 16 and 17, 2023, in Podgorica, a meeting between the liaison body of the Republic of Serbia and the liaison body of Montenegro was held regarding the implementation of the Agreement between the Republic of Serbia and the Republic of Montenegro on Social Insurance, in the field of pension and disability insurance.
  
  At the meeting, issues regarding the implementation of the agreement on social insurance related to the confirmation of the insurance periods and pension payments were discussed, and on that occasion, agreements were reached that should contribute to more effective implementation of the Agreement and faster and easier realization of rights from pension and disability insurance for insured persons and beneficiaries of rights from both Contracting State.
  
  During the two-day meeting, information about the changes in legislation in the area of pension and disability insurance in both Contracting States, as well as the information regarding the newly concluded international agreements in the field of social security, were exchanged.
  
• May 9, 2023
  
  ELECTRONIC DATA EXCHANGE REPUBLIC OF SERBIA/REPUBLIC OF AUSTRIA – MEETING OF THE STEERING GROUP
  
  On May 4, 2023, a meeting of the Steering group was held in Belgrade/Vienna within the Project for the Establishment of Electronic Data Exchange - EDAS in the process for implementation of the Agreement between the Republic of Serbia and the Republic of Austria on Social Security.
  
  The meeting, which was held through a video conference, was attended by representatives of the Institute for Social Insurance, the Republic Fund for Health Insurance, the Social Insurance Fund for Military Personnel, the Republic Fund for Pension and Disability Insurance and representatives of the Dachverband der österreichischen Sozialversicherung.
  
  At the meeting both sides submitted reports on the activities of working groups so far within the EDAS project and agreed on activities that are going to be carried out in the coming period.
  
• May 9, 2023
  
  MEETING WITH THE ATTACHED FOR SOCIAL AFFAIRS OF THE EMBASSY OF THE REPUBLIC OF AUSTRIA
  
  On May 3, 2023, representatives of the Institute for Social Insurance held a meeting with the newly appointed Attaché for Social Affairs, Embassy of the Republic of Austria, Federal Ministry for Social Affairs, Health, Care and Consumer Protection of the Republic of Austria, Mr. Manuel Eigner.
  
  The cooperation between the office of the Attache for Social Affairs of the Republic of Austria and the Institute for Social Insurance, as the liaison body of the Republic of Serbia for the implementation of international agreements, has been very successful for many years. It was jointly confirmed the intention to consider the possibilities of further improvement of mutual cooperation between the social security institutions of the two countries in the coming period.
  
• April 28, 2023
  
  TEMPORARY RELOCATION OF THE HEADQUARTERS OF THE INSTITUTE FOR SOCIAL INSURANCE
  
  We would like to inform all social insurance institutions in the Republic of Serbia and foreign social insurance institutions of countries with which the Republic of Serbia has signed international agreements on social insurance, as well as beneficiaries of rights and insured persons in the field of social insurance and other institutions, that the Institute for Social Insurance, due to the planned reconstruction of the building in Bulevar umetnosti 10 Street, starting from April 28, 2023, has temporarily changed its headquarters to a new location at Bačvanska Street 21, 11107 Belgrade, Republic of Serbia.
  
  Starting from May 3, 2023, all written communication and documents should be sent to the above-mentioned address.
  
  The new phone numbers where you can reach us are:
  
  + 381 11 285 0009
  + 381 11 285 0017
  
  The general e-mail address of the Institute for Social Insurance remains the same as before (info@zso.gov.rs), as well as the personal e-mail addresses of all employees.
  
  We kindly ask all interested persons to have in mind the above-mentioned changes regarding the communication with the Institute for Social Insurance.
  
• April 24, 2023
  
  MEETING WITH THE LIAISON BODY OF THE REPUBLIC OF SLOVENIA IN THE FIELD OF HEALTH INSURANCE
  
  On April 20, 2023, in Ljubljana, a meeting between the liaison body of Republic of Serbia and the liaison body of Republic od Slovenia, was held, with regards to the implementation of the Agreement between Republic of Serbia and Republic Slovenia on Social Insurance, in the field of health insurance.
  
  During the meeting the text of the Protocol on electronic data exchange, wich refer to the calculation of the costs of health service, was descussed and signed.
  
  This is the first Protocol of its kind that has been signed and it is the result of the long-term good cooperation between the two countries that enables a faster, simpler and more economical exchange of accounting documenation.
  
• March 30, 2023
  
  INTERNATIONAL CONSULTING DAYS, SERBIA-AUSTRIA
  
  International consulting days between Republic Fund for Pension and Disability Insurance and Institute for Pension Insurance of the Republic of Austria will be held on April 12, 2023, in Ćuprija and on April 13, 2023, in Belgrade. On that occasion, the experts of the pension insurance institutions of both countries, in direct contact and discussion, will provide appropriate expert assistance and advice to interested persons regarding the exercise of rights from pension and disability insurance, based on the work and periods of insurance completed in the Republic of Serbia and the Republic of Austria.
  
  Professional assistance is free and it is a common practice to organize it every year in Serbia in April and Austria in October in different cities with aim to inform interested persons about the conditions for exercising the rights from pension insurance, about the amount and payment of benefits, about the completed periods of insurance, about the status of the claims they submitted, as well as about other issues in this area.
  
  Persons interested in coming to the consulting days in Ćuprija and Belgrade should register their arrival following the instructions given in the poster attache.
  
  Poster, Belgrade
  Poster, Ćuprija
  
• March 22, 2023
  
  ENTRY INTO FORCE OF THE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF SERBIA AND THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF TUNISIA ON SOCIAL SECURITY
  
  On April 1st, 2023, the Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Serbia and the Government of the Republic of Tunisia on Social Security shall enter into force. The Agreement was signed in Belgrade, on March 28, 2022, and published in the “Official Gazette of Republic of Serbia - International Agreements”, No. 1/2023
  
  The agreement covers the areas of health insurance, health care, maternity, pension, and disability insurance, insurance for injuries at work and occupational diseases, and insurance for unemployment, and enables the contracting parties to exercise rights in these areas.
  
  At the same time, the Administrative Agreement for Implementation of the Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Serbia and the Government of the Republic of Tunisia on Social Security shall enter into force.
  
• March 10, 2023
  
  AGREEMENT ON ELECTRONIC DATA EXCHANGE BETWEEN THE REPUBLIC OF SERBIA AND THE REPUBLIC OF BULGARIA IN THE FIELD OF PENSION AND DISABILITY INSURANCE
  
  In the period from March 7 to 9, 2023, in Sofia, the meeting between the liaison body of the Republic of Serbia and the liaison body of the Republic of Bulgaria was held, regarding the conclusion of the Arrangement on electronic data exchange between the competent institutions for pension insurance of the two states - Republic Fund for Pension and Disability Insurance and National social security institute, with the aim of more effective implementation of the Agreement between the Republic of Serbia and the Republic of Bulgaria on social security.
  
  At the meeting, the text of the Arrangement on electronic data exchange was agreed upon and initialed, which provides electronic exchange the data on the fact of death and the type and amount of benefits. It was jointly stated that later the scope of the data exchange should be extended to include other data required for exercising the rights from pension and disability insurance. At the meeting, the text of the Technical Protocol was discussed, which provides the conditions for secure electronic data exchange after the complete harmonization of this Protocol the Arrangement will be signed so and its implementation and the establishment of electronic data exchange will be started.
  
• March 3, 2023
  
  CROATIAN PENSION INSURANCE INSTITUTE - New model of survivor's pensions from January 1, 2023
  
  The Croatian Pension Insurance Institute has submitted a notification that starting from January 1, 2023, the model of survivor's pensions has been changed by enabling the payment of part of the survivor's pension with the use of old-age, early old-age or disability pension. The request form for the payment of part of the survivor's pension, as well as information regarding the conditions for exercising the right to payment, can be found at the following link: https://www.mirovinsko.hr/hr/novi-model-obiteljskih-mirovina-od-1-sijecnja-2023-2566/2566
  
• February 24, 2023
  
  ZPIZ - Notification on adjustment of pensions and annual allowance to pension beneficiaries from the Republic of Slovenia
  
  The Institute for Pension and Disability Insurance of Slovenia has submitted a notification regarding the adjustment of pensions, according to which, starting from January 1, 2023, pensions in the Republic of Slovenia are regularly adjusted in the amount of 5,2%.
  
  In 2023, Slovenian competent institution will again pay an annual allowance to pension beneficiaries residing in the Republic of Serbia (and other countries). For this purpose, Institute for Pension and Disability Insurance of the Republic of Slovenia will send a form to the beneficiaries who had a residence in the Republic of Serbia on January 1, 2023, with instructions how to fill out and return the form to the Slovenian competent institution. Information on the amount of foreign pension, the beneficiaries can submit online, to a specific web address or by using a special code that will be sent to him in the notification together with instructions and security PIN code.
  
  More detailed information on the annual allowance can be found on Slovenian competent institution website: https://www.zpiz.si/cms/content2019/letni-dodatek
  
• February 24, 2023
  
  FUND FOR PENSION AND DISABILITY INSURANCE OF THE REPUBLIKA SRPSKA - PENSIONS ADJUSTMENT
  
  The Fund for Pension and Disability Insurance of the Republikа Srpskа submitted a notification regarding the pensions adjustment, according to which, based on the Decision on determining the percentage for of pensions adjustment and the Decision on extraordinary adjustment of general point and pensions, starting from January 1, 2023, the pensions have been adjusted in total by 13,50%.
  
• January 24, 2023
  
  SOCIAL SECURITY AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE REPUBLIC OF SERBIA AND AUSTRALIA
  
  On January 20, 2023, in Belgrade, the Minister of Labor, Employment, Veterans and Social Affairs of the Republic of Serbia, Nikola Selaković, signed the Agreement on Social Security between the Republic of Serbia and Australia with the Ambassador of Australia to the Republic of Serbia, H.E. Daniel Emery.
  
  The Аgreement covers the areas of pension and disability insurance. After entry into force of the Agreement, it will be easier to exercise the right to a pension for persons who worked in both countries, and the granted pensions will also be paid in the other country without reduction.
  

Year 2022

December 2, 2022

SOCIAL SECURITY AGREEMENT BETWEEN SERBIA AND AZERBAIJAN

The Administrative Agreement for the implementation of The Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Serbia and the Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan on social security was signed in Belgrade on November 23, 2022, during the official visit of the delegation of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

After the entry into force of the Agreement and the Administrative Agreement, persons who worked in the Republic of Serbia and the Republic of Azerbaijan will be able to exercise their right to a pension by accumulating a period of insurance completed in both countries.

October 26, 2022

MEETING WITH THE LIAISON BODY OF THE KINGDOM OF BELGIUM IN THE FIELD OF HEALTH INSURANCE

On October 26, 2022, a meeting was held in Belgrade/Brussels via video conference regarding the implementation of the Agreement between the Republic of Serbia and the Kingdom of Belgium on social security in the field of health insurance.

The initiative to hold the meeting was aimed at harmonizing the text of the Agreement on the use of the European Health Insurance Card for Belgian insured persons during their temporary stay on the territory of the Republic of Serbia.

Bearing in mind that the previous meeting of the liaison bodies was held several years ago, it was agreed that in the coming period, periodic cooperation should be established in order to provide better monitoring at the implementation of the Agreement and a due-time response in order to ensure its effective implementation.

At the meeting, the problems observed in practice were noted and the way to overcome them was agreed, as well as the further steps that must be taken in order to eliminate them.

October 25, 2022

MIXED COMMISSION FOR THE APPLYING THE AGREEMENT WITH FRANCE

On October 20 and 21, 2022, a meeting of the Mixed Commission was held in Belgrade, via video conference, on the occasion of the implementation of the General Convention on Social Security between Yugoslavia and France.

At the meeting, the parties agreed on mutual reviews of claims, discussed issues related to the ratification procedure of the Agreement on Social Security signed on November 6, 2014, claims related to medical and administrative expertise, methods of delivery of the Certificate of Life, as well as the finalization of the bilingual forms that shall be used upon the entering in force the new Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Serbia and the Government of the Republic of France on social security.

October 19, 2022

FUND FOR PENSION AND DISABILITY INSURANCE OF THE REPUBLIC OF SRPSKA - LIFE CERTIFICATE

Fund for Pension and Disability Insurance of the Republic of Srpska submitted a notification informing beneficiaries of the Fund for Pension and Disability Insurance of the Republic of Srpska residing in the territory of the Republic of Serbia, that they are no longer obliged to submit a life certificate at the end of the calendar year.

By improving the cooperation between the Fund for Pension and Disability Insurance of the Republic of Srpska and the Republic Fund for Pension and Disability Insurance of the Republic of Serbia and by enabling the electronic data exchange on the fact of the death of the pension beneficiary, the submission of a life certificate by the end of the current year is no longer a condition for continuity in the payment of the pension in the following year for beneficiaries of the Fund for Pension and Disability Insurance of the Republic of Srpska residing in Serbia.

October 17, 2022

LIAISON BODIES MEETING BETWEEN REPUBLIC OF SERBIA AND BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA REGARDING HEALTH INSURANCE

On October 11 and 12, the meeting between the liaison bodies of the Republic of Serbia and the liaison bodies of Bosnia and Herzegovina (the Republic of Srpska, the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Brčko District) was held in Belgrade.

During the talks, numerous issues were discussed in the implementation of the Agreement between the FR Yugoslavia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, in the field of health insurance. It was concluded that in the previous period the problems related to the so-called the negative conflict of jurisdiction between the entities of Bosnia and Herzegovina, which made the implementation of the Agreement difficult, were resolved. In particular, the problem of the so-called "intentional treatment", i.e. planned treatment in another state contract was aslo discused. Related to that, it was agreed that additional efforts should be made in order to influence insured persons from the Republika Srpska to comply with the referral procedure for treatment in accordance with national regulations during planned treatment in the Republic of Serbia, bearing in mind that the possibility of planned treatment is not provided by the Agreement. During the meeting the mutual state of calculation of health care costs was also exchanged.

As the most important issue, the transition to the calculation of health care costs in real amounts, instead of the current calculation according to the methodology of flat-rate reimbursement of costs, was considered. The text of the new Agreement on reimbursement of health care costs was jointly agreed upon, which has been initialed, and whose signing will follow when all parties provide technical and IT conditions and its implementation.

October 13, 2022

SEMINAR IN THE ORGANIZATION OF THE STATE TREASURY OF HUNGARY ON THE SUBJECT OF REDISTRIBUTION IN THE PENSION SYSTEM

In Budapest, on September 29, 2022, a seminar on "Redistribution in the pension system" was held, which has traditionally been held every year in the organization of the State Treasury of Hungary since 2011..

The seminar was attended by renowned experts from several universities (Corvinus University of Budapest, Nova University Lisbon, University of Wurzburg, University of Barcelona, Institute for Pension and Disability Insurance of Slovenia), representatives of institutions for social insurance of European Union countries, as well as a representative of the Ministry of Labour, of Social Affairs and Family of the Slovak Republic.

The seminar was held in two sessions. During the first session, the impact of increasing pensions on work efficiency was discussed, an analysis of the impact of pensions on health care costs was presented, and the topic of the relationship between pensions and life expectancy was analyzed. During the second session, an initiative to induction the right to family allowances, which will be financed from pension insurance contributions was presented, and the participants of the seminar presented current data on technological changes and statistical data in the domain of the pension disability system. In the second session, at the invitation of the host, Zoran Panović, acting director of the Institute for Social Insurance, took an active part in the seminar, as a moderator, and Aleksandra Hranjec, acting assistant director of the Institute for Social Insurance, held a presentation on the topic of technical changes aimed at preserving the pension system in the Republic of Serbia.

October 13, 2022

NEGOTIATIONS FOR THE CONCLUSION OF AN AGREEMENT ON SOCIAL SECURITY WITH PORTUGAL

In Lisbon, Portugal, in the period from September 27 to 29, 2022, the first round of negotiations between the competent authorities of the Republic of Serbia and the Republic of Portugal for the conclusion of the Agreement between the Republic of Serbia and the Republic of Portugal on social security was held. At the meeting, the two delegations exchanged detailed information on the mandatory social insurance systems, which, after entry into force, will include the areas of health insurance, health care and maternity, pension and disability insurance, insurance for work-related injuries and occupational diseases and insurance for unemployment.

The two delegations agreed on provisions related to the basic principles of the future agreement, equal treatment of insured persons and beneficiaries, avoidance of overlapping insurance periods, transfer of benefits, as well as special provisions related to exceptions in its application (detachment).
The continuation of negotiations is planned for 2023 in Belgrade.

By concluding the Agreement on Social Security with Portugal, i.e. upon its entry into force, it will be possible to use health care in the other Contracting State during the stay, i.e. while residing in the same, exercising the right to a pension while adding up the insurance periods completed in the other Contracting State, as well as realization of other rights and benefits from social insurance.

October 10, 2022

12. EUROPEAN COLLOQUIUM

The 12th European Colloquium in the field of social insurance was held in Berlin on October 4 and 5, 2022, which is traditionally held every two to three years in the organization of the German Federal Pension Insurance (Deutsche Rentenversicherung Bund).

The theme of this year's colloquium is "12 years of new regulations on coordination: Progress for social security in Europe?" and presented an overview of the implementation of EU Regulation 883, as the basic legal act on the coordination of the social security system in the European Union.

The colloquium was opened by the State Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs of the Federal Republic of Germany. At the colloquium, 15 lectures were held over two days dedicated to the freedom of movement of workers and the prevention of social dumping, mutual communication between pension funds in the European Union in the circumstances of accelerated digitization and data exchange in the field of social security through the platform for electronic data exchange and the coordination of European Union and bilateral regulations agreement on social security. During the first working day, Zoran Panović, acting Director of the Institute for Social Insurance led the discussion and moderated the first session of the Colloquium.

September 22, 2022

MEETING WITH THE LIAISON BODIES OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY

A meeting of the liaison body of the Republic of Serbia and the liaison body of the Federal Republic of Germany was held in Belgrade, on September 20 and 21, 2022, with regards to the implementation of the Agreement between the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and the Federal Republic of Germany on Social Security, in the field of pension and disability insurance.

At the meeting issues regarding pension payments, electronic data exchange between the pension insurance institutions of the two countries, the content of bilingual forms, and other issues related to the implementation of the Agreement, were discussed. Information on legislation changes in pension and disability insurance in both contracting states was also exchanged. To contribute to a better and more efficient implementation of the Agreement, two delegations have reached certain consents.

20th September, 2022

CONFERENCE OF THE FEDERAL INSTITUTE FOR PENSION AND DISABILITY INSURANCE OF BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA

In Sarajevo, on 14th and 15th September, 2022, a conference was held under the title "Reforms of the pension and disability system in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the results of the reforms implemented in 2018 and the definition of goals and changes in the system, in order to achieve them in the medium term", organized by the Federal Institute for Pension and Disability Insurance.

The conference was opened by the Prime Minister of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Minister of the Federal Ministry of Labor and Social Policy.

Representatives of the pension funds of the countries established in the area of the former SFR Yugoslavia (except the pension fund of the Republic of Slovenia) took an active part on the conference, as well as the delegation of the Republic of Austria, which consisted of the president of the parliamentary committee for social affairs of the Republic of Austria, the general director of the Pension Insurance Institute of the Republic of Austria and general director of the Social Insurance of self-employed persons of the Republic of Austria, as well the Attaché for social affairs. The delegation of the Republic of Serbia consisted of representatives of the Institute for Social Insurance and the Republic Fund for Pension and Disability Insurance.

July 15, 2022

SOCIAL SECURITY AGREEMENT BETWEEN SERBIA AND AZERBAIJAN

On July 13 and 14, 2022, a video conference was held between the competent authorities of the Republic of Serbia and the Republic of Azerbaijan with the aim of harmonizing the provisions of the Administrative Agreement. The signing of the Administrative Agreement is expected in September 2022, during the official visit of the delegation of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

The Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Serbia and the Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan on social security was signed in Belgrade on April 7, 2022. The agreement covers the field of pension and disability insurance and it will enable persons who worked in the Republic of Serbia and the Republic of Azerbaijan to exercise their right to a pension by adding up the insurance years completed in both countries.

June 27, 2022

INTERNATIONAL CONSULTING DAYS, SERBIA- GERMANY

International consulting days between Republic Fund for Pension and Disability Insurance and German pension competent institution will be held on July 12 and 13, 2022, in Munich. On that occasion, the experts of the pension insurance institutions of both countries, in direct contact and discussion, will provide appropriate expert assistance and advice to interested persons regarding the exercise of rights from pension and disability insurance, based on the work and periods of insurance completed in the Republic of Serbia and the Federal Republic of Germany.

Professional assistance is free and, before the pandemic caused by the virus Covid 19, it was organized every year in Germany in March and in Serbia in September, in different cities, to inform interested persons about the conditions for exercising the rights from pension insurance, about the amount and payment of benefits, about the completed periods of insurance, about the status of the claims they submitted, as well as about other issues in this area.

Persons interested in coming to the consulting days in Munich should register their arrival following the instructions given in the poster attached.

Poster, Munich

June 13, 2022

12TH MEETINGS OF DIRECTORS OF THE FUNDS/ INSTITUTIONS FOR PENSION AND DISABILITY INSURANCE OF THE STATES OF THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA HELD

In Dubrovnik, the Republic of Croatia, from 8TH to 10TH of June 2022, the 12th meeting of directors of funds/institutes for pension and disability insurance of the countries of the former SFRY (Slovenia, Croatia, BiH - Federation of BiH and Republika Srpska, Serbia, Northern Macedonia, Montenegro) was held. The meeting was hosted by the Croatian Pension Insurance Institute.

At the 12th Meeting, numerous topics were discussed and statistical data were exchanged, as well as information on changes in legislation. Issues related to the development of information services and procedures for recalculating pensions through the application of international agreements on social insurance were specially highlighted. A special topic of the meeting was "Work and use of pensions".

Representatives of the Institute for Social Insurance and the Republic Fund for Pension and Disability Insurance attended the meetings on behalf of the institutions of the Republic of Serbia.

June 3, 2022

FUND FOR PENSION AND DISABILITY INSURANCE OF THE REPUBLIKA SRPSKA - PENSIONS ADJUSTMENT

Fund for Pension and Disability Insurance of the Republika Srpska submitted a notification regarding the pensions adjustment, according to which, based on the Decision on extraordinary adjustment of general point and pensions, pensions are adjusted from May 1, 2022 in the amount of 10%.

May 20, 2022

MEETING WITH THE LIAISON BODY OF THE REPUBLIC OF NORTHERN MACEDONIA

In Belgrade, on May 18 and 19, 2022, meeting between the liaison body of Republic of Serbia and the liaison body of the Republic of Northern Macedonia have been held, with regards to the implementation of the Agreement between the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and the Republic of Macedonia on social insurance in the field of health insurance.

The two sides informed each other about the changes in the legislation, and the current lists of contact persons were exchanged. During the meeting, certain disputable cases were discussed and the two sides reached an agreement on further actions in order to more efficiently implement the Agreement.

The reviews of the intersection of undisputed mutual debts and claims based on of health care costs for the period 2017-2021 have been harmonized and and the dynamics of their compensation payment was agreed. The two parties confirmed the amount of monthly flat-rate fees for the period 2017-2020. years.

May 13, 2022

INFORMATION TO PENSION RECIPIENTS FROM THE SLOVAK REPUBLIC ABOUT THE 13TH PENSION
According to the information provided by the Social Insurance Agency of the Slovak Republic (Sociálna poisťovňa), the Slovak institution will pay the 13th pension to all its beneficiaries, earlier this year, in July 2022. This also applies to pensioners living outside the territory of the Slovak Republic. In order to accomplish the right to the 13th pension and to determine its amount, it is necessary for the beneficiaries of the Slovak pension to inform the Social Insurance Agency of Slovakia (Sociálna poisťovňa) about the last amount of pension received from abroad, including the pension from Serbia by June 5, 2022, at the latest. The e-form for this purpose is available on the website of the Social Insurance Institution: Oznamovanie dôchodku zo zahraničia (Notification of pension payments from abroad). More detailed information on the 13th pension is published on the website of the Slovak Republic Social Insurance Agency (www.socpoist.sk).

May 12, 2022

FEDERAL INSTITUTE FOR PENSION AND DISABILITY INSURANCE OF THE FEDERATION OF BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA - PENSIONS ADJUSTMENT

Federal institute for pension and disability insurance submitted a notification regarding the pensions adjustment, according to which, starting from January 1, 2022, the pensions they are paing have been adjusted by 7,3%.

The adjustment will be realized in the payment of pensions for April 2022, and does not apply to the highest amount of pensions, as well as to pensions realized in 2022.

May 12, 2022

GERMAN FEDERAL PENSION INSURANCE - PENSIONS ADJUSTMENT

The German Federal Pension Insurance (Deutsche Rentenversicherung Bund) has submitted a notification regarding the adjustment of pensions, according to which, starting from July 1, 2022, pensions paid by German competent institutions are adjusted as follows:

- old federal states 5,35%

- new federal states 6,12%.

May 5, 2022

REGIONAL SOCIAL SECURITY FORUM FOR EUROPE

In Tallinn (Estonia), on 2 and 3 May 2022, organized by the International Social Security Association (ISSA), the Regional Social Security Forum for Europe was held, attended by experts from the International Labor Organization, the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development and the European Commission, as well as representatives of social insurance institutions of the member countries of the association.

During the two days of the forum, 14 lectures were held with the participation of 55 lecturers, panelists and moderators, attended by more than 130 participants from over 30 member organizations of the International Social Security Association (ISSA), including representatives of the Social Insurance Institute and the acting director of the Institute, Zoran Panović, was the moderator of the lecture on "Strengthening preventive approaches and active aging".

The Forum provided a unique platform for ISSA European members to analyse the short-term responses and long-term impact of the COVID⁠-⁠19 pandemic, discuss about key social security challenges, innovative solutions and define strategies to shape the future of social security in the region. On that occasion, the ISSA Good Practice Award for Europe 2022 were awarded in recognition of good practices in the administration of social security.

April 29, 2022

MEETING BETWEEN THE LIAISON BODY OF THE REPUBLIC OF SERBIA AND THE LIAISON BODY OF THE REPUBLIC OF AUSTRIA (EDAS)

In order to more efficiently implement the Agreement between the Republic of Serbia and the Republic of Austria on Social Security, in Vienna, on 27th April 2022, meeting was held between the liaison body of the Republic of Serbia and the liaison body of the Republic of Austria, during which the Agreement on electronic data exchange between the liaison bodies in the field of social security of the two countries was signed. The signing of this agreement is the result of a very successful cooperation between the institutions of the Republic of Serbia and the Republic of Austria in the field of social security and is the first bilateral agreement signed by Serbia with a member state of the European Union, which regulates the electronic exchange of data in all areas of social security, with the exception of the area which refers to unemployment cash benefits and which is based on the principles of the "EESSI" project (Electronic Exchange of Social Security Information – Electronic exchange of information on social security), a system that is being used in the European Union countries.

The agreement represents a legal framework for the establishment of the electronic exchange, which will speed up the exchange of data between the social security institutions of Serbia and Austria and enable faster processing of individual cases and a more efficient exercise of the rights of insured persons and beneficiaries. The implementation of the agreement on the electronic exchange of data between Serbia and Austria will replace the existing method of exchange based on the delivery of documents in paper form, and will enable a faster, easier and more secure exchange of information. The implementation of activities is carried out through a project called EDAS (Electronic Data Austria – Serbia) since 2020, and includes all social security institutions from both contracting states.

In the presence of the Ambassador of the Republic of Serbia to the Republic of Austria, Mr. Nebojša Rodić, the agreement was signed by Mr. Zoran Panović, Acting Director of the Institute for Social Insurance, on the Serbian side, and Peter Lehner, Chairman of the conference and Alexander Burz, Administrative Manager at the Austrian umbrella organization of the Social Insurance Agencies, on the Austrian side.

As part of the meeting of the liaison bodies, a meeting of the Steering Group was held, which was attended by representatives of the Institute for Social Insurance, the Republic Fund for Health Insurance, the Social Insurance Fund for Military Personnel, the Republic Fund for Pension and Disability Insurance and the representatives of the Austrian umbrella organization of the Social Insurance Agencies, where the two sides submitted reports on the work of working groups so far within the EDAS project and where were agreed on activities that are going to be carried out in the coming period with the aim of implementing the Agreement.

April 21, 2022

MEETING BETWEEN THE LIAISON BODY OF REPUBLIC OF SERBIA AND THE LIAISON BODY OF MONTENEGRO

In Belgrade, on April 19 and 20, 2022 a meeting between the liaison body of Republic of Serbia and the liaison body of Montenegro was held, with regards to the implementation of the Agreement between Republic of Serbia and Republic of Montenegro on Social Insurance, in the field of health insurance.

Bearing in mind that since the previous meeting of the liaison bodies held in 2017, there have been several changes in the health insurance systems, the two delegations exchanged detailed informations about the changes in legislation that have occurred. It was agreed that in the coming period, data harmonization in the Registry of the insured persons that have a the right to health care based on Agreements in order to provide faster and easier exercise the right. On the meeting, the data on compensation of health care costs that occur by the application of the Agreement were exchanged and it was agreed that in the coming period, their final harmonization will be made to maintain the dynamics of mutual settlement for the costs for health care provided.

April 8, 2022

SOCIAL SECURITY AGREEMENT BETWEEN SERBIA AND AZERBAIJAN

On April 7, 2022, in Belgrade, the Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Serbia and the Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan on Social Security was signed.

The Agreement covers the area of pension and disability insurance and in the next period, activities are forthcoming in order to conclude an accompanying Administrative Agreement.

After the entry into force of the Agreement and the Administrative Agreement persons who worked in the Republic of Serbia and in the Republic of Azerbaijan will be able to exercise their right to a pension by accumulating period of insurance completed in both countries.

April 5, 2022

INTERNATIONAL CONSULTING DAYS, SERBIA-AUSTRIA

International consulting days between Republic Fund for Pension and Disability Insurance and Institute for Pension Insurance of the Republic of Austria will be held on April 12, 2022, in Novi Sad and on April 13, 2022, in Belgrade. On that occasion, the experts of the pension insurance institutions of both countries, in direct contact and discussion, will provide appropriate expert assistance and advice to interested persons regarding the exercise of rights from pension and disability insurance, based on the work and periods of insurance completed in the Republic of Serbia and the Republic of Austria.

Professional assistance is free and, before the pandemic caused by virus Covid 19, it was organized every year in Serbia in April and Austria in October in different cities with aim to inform interested persons about the conditions for exercising the rights from pension insurance, about the amount and payment of benefits, about the completed periods of insurance, about the status of the claims they submitted, as well as about other issues in this area.

Persons interested in coming to the consulting days in Novi Sad and Belgrade should register their arrival following the instructions given in the poster attached.

Poster, Belgrade
Poster, Novi Sad

March 30, 2022

SOCIAL SECURITY AGREEMENT BETWEEN SERBIA AND TUNISI

On March 28, 2022, in Belgrade, the Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Serbia and the Government of the Republic of Tunisia on Social Security and the Administrative Arrangement for the application of the Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Serbia and the Government of the Republic of Tunisia on Social Security wеre signed.

The Agreement covers the areas of health insurance, health care and maternity, pension and disability insurance, insurance in case of injuries at work and occupational diseases and unemployment insurance.

After the entry into force of the Agreement and the Administrative Arrangement persons who worked in the Republic of Serbia and in the Republic of Tunisia will be able to exercise their right to a pension by accumulating period of insurance completed in both countries, and the use of health care during a temporary stay in another Contracting State will also be possible.

March 8, 2022

ZPIZ - NOTIFICATION ON ADJUSTMENT OF PENSIONS

Institute for Pension and Disability Insurance of Slovenia has submitted a notification regarding the adjustment of pensions, according to which, starting from January 1, 2022, pensions in the Republic of Slovenia are regularly adjusted in the amount of 4.4%.

March 7, 2022

NEGOTIATIONS ON A SOCIAL SECURITY AGREEMENT WITH AUSTRALIA

In Belgrade/Canberra on March 3rd and 4th, 2022, through a video conference, a new round of negotiations was held between the competent authorities of the Republic of Serbia and Australia, for the conclusion of the Agreement between the Republic of Serbia and Australia on social security.

At the meeting, the two delegations agreed on the text of the provisions of the Administrative Agreement for the implementation of the Agreement, which created the conditions for initiating the procedure for concluding the Agreement. The agreement between the Republic of Serbia and Australia on social security covers the field of pension and disability insurance and will enable persons who worked in the Republic of Serbia and Australia to exercise the right to a pension by accumulating insurance periods completed in both countries.

March 7, 2022

THE PENSION FUND OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION - PENSIONS ADJUSTMENT

The Pension Fund of the Russian Federation has submitted a notice regarding the adjustment of pensions, according to which, in accordance with the provisions of the federal law of the Russian Federation, starting from January 1, 2022, the amount of pensions and fixed payments in addition to the pensions of non-working pensioners increased by 8.6%.

March 4, 2022

VIDEO CONFERENCE WITH THE LIAISON BODY OF RUSSIAN FEDERATION

In Belgrade/Moscow on March 2 and 3, 2022, meeting between the liaison body of the Republic of Serbia and the liaison body of the Russian Federation regarding the implementation of the Agreement between the Republic of Serbia and the Russian Federation on Social Security in the field of pension and disability insurance, was held. The delegation of the Republic of Serbia was led by Mr. Zoran Panovic, Acting Director of the Institute for Social Insurance, and the delegation of the Russian Federation was led by Mr. Sergei Alexandrovich Chirkov, Deputy Chairman of the Board of the Pension Fund of the Russian Federation.

During the meeting, necessary changes were made to certain bilingual forms for the implementation of the Agreement, text of the Agreement on Electronic Data Exchange was harmonized and technical possibilities of establishing electronic data exchange between the competent institutions of the two countries were discussed.

February 25, 2022

MEETING BETWEEN THE LIAISON BODY OF REPUBLIC OF SERBIA AND THE LIAISON BODY OF HUNGARY

In Belgrade, on February 23 and 24, 2022 a meeting between the liaison body of Republic of Serbia and the liaison body of Hungary was held, with regards to the implementation of the Agreement between Republic of Serbia and Hungary on Social Security, in the field of health insurance.

The two delegations exchanged information of application of the Agreement between Republic of Serbia and Hungary in the field of health insurance, the procedures that must take place in specific cases of application of the Agreement and agreed on the dynamics of mutual compensation of health care costs that occurs in the application of the Agreement.

February 23, 2022

FUND FOR PENSION AND DISABILITY INSURANCE OF THE REPUBLIKA SRPSKA - PENSIONS ADJUSTMENT

Fund for Pension and Disability Insurance of the Republika Srpska submitted a notification regarding the pensions adjustment, according to which, based on the Decision on determining the percentage for of pensions adjustment and the Decision on extraordinary adjustment of general point and pensions, starting from January 1, 2022, the pensions they are paing have been adjusted in total by 4%.

February 4, 2022

ELECTRONIC DATA EXCHANGE REPUBLIC OF SERBIA/REPUBLIC OF AUSTRIA – MEETING OF THE STEERING GROUP

On February 2, 2022, in Belgrade / Vienna, a meeting of the Steering Group formed within the Project for the Establishment of Electronic Data Exchange in the Implementation of the Agreement between the Republic of Serbia and the Republic of Austria on Social Security, was held via video conference.

The meeting was attended by representatives of the Institute for Social Insurance, the Republic Fund for Health Insurance, the Social Insurance Fund for Military Insured Persons, the Republic Fund for Pension and Disability Insurance and representatives of the Dachverband der österreichischen Sozialversicherung (DVSV). At the meeting, the two sides exchanged informations about the activities undertaken during 2021 and welcomed the progress that has been made. It was agreed to intensify the joint work of the working groups in 2022, in order to create the conditions for the implementation of the Pilot Project for the exchange of the Certificate on Applicable Legislation by the end of the year.

February 3, 2022

ZPIZ - Notification on adjustment of pensions and annual allowance to pension beneficiaries from the Republic of Slovenia

Institute for Pension and Disability Insurance of the Republic of Slovenia submitted a notification regarding the adjustment of pensions, according to which pensions for January 2022 will be extraordinarily adjusted in three different amounts, so that pensions to which person was entitled by the end of 2010 will be adjusted by 3,5%, pensions to which person was entitled by the end of 2011 by 1.7%, and all others pensions will be adjusted by 1%, while in February 2022, regular adjustment of pensions is planned, in the amount that has not yet been determined.

In 2022, Slovenian competent institution will again pay an annual allowance to pension beneficiaries residing in the Republic of Serbia (and other countries). For this purpose, Institute for Pension and Disability Insurance of the Republic of Slovenia will send a form to the beneficiaries who had a residence in the Republic of Serbia on January 1, 2022, with instructions how to fill out and return the form to the Slovenian competent institution. Information on the amount of foreign pension, the beneficiaries can submit online, to a specific web address or by using a special code that will be sent to him in the notification together with instructions and security PIN code.

More detailed information on the annual allowance can be found on Slovenian competent institution website https://www.zpiz.si/cms/content2019/letni-dodatek

January 31, 2022

ENTRY INTO FORCE OF THE AGREEMENT ON SOCIAL SECURITY BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF SERBIA AND THE GOVERNMENT OF QUEBEC

On February 1st, 2022, the Agreement on Social Security between the Government of the Republic of Serbia and the Government of Quebec shall enter into force. The Agreement was signed in Ottawa and Quebec on June 19, 2021 and published in the “Official Gazette of Republic of Serbia - International Agreements", No. 9/2021.

The agreement covers the areas of pension and disability insurance, health insurance and health care, injuries at work and occupational diseases and enables realization of rights in this areas in the Contracting Parties.

At the same time, the Administrative Agreement for Implementation of the Agreement on Social Security between the Government of the Republic of Serbia and the Government of Quebec, as well as the Protocol for the implementation of the Agreement on Social Security between the Government of the Republic of Serbia and the Government of Quebec, shall enter into force.

January 28, 2022

VIDEO CONFERENCE WITH THE LIAISON BODY OF QUEBEC

In Belgrade/Quebec a final meeting between the liaison body of the Republic of Serbia and the liaison body of Quebec via video conferencing system was held on January 27, 2022, before the entry into force of the Agreement on Social Security between of the Government of the Republic of Serbia and the Government of Quebec.

At the meeting, the list of bilingual forms for the effective implementation of the Agreement, which will be used after its entry into force on February 1, 2022, was determined.

Year 2021

December 28, 2021

DACHVERBAND DER ÖSTERREICHISCHEN SOZIALVERSICHERUNG (DVSV) – PENSION ADJUSTMENT

Dachverband der österreichischen Sozialversicherung (DVSV) submitted a notification regarding the adjustment of total pension income to which person was entitled on 31st of December 2021. According to the notification, as of January 1, 2022, total pension income up to 1.000,00 EUR will increase by 3,0%, total pension income between 1.000,01 up to 1.300,00 will be adjusted at a declining rate of 3.0% to 1.8% and total pension income from 1.300,01 EUR will increase by 1.8%.

December 17, 2021

ELECTRONIC DATA EXCHENGE REPUBLIC OF SERBIA/REPUBLIC OF AUSTRIA – WORKING GROUP MEETING „INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY“

On December 17, 2021, a meeting of the WG „IT“ was held in Belgrade/Vienna via video conference, formed within the Project for the Establishment of Electronic Data Exchange in the Implementation of the Agreement between the Republic of Serbia and the Republic of Austria on Social Security.

The meeting was attended by representatives of the Institut for Social Insurance, Republic Fund for Health Insurance, Social Insurance Fund for Military Insured Persons and the Republic Fund for Pension and Disability Insurance, as well as representatives of the Dachverband der österreichischen Sozialversicherung (DVSV).

At the meeting, future activities were agreed in order to create technical conditions for the introduction of electronic data exchange, as well as a pilot project - electronic exchange of forms related to applicable legislation, which will be carried out in 2022.

November 30, 2021

MEETING WITH THE LIAISON BODY OF BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA

In Banja Luka, on 23 and 24 November 2021, meeting between the liaison body of Republic of Serbia and the liaison body of Bosnia and Herzegovina have been held, with regards to the implementation of the Agreement between Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and Bosnia and Herzegovina on Social Insurance, in the field of health insurance. The delegation of the Republic of Serbia was composed of representatives of 3 institutions: Social Insurance Institute, Republic Fund for Health Insurance and Social Insurance Fund of Military Insured Persons; and the delegation of Bosnia and Herzegovina was composed of representatives of Fund for the Health Insurance of Republika Srpska, Institute for Health Insurance and Reinsurance of the Federation Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Brcko District Health Insurance Fund.

The two sides informed each other about the changes in the legislation, and the lists of contact persons were exchanged; certain disputable situations in which it was noticed that there are delays in the procedures for exercising the rights, were considered and further action was agreed in order to more efficiently implement the Agreement. Also the form SRB / BiH 109a, ie BiH / SRB 109a (Request for issuance of a certificate on the right to benefits in kind for persons residing in another Contracting State) has been amended and initialed.

Both sides emphasized their readiness to change the way health care costs are calculated, in the sense that health care costs for all categories of insured persons will be expressed in real amounts in the future, and not in lump sums, as is currently the case. In this regard, further cooperation was agreed in order to conclude a new Agreement on reimbursement of health care costs.

November 24, 2021

NEGOTIATIONS ON THE SOCIAL SECURITY AGREEMENT WITH THE REPUBLIC OF TUNISIA

In Belgrade/Tunisia, in the period from 17th to 19th November and on 23th November 2021, the V round of negotiations between the competent authorities of the Republic of Serbia and the Republic of Tunisia for concluding the Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Serbia and the Government of the Republic of Tunisia in the field of social security was held, via video conference.

At the meeting, the two delegations agreed on the text of the Administrative Agreement for the implementation of the Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Serbia and the Government of the Republic of Tunisia on social security. The signing of the Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Serbia and the Government of the Republic of Tunisia and the Administrative Agreement for its implementation is expected in December 2021. The agreement between the Government of the Republic of Serbia and the Government of the Republic of Tunisia covers the areas of health insurance, health care and maternity, pension and disability insurance, insurance in case of injuries at work and occupational diseases and unemployment insurance.

After the entry into force of the Agreement and the Administrative Agreement, persons who worked in the Republic of Serbia and in the Republic of Tunisia will be able to exercise their right to a pension by accumulating insurance coverage completed in both countries, and the use of health care during a temporary stay in another Contracting State will also be possible.

November 22, 2021

VIDEO CONFERENCE WITH THE LIAISON BODY OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY

In Belgrade/Bonn, on November 15 and 16 of 2021, meeting between the liaison body of the Republic of Serbia and the liaison body of the Federal Republic of Germany was held via video conference with regards to the implementation of the Agreement between the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and the Federal Republic of Germany on Social Security, in the field of health insurance.

The delegation exchanged the information about the changes in their legislation, and also discussed the following issues: the possibility of submitting documentation that do not contain a stamp and signature, possibility to enter the changes in the process of calculation of costs for health care provided to German insured persons with residence in the Republic of Serbia and agreed to form a Working group that will consider the conditions and possibility to enter Electronic Data Exchange in the procedures of calculation of costs between the health insurance institution of the two countries rapidly.

November 9, 2021

VIDEO CONFERENCE WITH THE LIAISON BODY OF QUEBEC

In Belgrade/Quebec a meeting between the liaison body of the Republic of Serbia and the liaison body of Quebec via video conference was held on November 8, 2021, on which was discussed the content of bilingual forms in the field of applicable legislation and the field of pension and disability insurance, in order to finally determine their content and create conditions for implementation of the Agreement on Social Security between of the Government of the Republic of Serbia and the Government of Quebec and Administrative Agreement for it’s implementation, after entering into force.

November 3, 2021

VIDEO CONFERENCE WITH THE LIAISON BODY OF QUEBEC

In Belgrade/Quebec a meeting between the liaison body of the Republic of Serbia and the liaison body of Quebec via video conference was held on November 2, 2021, on which was discussed the content of bilingual forms in the field of work injuries and occupational diseases, in order to finally determine their content and create conditions for implementation of the Agreement on Social Security between of the Government of the Republic of Serbia and the Government of Quebec and Administrative Agreement for it’s implementation, after entering into force.

October 20, 2021

VIDEO CONFERENCE WITH THE LIAISON BODIE OF THE REPUBLIC OF FRANCE - Center for European and International Social Security Relations (CLEISS)

A meeting of the liaison body of the Republic of Serbia and the liaison body of the Republic of France, was held, in Belgrade/Paris, on October 20, 2021, via video conference.

The topic of discussion was the content of bilingual forms in the field of health insurance, pension insurance, work injuries and occupational diseases, in order to finalize them and create conditions for the implementation of the new Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Serbia and the Government of the Republic of France on Social Security, which should enter into force in the coming period.

October 18, 2021

NEGOTIATIONS ON THE SOCIAL SECURITY AGREEMENT WITH THE REPUBLIC OF TUNISIA

In Belgrade/Tunisia, in the period from 12th to 14th October, 2021, via video conference, the IV round of negotiations between the competent authorities of the Republic of Serbia and the Republic of Tunisia for concluding the Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Serbia and the Government of the Republic of Tunisia in the field of social security was held.

At the meeting, the two delegations considered the content of the provisions of the Administrative Agreement and harmonized the articles related to the field of health insurance, health care and maternity. It was agreed to hold the next meeting in the form of video conference, from November 30th to December 2nd 2021, in order to continue work on harmonization of the remaining provisions of the Administrative Agreement.

October 7, 2021

VIDEO CONFERENCE WITH THE LIAISON BODY OF QUEBEC

In Belgrade/Quebec a meeting between the liaison body of the Republic of Serbia and the liaison body of Quebec via video conference was held on October 6, 2021, on which was discussed the content of bilingual forms in the field of health insurance in order to finally determine their content and create conditions for implementation of the Agreement on Social Security between of the Government of the Republic of Serbia and the Government of Quebec and Administrative Agreement for it’s implementation, after entering into force.

September 30, 2021

VIDEO CONFERENCE WITH THE LIAISON BODIE OF THE REPUBLIC OF FRANCE - Center for European and International Social Security Relations (CLEISS)

A meeting of the liaison bodie of the Republic of Serbia and the liaison bodie of the Republic of France, was held, in Belgrade/Paris, on September 27 and 28, 2021 via video conference.

The topic of discussion was the content of bilingual forms in the field of health insurance in order to finalize them and create conditions for the implementation of the new Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Serbia and the Government of the Republic of France on Social Security, which should enter into force in the coming period.

September 28, 2021

INTERNATIONAL CONSULTING DAYS, SERBIA-AUSTRIA

International consulting days between Republic Fund for Pension and Disability Insurance and Institute for Pension Insurance of the Republic of Austria will be held on October 5, 2021, in Innsbruck and October 7, 2021, in Vienna. On that occasion, the experts of the pension insurance institutions of both countries, in direct contact and discussion, will provide appropriate expert assistance and advice to interested persons regarding the exercise of rights from pension and disability insurance, based on the work and periods of insurance completed in the Republic of Serbia and the Republic of Austria.

Professional assistance is free and, before the pandemic caused by virus Covid 19, it was organized every year in Serbia in April and Austria in October in different cities with aim to inform interested persons about the conditions for exercising the rights from pension insurance, about the amount and payment of benefits, about the completed periods of insurance, about the status of the claims they submitted, as well as about other issues in this area.

Persons interested in coming to the consulting days in Innsbruck and Vienna should register their arrival following the instructions given in the poster attached.

Poster, Innsbruck
Poster, Vienna

September 27, 2021

BUDAPEST PENSION SEMINAR 2021

In Budapest, on Semtember 23, 2021, organized by the Hungarian State Treasury (Hungarian Magyar Államkincstár), a seminar in the field of pension and disability insurance was organized with the theme: “Physical and Human Capital in an Ageing Society”.

The lecturers were experts of several european universities, as well as representatives of the social insurance institutions of the EU countries. The seminar was organized in 3 sessions, and within the first one, the speakers were representatives of the member states of the Visegrad Group (V4) - Hungary, the Republic of Poland, the Slovak Republic and the Czech Republic, and the topic of this session was the digitalization of pension institutions. Furthermore, the topic of discussion was the sustainability of the pension system in an aging society taking into account various factors that can affect the stability of the pension system, such as e.g. population age, migration, economic status, education, inflation and others. Also, some certain measures and solutions that pension funds and other state institutions must take in order to maintain adequate pension systems were offered. The seminar was attended by about 50 participants, including representatives of the Social Insurance Institute and the acting director of the Institute, Zoran Panović, was the moderator of the 3rd session of the seminar.

September 23, 2021

FUND FOR PENSION AND DISABILITY INSURANCE OF THE REPUBLIKA SRPSKA - PENSIONS ADJUSTMENT

Fund for Pension and Disability Insurance of the Republika Srpska submitted a notification regarding the pensions adjustment, according to which, based on the Decision on extraordinary adjustment of general point and pensions for pensions received by August 31, 2021, pensions are adjusted from September 1, 2021 and increased by 2%.

September 10, 2021

Information to pension recipients from the Slovak Republic about the 13th pension

According to the information provided by the Social Insurance Agency of the Slovak Republic (Sociálna poisťovňa), the Slovak institution will pay the 13th pension to all its beneficiaries, as they did last year. The right to the payment of the 13th pension can be granted to persons who have the right to the payment of the Slovak pension for the month of November 2021. This also applies to pensioners living outside the territory of the Slovak Republic. In order to accomplish the right to the 13th pension and to determine its amount, it is necessary for the beneficiaries of the Slovak pension to inform the Social Insurance Agency of Slovakia (Sociálna poisťovňa) about the last amount of pension received from abroad, including the pension from Serbia. The e-form for this purpose is available on the website of the Social Insurance Institution: Oznamovanie vyplácania dôchodkov z cudziny (Notification of pension payments from abroad). More detailed information on the 13th pension is published on the website of Slovak Republic Social Insurance Agency (www.socpoist.sk).

Jul 9, 2021

ELECTRONIC DATA EXCHENGE REPUBLIC OF SERBIA/REPUBLIC OF AUSTRIA – MEETING OF THE STEERING GROUP

On July, 2021, a meeting of the Steering group was held in Belgrade/Vienna formed within the Project for the Establishment of Electronic Data Exchange in the Implementation of the Agreement between the Republic of Serbia and the Republic of Austria on Social Security.

The meeting was attended by representatives of the Institute for Social Insurance, the Republic Fund for Health Insurance, the Republic Fund for Pension and Disability Insurance and representatives of the Dachverband der österreichischen Sozialversicherung (DVSV).

At the meeting, which was held through a video conference, both sides submitted reports on the activities of working groups so far within the Project for the Establishment of Electronic Data Exchange in the Implementation of the Agreement between the Republic of Serbia and the Republic of Austria on Social Security and agreed on activities that need to be carried out in the coming period.

June 24, 2021

SIGNING OF THE AGREEMENT ON MEDICAL REHABILITATION OF AUSTRIAN INSURED PERSONS AND BENEFICIARIES IN THE REPUBLIC OF SERBIA

On June 22, 2021, in Belgrade, an Agreement between the Special Hospital for Rehabilitation Banja Koviljača and the Institute for Pension Insurance of Austria, which regulates medical rehabilitation of Austrian insured persons, i.e. beneficiaries in the rehabilitation center Banja Koviljača was signed. The contract provides the possibility of medical treatment for Austrian insured persons, i.e. beneficiaries for the area of the musculoskeletal system, starting with the capacity of 30 beds and it is concluded for three years, with the possibility to be extended.

The signing of the contract is the result of very successful cooperation between the institutions of the Republic of Serbia and the Republic of Austria in the field of social insurance and represents the first contract that one rehabilitation center in Serbia concluded with a foreign state pension fund.

On behalf of the Austrian side the contract was signed by Peter Schleinbach, President, Andreas Herz, President and Winfried Pinggera, General Manager, and on behalf of Special Hospital Banja Koviljača, Acting Director Primarius Dr. Aleksandar Jokic.

The contract was signed in the presence of the Minister of Health, Dr. Zlatibor Lončar, the Minister of Labor, Employment, Veterans and Social Affairs, Prof. Dr. Darija Kisić Tepavčević, Ambassador of the Republic of Austria in the Republic of Serbia, Nikolaus Lutterotti, Ambassador of the Republic of Serbia in the Republic of Austria, Nebojša Rodić, Zoran Panović, Acting Director of the Institute for Social Insurance, Dragana Kalinović, Director of the Republic Fund for Pension and Disability Insurance, representatives of the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Labor, Employment, Veterans and Social Affairs and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

After signing the contract, the Austrian delegation visited Special Hospital for Rehabilitation Banja Koviljača.

June 22, 2021

SIGNING OF THE AGREEMENT ON MEDICAL REHABILITATION OF AUSTRIAN INSURED PERSONS AND BENEFICIARIES IN THE REPUBLIC OF SERBIA

In Belgrade, on June 22, 2021, an Agreement between the Special Hospital for Rehabilitation Banja Koviljača and the Institute for Pension Insurance of Austria, which regulates the medical rehabilitation of Austrian insured persons, i.e. beneficiaries in the rehabilitation centre Banja Koviljača, will be signed. The contract provides the possibility for Austrian insured persons, i.e. beneficiaries to be treated in the Special Hospital for Rehabilitation Banja Koviljača for the area of the musculoskeletal system, in their mother tongue.

This project is the result of successful cooperation between the institutions of the Republic of Serbia and the Republic of Austria in the field of social insurance and will contribute to the spread of interest for the medical rehabilitation in the Republic of Serbia.

June 21, 2021

VIDEO CONFERENCE WITH THE LIAISON BODIE OF THE REPUBLIC OF FRANCE - Center for European and International Social Security Relations (CLEISS)

A meeting of the liaison bodies of the Republic of Serbia and the liaison bodies of the Republic of France, was held in Belgrade/Paris from June 15 to 17, 2021 via video conference.

The topic of discussion was the content of bilingual forms in the field of health insurance, pension and disability insurance and family benefits, in order to finalize them and create conditions for the implementation of the Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Serbia and the Government of the French Republic on Social Security, which should enter into force in the coming period.

June 17, 2021

NEGOTIATIONS FOR THE CONCLUSION OF THE SOCIAL SECURITY AGREEMENT WITH THE REPUBLIC OF AZERBAIJAN

In Belgrade, in the period from 14th to 16th of June, 2021, the second round of negotiations between the competent authorities of the Republic of Serbia and the Republic of Azerbaijan for concluding the Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Serbia and the Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan were held. At the meeting, the delegations fully agreed on the content of the provisions of the Agreement, which covers the area of pension and disability insurance.

It was agreed that the next meeting of the two sides will be dedicated to considering the provisions of the Administrative Agreement for the implementation of the Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Serbia and the Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan on social security. The date of the meeting will be determined later.

26 may, 2021

ELECTRONIC DATA EXCHENGE REPUBLIC OF SERBIA/REPUBLIC OF AUSTRIA - WORKING GROUP MEETING - “LAW”

On May 25, 2021, a meeting of the WG "Law" was held in Belgrade/Vienna, formed within the Project for the Establishment of Electronic Data Exchange in the Implementation of the Agreement between the Republic of Serbia and the Republic of Austria on Social Security.

The meeting was attended by representatives of the Institute for Social Insurance, the Republic Fund for Health Insurance, the Republic Fund for Pension and Disability Insurance and the Social Insurance Fund for Military Insured Persons, as well as representatives of the Dachverband der österreichischen Sozialversicherung (DVSV).

At the meeting, which was held through a video conference, the first activities were undertaken in order to create a legal basis for the introduction of electronic data exchange and agreed on appropriate activities that need to be carried out in the coming period.

March 19, 2021

NEGOTIATIONS FOR THE CONCLUSION OF THE SOCIAL SECURITY AGREEMENT WITH THE REPUBLIC OF TUNISIA

In Belgrade/Tunisia, in the period from 16th to 18th March, 2021, via video conference, the III round of negotiations between the competent authorities of the Republic of Serbia and the Republic of Tunisia for concluding the Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Serbia and the Government of the Republic of Tunisia were held. At the meeting, the two delegations fully agreed on the content of the provisions of the Agreement, which covers the areas of health insurance, health care and maternity, pension and disability insurance, insurance in case of injuries at work and occupational diseases and unemployment insurance.

It was agreed that the next meeting will be dedicated to harmonizing the provisions of the provisions of the Administrative Agreement for the implementation of the Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Serbia and the Government of the Republic of Tunisia on social security, and that the next meeting will be held depending on the epidemiological situation.

March 16, 2021

NOTIFICATION FOR PENSION BENEFICIARIES FROM FRANCE

We would like to inform all beneficiaries who receive their pension from the Republic of France, and who have permanent residence in the territory of the Republic of Serbia, that according to the notification we received from the French institution there was a delay in paying their pension benefits in the last few months. The reason for that is the change of competencies and the way of mode of French institutions during the processing of submitted Life Certificates.

In this regard, the Institute for Social Insurance asked the French Liaison body to establish regular payment of pensions for all beneficiaries who have permanent residence in the Republic of Serbia as soon as possible.

Related to the above mentioned, in the future it is necessary that beneficiaries send the Life Certificate form to the following address:

Treatment Center
Retract to the extractor
CS 13 999 Esvres
37321 Tours Cedex 9
Republic of France

At the same time, we remind all pension beneficiaries from the Republic of France that they are obliged to submit a certified form of the Life Certificate once a year, in order to avoid suspensions or delays in the payment of pensions. The form of the Life Certificate can be verified with the Republic Fund for Pension and Disability Insurance (at branch and sub branch offices), the diplomatic-consular mission of the Republic of France in Serbia and with a notary, based on the personal presence of the beneficiary and access into the identity document.

February 25, 2021

DVSV - INFORMATION ON LIFE CERTIFICATES FOR PENSION BENEFICIARIES FROM THE REPUBLIC OF AUSTRIA

The Austrian umbrella organisation of the Social Insurance Agencies informed us that the Austrian side sent a life certificate to pension beneficiaries residing abroad with a request to return the completed, signed and verified form by May 2021. On that occasion the pension beneficiaries also received a notification about pensions adjustment starting from January 1, 2021. If the person does not follow the submitted instructions regarding the delivery of life certificate, the payment of the pension will be temporarily suspended from June 2021.

February 24, 2021

MEDICAL REHABILITATION OF AUSTRIAN INSURED PERSONS AND BENEFICIARIES IN SERBIA

On February 23, 2021, in Belgrade/Vienna, a meeting between the Institute for Social Insurance, Special Hospital for Rehabilitation "Banja Koviljača" and Institute for Pension Insurance of Austria (Pensionsversicherunganstalt), was held, regarding the proposal of the Contract on cooperation between the Special Hospital for Rehabilitation "Banja Koviljača" and Institute for Pension Insurance of Austria, which regulates the issue of providing medical rehabilitation to Austrian insured persons, i.e. beneficiaries in Serbia. At the meeting, which was held via videoconference, all articles of the Contract were harmonized and it was agreed to sign the Contract as soon as possible.

February 23, 2021

ENTRY INTO FORCE OF THE AGREEMENT ON REIMBURSEMENT OF HEALTH EXPENSES BETWEEN THE REPUBLIC OF SERBIA AND THE REPUBLIC OF TURKEY

On December 8, 2020 in Ankara, and on December 30, 2020 in Belgrade, a new Protocol between the liaison bodies of the Republic of Serbia and the Republic of Turkey on reimbursement of health care costs was signed. The protocol has been in force since January 1, 2021.

The new Protocol determines the manner of settling the costs of health care between the competent health insurance providers of the two countries. With the entry into force of the new Protocol, the previous agreement signed on 13 April 2011 in Ankara ceases to be valid.

February 11, 2021

FUND FOR PENSION AND DISABILITY INSURANCE OF THE REPUBLIKA SRPSKA - PENSIONS ADJUSTMENT

Fund for Pension and Disability Insurance of the Republika Srpska submitted a notification regarding the pensions adjustment, according to which, based on the Decision on determining the percentage for of pensions adjustment and the Decision on extraordinary adjustment of general point and pensions, starting from January 1, 2021, the pensions they are paing have been adjusted by 3%.

February 4, 2021

INFORMATION ABOUT THE POSTPONEMENT OF INTERNATIONAL CONSULTING DAYS IN 2021

Due to the current pandemic situation caused by the Covid 19 virus, consulting days planned to be held in 2021 between the competent institutions of the Republic of Serbia and the Republic of Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Hungary, the Republic of Croatia, the Northern Republic of Macedonia, the Federal Republic of Germany, Montenegro, have been postponed until further notice. Regular maintenance of the consulting days will be established when the epidemiological situation allows it, i.e. when there are conditions for the safe organization of consulting days.

Interested parties are kindly requested to follow the notifications on our website regularly in order to be informed on time about the news related to the organization of consulting days.

January 29, 2021

ENTERING INTO FORCE OF THE AGREEMENT ON SOCIAL SECURITY BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF SERBIA AND THE GOVERNMENT THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA

On February 1, 2021, the Agreement on Social Security between the Government of the Republic of Serbia and the Government the People's Republic of China, signed in Belgrade on June 8, 2018 and published in the "Official Gazette of the RS - International Agreements", No. 12/18, аnd Administrative Arrangement for Implementation of the Agreement on Social Security between the Government of the Republic of Serbia and the Government the People's Republic of China shall enter into force.

The Agreement and the Administrative Arrangement regulate the export of benefits to the territory of the other Contracting State, the posting of an employee to work in the territory of the other Contracting State, mutual administrative assistance between the competent authorities of the two States, etc.

January 29, 2021

VIDEO CONFERENCE WITH THE AUSTRIAN UMBRELLA ORGANIZATION OF SOCIAL INSURANCE AGENCIES (DVSV)

A meeting of the steering group formed within the Project of establishing electronic data exchange for the implementation of the Agreement between the Republic of Serbia and the Republic of Austria on social security was held in Belgrade/Vienna on January 27, 2021.

At the meeting which was held via video conference, a discussion was made about the future work of working groups (WG “Law”, WG “Information Technology”, WG “Health insurance - accident at work - applicable legislation”, WG “Health care costs” and WG “Pension and Disability Insurance”) formed by the representatives of Serbian and Austrian institutions in the field of social security and the principles of work, tasks, manner of communication, preparation of reports, etc. were determined. There was discussion about the sets of data that will be exchanged and about the appearance of the forms for data exchange. Finally, further steps and the plan of activities to be carried out within the working groups were agreed at the meeting, as well as the time frame for those future activities.

January 25, 2021

ZPIZ - annual allowance to pension beneficiaries from the Republic of Slovenia

According to the notification of the Institute for Pension and Disability Insurance of Slovenia, the Slovenian competent institution will again this year pay an annual allowanceto their pension beneficiaries residing in the Republic of Serbia (and other countries). For this purpose, by the end of March 2021, Institute for Pension and Disability Insurance of Slovenia will send the form "Statement on the amount of foreign pension" to the beneficiaries who had a residence in the Republic of Serbia on January 1, 2021, with instructions how to return completed form to the Slovenian competent institution.
More detailed information on the annual allowance can be found on Slovenian competent institution website https://www.zpiz.si/cms/content2019/letni-dodatek                  

January 21, 2021

VIDEO CONFERENCE WITH THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION PENSION FUND

On January 19, 2021, talks were held in Belgrade / Moscow between the liaison bodies of the Republic of Serbia and the liaison bodies of the Russian Federation via video conference, on the occasion of the implementation of the Agreement between the Republic of Serbia and the Russian Federation on social security.

The delegation of the Republic of Serbia was led by Mr. Zoran Panovic, Acting Director of the Institute for Social Insurance, and the delegation of the Russian Federation was led by Mr. Sergei Chirkov Alexandrovich, Deputy Chairman of the Board of the Pension Fund of the Russian Federation. This time, the talks were aimed at clarifying the issue and reaching an agreement regarding the procedure and manner of exercising the rights from the pension and disability insurance by applying the Agreement and paying those rights to the beneficiaries. With full understanding, the two delegations reached appropriate agreements on the manner of treatment, which should provide insured persons with the simpler and more efficient exercise of their rights.

The talks took place in a working and friendly atmosphere, and the agreement is to repeat the talks in 2021 to further improve cooperation in this area and assess the implementation of the agreements reached so far.

January 15, 2021

On January 13th, 2021 in Belgrade/Ljubljana via video conference, a meeting between the liaison bodies of the Republic of Serbia and the liaison bodies of the Republic of Slovenia in the field of health insurance was held, regarding the implementation of the new Agreement on reimbursement of health services and bilingual forms, which entered into force on January 1, 2021.

The delegation of the Republic of Serbia was composed of representatives of the Institute for Social Insurance, the Republic Fund for Health Insurance and the Social Insurance Fund of Military Insured Persons, led by the Acting Director of the Institute for Social Insurance Mr. Zoran Panovic, while the Slovenian delegation was led by the Director of the Sector for Insurance and international health insurance in the Health Insurance Institute of Slovenia, Mr. Klemen Ganziti.

At the meeting, the two sides reached appropriate agreements regarding the procedures in different legal situations that are occurring by exercising rights health insurance rights by applying the Agreement between the Republic of Serbia and the Republic of Slovenia on social insurance, as well as regarding the method, procedure and terms for calculating health care costs.

The procedures that should be conducted by the competent institutions in two individual cases of exercising the rights from health insurance were also discussed at the talks. At the same time, the two delegations informed each other about the changes in their legal systems in this area and determined the need to change one bilingual form and jointly concluded that the Agreement is being successfully implemented.

January 6, 2021

MEETING WITH THE LIAISON BODY OF THE REPUBLIC OF SLOVENIA

On January 13th, 2021, meeting between the liaison bodies of the Republic of Serbia and the Republic of Slovenia will be held, where the two delegations will discuss the practical issues of implementing of the new Agreement on Reimbursement of Health Services and the Content of Bilingual Forms that started on January 1st, 2021.

Year 2020

December 22, 2020

NEW AGREEMENT ON REIMBURSEMENT OF HEALTH SERVICES AND CONTENT OF BILINGUAL FORMS WITH SLOVENIA

Starting from January 1, 2021, a new Agreement on Reimbursement of Health Services and the Content of Bilingual Forms between the Republic of Serbia and the Republic of Slovenia in the field of health care will enter into force.

The Agreement, signed in Belgrade on September 5, 2019, by the director of the Institute for Social Insurance, Mr. Zoran Panović, and the director of the Health Insurance Institute of Slovenia, Mr. Marjan Sušelj, stipulates that, in the future, health care costs for all categories of insured of the Contracting States, shall be reimbursed in actual amounts.

The new Agreement changes the way of claiming costs between the competent institutions in the field of health insurance, and beneficiaries, as it has been so far, will continue to exercise their rights under the Agreement.

With the entry into force of the new Agreement, the Agreement on Reimbursement of Health Services and on the Content of Bilingual Forms, which was signed in Ljubljana on November 5, 2010, ceases to be valid.

December 11, 2020

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR PENSIONERS

Based on the Conclusion of the Government of the Republic of Serbia, the Republic Fund for Pension and Disability Insurance, starting from December 17, 2020, will pay financial assistance in the amount of 5,000.00 dinars to all pension beneficiaries, temporary compensation beneficiaries - disabled workers with second and third category of disability, that is, the remaining working abilities (in accordance with Articles 223 and 225 of the Law on Pension and Disability Insurance) and disabled children - beneficiaries of temporary compensation with the Republic Fund for Pension and Disability Insurance, who exercised the right conclusively until the December 9, 2020.

Beneficiaries to whom the decision on the recognition of the right to a pension and other stated rights from the pension and disability insurance will be made after December 9, 2020, the financial assistance will be paid once, after the established payment of the right.

November 26, 2020

BIH - VERIFICATION OF LIFE CERTIFICATE

We remind pension beneficiaries residing in the Republic of Serbia, whose pension is paid by pension insurance institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina - Pension and Disability Insurance Fund of Republika Srpska, or by Federal Institute for Pension and Disability Insurance, to their obligation to submit a verified form of Life Certificate due time, by the end of 2020, in order to confirm the fact of life of the pension beneficiary and to ensure continuity in the payment of the pension.

Everything related to the verification of the Life Certificate, as well as the Life Certificate form itself, you can read and download from the links of the listed institutions:

- Fund for Pension and Disability Insurance of the Republic of Srpska Bijeljina

- Federal Institute for Pension and Disability Insurance Mostar

Verification of the Life Certificate form, without payment of compensation, can be performed in all organizational units of the Republic Fund for Pension and Disability Insurance on the territory of the Republic of Serbia.

At the same time, we remind pension beneficiaries from other contracting states of this obligation, in order to prevent a situation that may cause a suspension of pension payment, due to delays in the delivery of a verified Life Certificate.

November 10, 2020

ZPIZ - INFORMATION ON LIFE CERTIFICATES FOR PENSION BENEFICIARIES FROM THE REPUBLIC OF SLOVENIA

Pension and Disability Insurance Institute of Slovenia submitted an information that at the end of October 2020 they have sent by mail a Life certificate to their pension beneficiaries residing abroad. Beneficiaries must return verified Life certificate by the end of December 2020. Exceptionally, due to extraordinary circumstances related to the Covid-19 epidemic, at personal request of the beneficiary, Slovenian competent institution will pay the pension up to three months after the deadline, if the beneficiary is unable to verified his Life certificate. These beneficiaries are obliged to submit a duly verified Life certificate to the Slovenian competent institution during the extended period of payment.

Life Certificates have been sent only to those beneficiaries of Slovenian pensions who are not covered by the electronic exchange on death data between the competent pension insurance institutions of Serbia and Slovenia.

November 5, 2020

Information to pension recipients from the Slovak Republic about the 13th pension

According to the information provided by the Social Insurance Agency of Slovak Republic (Sociálna poisťovňa), Slovak competent institution will pay the 13th pension to pension recipients who will be entitled to a pension payment in December 2020, this in accordance with the amendments to the legislation of Slovak Republic from April 1, 2020, which introduced this right. This also applies to pensioners living outside the territory of the Slovak Republic. In order to accomplish the right to 13th pension and to determine its amount, it is necessary for you as beneficiary of Slovak pension to inform the Social Insurance Agency of Slovakia (Sociálna poisťovňa), by November 15 2020, about the last amount of the pension you have received from abroad, including a pension from Serbia. The E-form for this purpose is available on the website of the Social Insurance Agency: Oznamovanie vyplácania dôchodkov z cudziny /=Notification of pension payments from abroad/. More detailed information on the 13th pension is published on the website of Slovak Republic Social Insurance Agency (www.socpoist.sk).

October 2, 2020

MEDICAL REHABILITATION OF AUSTRIAN INSURED PERSONS AND BENEFICIARIES IN SERBIA

In Banja Koviljača, On October 1, 2020, a meeting between the Institute for Social Insurance and Special Hospital for Rehabilitation "Banja Koviljača" with the Office of the Attaché for Social Affairs, Health, Care and Consumer Protection in the Embassy of the Republic of Austria in Belgrade, was held, when the proposal of the Contract on cooperation between the Special Hospital for Rehabilitation "Banja Koviljača" and Institute for Pension Insurance of the Republic of Austria (Pensionsversicherunganstalt), which regulates the issue of providing medical rehabilitation to Austrian insured persons, i.e. beneficiaries in Serbia. Further activities have been agreed in order to sign the Contract by the end of the year, and start with the implementation of the Contract from January 1st, 2020.

October 2, 2020

Video conference Bulgaria – NOI

On September 29, 2020, in Belgrade/Sofia, via video conference, meeting between the liaison bodies of the Republic of Serbia and the liaison bodies of the Republic of Bulgaria was held, regarding the implementation of the Agreement between the Republic of Serbia and the Republic of Bulgaria on Social Security and conclusion of the Agreement on Electronic Data Exchange between the competent pension institutions of two countries - the Republic Fund for Pension and Disability Insurance and the National Social Security Institute.

At the meeting, two sides found that the Agreement is being implemented effectively and that the institutions working on the implementation of the Agreement have good cooperation. After that, two sides exchanged their previous experiences in the field of electronic data exchange and discussed legal and technical issues regarding the conclusion of the Agreement. It was agreed to electronically exchange data on the fact of death at the beginning of the cooperation, and later to expand the scope of the exchange to other data in this area. Also, it was agreed that two sides, as soon as possible, together harmonize the text of the Agreement on Electronic Data Exchange, as well as the Technical Protocol, which will be its integral part, in order to start with the implementation of the Agrement and electronic data exchange after the signing of the Agreement.

September 21, 2020

ELECTRONIC DATA EXCHANGE WITH BULGARIA

On September 29th, 2020, a video conference will be held in Belgrade/Sofia between the liaison bodies of the Republic of Serbia and the Republic of Bulgaria - the Institute for Social Insurance and the National Social Security Institute. On that occasion, it will be discussed about the introduction of electronic data exchange between the social security institution of the two countries in the field of pension and disability insurance.

July 24, 2020

VIDEO CONFERENCE WITH THE AUSTRIAN INSTITUTE FOR PENSION INSURANCE

On July 22, 2020, a video conference was held in Belgrade / Vienna between the Institute for Social Insurance of the Republic of Serbia and the Special Rehabilitation Hospital "Banja Koviljača" with the Pension Insurance Institute of the Republic of Austria. The topic of the conference was the implementation of medical rehabilitation projects for Austrian insured persons and pension beneficiaries in the special hospital "Banja Koviljača". Issues related to the implementation of the project were discussed in detail and further activities during 2020 were agreed, in order to start the implementation in early 2021.

July 15, 2020

VERIFICATION OF LIFE CERTIFICATE IN REPUBLIC OF SERBIA

We inform the beneficiaries of foreign pensions who have the obligation to submit Life Certificates to social insurance institution in the countries that pay their pensions, that they can get them in all organizational units of the Republic Pension and Disability Insurance Fund, by submitting a request in one of two offered ways, without the need to come to the counters of the Fund:

• the request can be submitted electronically, via the e-Counter web portal on the front page of the Fund's website pio.rs/Elektronski servisi; if the user has been provided with a Certificate/Life Certificate form by a foreign insurance institution, it is necessary to fill it in, scan it and submit it to the Fund with a scanned ID card for verification, or

• the request can be submitted by mail, as a registered item delivered to the address of the branch of the Pension and Disability Insurance Fund at the place of residence; branch addresses are available on the Fund's website pio.rs/sr/poslovnamreza; along with the completed application, it is necessary to submit the read-out ID card and the filled in Certificate/Life Certificate form.

Please note that if the beneficiarie has not received a Certificate / Life Certificate form from a foreign pension insurance institution, he can also download Life Certificate from the Fund's website https:/ choosing the desired country.pio.rs/sr/obrasci/republicki-fond,

The Fund will certify and deliver the submitted Life Certificates to the user by mail.

June 30, 2020

CZECH SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION - TERMINATION OF THE SIMPLIFIED METHOD OF SENDING A LIFE CERTIFICATE FOR PENSION BENEFICIARIES RESIDING ABROAD

The Czech Social Security Administration (ČSSZ - Česká správa sociálního zabezpečení) submitted a notification that as of July 1, 2020, the obligation to submit a verified Life Certificate by regular mail to the following address: ČSSZ, Křížová 25, 22508 Praha 5, Czech Republic is in force again, which means that the simplified method of verification and sending of the Life Certificate, which was valid during the pandemic caused by the COVID 19 virus, when beneficiaries have sent the completed and self-signed Life Certificate to the Czech institution electronically to the address posta@cssz.cz is abolished.

In case that for objective reasons the pensioner is not able to verify the Life Certificate (for example institutions that perform verification have not yet returned to normal business flows, or international postal traffic is still limited or canceled), CSSA will accept the Life Certificate submitted in the manner that was valid during the state of emergency.

The pension will be paid to the account by default within 4 to 5 weeks after the CSSA receives the Life Certificate.

More information can be found at the CSSS website https://www.cssz.cz/web/en/conditions-for-paying-out-of-pension-benefits-to-persons-with-a-permanent-place-of -residence-outside-the-czech-republic,

Multilingual versions of the Life Certificate can be found at the following link https://www.cssz.cz/web/en/form .

June 12, 2020

CROATIAN PENSION INSURANCE INSTITUTE - LIFE CERTIFICATES

On June 2, 2020, Croatian Pension Insurance Institute completed sending a Life Certificates to their beneficiaries with residence in the Republic of Serbia, those who are not covered by electronic data (17.177 beneficiares), with notice about their obligation to send back completed, signed and verified Life certificate, no later than July 31, 2020. Beneficiaries, who do not submit the Life Certificate within the stipulated deadline, will face suspension of their pension’s payment in September 2020.

June 4, 2020

FUND PDI OF REPUBLIKA SRPSKA – NORMALIZATION OF WORK

Fund for Pension and Disability Insurance of Republika Srpska submitted a notification that starting from June 1, 2020, admission and work with clients have been re-established.

This practically means that the working processes in the Fund for Pension and Disability Insurance of Republika Srpska will return to regular flows starting from June 1, 2020, which will create the conditions to carry out the verification of Life Certificates for sending, as well as enable sending other necessary documents for exercising the rights from pension and disability insurance and their payments.

May 27, 2020

ZPIZ SLOVENIA – END OF THE EPIDEMIC, NORMALIZATION OF WORK

Pension and Disability Insurance Institute of Slovenia submitted a notification that the Government of the Republic of Slovenia made the Decision about ending the COVID-19 epidemic, dated May 31, 2020.

This practically means that the working processes in the Pension and Disability Insurance Institute of Slovenia will return to regular flows starting from June 1, 2020, which will create the conditions to carry out the verification of Life Certificates for sending, as well as enable sending other necessary documents for exercising the rights from pension and disability insurance and their payments.

May 26, 2020

EXTENDED DEADLINE FOR DELIVERY OF LIFE CERTIFICATES

Republic Fund for Pension and Disability Insurance released on the website an information regarding the extended deadline for delivering Life Certificates for 30 days, i.e. until May 30, 2020, for pension beneficiaries residing in the Republic of Slovenia, Republic of Croatia, Montenegro, Republic of Northern Macedonia and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

After the expiration of the deadline, delivery of the life certificate for the pension beneficiaries who have residence in the mentioned countries will continue in usual way.

May 19, 2020

PAYMENT OF FOREIGN PENSIONS – VERIFICATION OF LIFE CERTIFICATES

With abolishment of the state of emergency in the Republic of Serbia the ban on the movement of persons over 65 years of age has been called off. Public institutions, competent for verification of Life certificates among their other competence, have opened their counters and started to work with clients again.

This practically means that all the conditions have been met for pension beneficiaries to act in accordance with the instructions they have received, or will receive from foreign paying institution regarding the verification of Life certificates, i.e. to carry out the verification of the Life Certificate. Verified Life Certificate has to be submitted to the foreign competent institution within the stipulated time interval.

May 8, 2020

NORTHERN MACEDONIA - LIFE CERTIFICATE

The Pension and Disability Insurance Fund of North Macedonia announced that they will continue to pay pensions to beneficiaries who reside outside the territory of North Macedonia, even in the event of failure to submit a Life Certificate, while the extraordinary circumstances caused by the COVID-19 virus pandemic continue.

After the conditions for verification of the life certificate are met, the users will be obliged to submit the Life Certificate by mail to the Pension and Disability Insurance Fund of North Macedonia within 30 days.

April 24, 2020. godine

According to the information received from the Fund for Pension of the Russian Federation, the process of confirming the fact of life, as a condition for the undisturbed and continuous payment of the pension, in relation to the beneficiaries of the Russian pension to which the pension is paid in the territory of the Republic of Serbia, remained unchanged during the extraordinary circumstances caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. This practically means that, as before, it is necessary to proceed with regular verification of the Certificate of Life and its delivery via the Republic Fund for Pension and Disability, quarterly, to the Russian competent institution. In case that due to the failure to deliverance the Certificate of Life came to the suspension of payments, the payout will be restored after performing certification of confirmation of life, for a maximum period of 3 years.

April 22, 2020. godine

The Czech Social Security Administration (CSSA - Česká správa sociálního zabezpečení) has announced a mode for paying pensions abroad during the COVID-19 virus pandemic, on their web site: https://www.cssz.cz/web/cz/-/vyplata-duchodu-do-zahranici-v-dobe-mimoradne-pandemicke-situace-covid-19,

Pensioners living abroad who receive the pension from the Czech pension insurance via their bank accounts will continue to be paid on the basis of the submitted Life Certificate.

For the duration of state of emergency, until 31 May 2020 at the latest (this date may change over time), the CSSA will accept a Certificate of Living even without official verification of the pensioner’s handwritten signature. The Certificate of Living form is available in Czech on the CSSA website https://eportal.cssz.cz/web/portal/tiskopisy-seznam-eu;

The recipient of the pension shall simply fill in the form, sign and date it and send it to the CSSA. In addition, the pensioner shall indicate the reason why the signature has not been officially verified, e.g. a state of emergency in the relevant country.

The Certificate of Living may be sent by post to: ČSSZ, Křížová 25, 22508 Praha 5.

With regard to the fact that some states may temporarily limit or even completely discontinue international postal services, clients may scan and/or take photographs of such completed and signed Certificates of Living and send them to CSSA electronically, i.e. by e-mail to posta@cssz.cz.

The pension will be paid to the account by default within 4 to 5 weeks after the CSSA receives the Certificate of Living.

Multilingual versions of the Certificate of Living can also be found at https://www.cssz.cz/web/en/forms.

April 22, 2020. godine

In order to enable the payment of foreign pensions to residents of the Republic of Serbia who, due to the state of emergency and the spread of the COVID-19 virus, are unable to submit their life certificates due time, we inform the beneficiaries that an agreement has been reached with the competent institutions for pension insurance of certain countries, allowing continuous payment of pensions during emergency situations evan in cases of failure to provide a life certificate. These are the following countries:

- Canada,
- Netherlands,
- Bulgaria
- Austria,
- Croatia,
- Slovenia,
- Cyprus,
- Italy,
- Denmark,
- Montenegro,
- Hungary,
- North Macedonia,
- Luxembourg,
- France

Switzerland and Slovakia inform beneficiaries of pension that they need to confirm the fact of life themselves by submitting the completed certificate by e-mail. You can read more about it on our page News (available only in Serbian language).

For now, France has extended the deadline for submitting life certificates by two months.

Also, according to the notification of the German Federal Pension Insurance, the beneficiaries of the German pension is paid in the Republic of Serbia are not obliged to submit a verified Life Certificate in 2020 due to the situation occurred. The German pension insurance institutions will inform their beneficiaries in the following period by letter, and this will also be done through the website by the German Post, which is in charge of the payment of pensions. Information on this topic can also be obtained from the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Belgrade.

Most important is that, in the event of the death of a beneficiary of the right (pensioner), it is necessary to notify the competent institution immediately.

About reaching an agreement with the institutions of other countries beneficiaries will be informed in due course.

April 21, 2020. godine

The Fund for Pension and Disability Insurance of Montenegro has informed that for the pension beneficiaries residing in the Republic of Serbia there will not be suspension from the payment of pensions during extraordinary circumstances caused by the spread of the Covid-19 virus pandemic in cases of late delivery of a Life Certificate.

April 21, 2020. godine

The Fund for Pension and Disability Insurance of the Republic of Srpska has informed that for all pension beneficiaries residing in the Republic of Serbia, who submitted their Life Certificates by March 17, 2020, pensions were paid for January, February and March 2020. years. For beneficiaries who will submit a Life Certificate and who have not done so in the previous period, the Fund will establish a pension payment immediately upon receipt of the certificate.

April 21, 2020. godine

An agreement was reached with the Federal Institute for Pension and Disability Insurance of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina to establish the payment of pensions to all beneficiaries residing in the Republic of Serbia whose payment was suspended in the previous period due to failure to provide a Life Certificate. The payment will be established after the necessary data are exchanged in co-operation with the Republic Fund for Pension and Disability Insurance of the Republic of Serbia and appropriate checks are made in databases about the fact of life of the beneficiaries.

April 6, 2020. godine

Hungarian State Treasury - The Pension Sector has provided information to notify its beneficiaries of pensions residing abroad (in the Republic of Serbia) that, due to the situation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, it will not suspend the payment of a pension due to failure to provide a Life Certificate. The regular payment of pensions will continue without interruption and will last for a maximum of two months after the end of the state of emergency introduced in Hungary.

After the end of the state of emergency in Hungary, the Directorate for the Payment of Pensions of the Hungarian Treasury will again send to the beneficiaries of pensions a new Life Certificate, which must be completed, verified and returned to Hungary within the specified time period in order to continue the uninterrupted payment of pensions.

April 6, 2020. godine

According to information obtained today from the Pension and Disability Insurance Fund of Northern Macedonia, due to the situation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the pension insurance of Northern Macedonia will not suspend pensions to its beneficiaries who have not submitted a verified Life Certificate due time.

It was point out that in the event of the death of the beneficiary, it is necessary to notify the pension institution immediately, ie the Pension and Disability Insurance Fund of Northern Macedonia.

April 3, 2020. godine

Notice to beneficiaries that receive pension from Germany.

The German Federal Pension Insurance (Deutsche Rentenversicherung Bund) notifies beneficiaries of German pensions of a simplified procedure for submitting a Life Certificate, that is, due to the situation caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, they are not obliged to verify the Life Certificate in 2020.

Persons receiving pensions from Germany and living abroad (Republic of Serbia) will receive a letter from their pension funds paying them a pension, in the coming period, and a Certificate of Life, stating that their certification is not required by the authorities in the country of residence (Republic of Serbia). The same notice is available on the website of the German Post (Deutsche Post AG / Renten Service) and the German Pension Insurance (Deutsche Rentenversicherung). Information on this topic can also be obtained from the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Belgrade.

If the person is a beneficiary of a foreign pension and lives in Germany, at his request, the German pension holders will issue a Certificate of Life, stating: "The certificate is issued on the basis of a current payment by Deutsche Rentenversicherung".

In addition, the German Post, as the payer of pensions, informs that there may be a sertain delay in the delivery of checks to persons who receive their entitlements through postal checks. For this reason, they recall the possibility of switching to direct payments through banks instead of checks. More information about this can be found on the following website of German Post / Pension Service:

Instructions in German

Instructions in English

April 3, 2020. godine

We inform the beneficiaries who receive a pension from France that the deadline for submitting a verified Certificate of Life has been extended by an additional two months.

Person who have received from French institution for pension, at their home address, a Certificate of Life to be completed, verified and returned to the French insurance institution, so far had 2 months to do so. This deadline has been extended by two more months and counts from the date of receipt of the Certificate of Life.

There will be no suspension of the payment of pensions from France during that period.

March 31, 2020. godine

We inform pensioners who receive pensions from Slovakia that their pension payments will continue to be paid uninterrupted.

Exceptionally, while there is a state of emergency and special circumstances that prevent the verification of the Certificate of Life, if you receive a pension from the Slovak Republic, you can submit the required Certificate by verifying it yourself. This means that the pensioner himself/herself confirms the Certificate of Life by signing it, with the submission of a copy (photo) of his/her ID card or passport. The Slovak Republic will also accept self-written Certificates of Life.

You can send a life certificate to the following address in Slovakia: podatelna@socpoist.sk

More information can be found on the website of the Slovak liaison body (Sociálna poistovna), which will be available shortly in English and German:
https://www.socpoist.sk/aktuality-dochodcovia-v-zahranici-dostanu-dochodky--aj-ked-nestihli-predlozit-doklad-o-ziti/1794s68397c?

Most important is, in the event of the death of a beneficiary of the right (pensioner), it is necessary to notify the competent institution immediately, in any of the above mentioned ways.

March 31, 2020. godine

We inform pensioners who receive their old-age, family and disability pensions from Switzerland that their pensions will continue to be paid uninterrupted.

Exceptionally, while there is a state of emergency and special circumstances that prevent the verification of the Certificate of Life, if you receive a pension from the Swiss Confederation, you can submit the requested Certificate by verifying it yourself. This means that the pensioner himself/herself confirms the Certificate of Life by signing it, with the submission of a copy (photo) of his/her ID card or passport.

These documents can be submitted in several ways:

by e-mail: : AVS-46@zas.admin.ch

by fax: +41 58 461 97 05

Further information and possible consultations can be found at the following website: www.zas.admin.ch or by telephone +41 58 461 91 11.

Most important is, in the event of the death of a beneficiary of the right (pensioner), it is necessary to notify the competent institution immediately, in any of the above mentioned ways.

March 27, 2020. godine

In order to make the payment of the annual allowance to pension beneficiaries from the Republic of Slovenia, residing in the Republic of Serbia, having in mind the difficulty of carrying out postal traffic due to the state of emergency caused by the COVID-19 virus pandemic, the Pension and Disability Insurance Institute of Slovenia invited the quoted beneficiaries to provide information on the amount of the payment of foreign pensions in January 2020 (from the Republic of Serbia or from another country) by submitting it online, in accordance with the instructions provided to them by mail, with the form " Report on the amount of foreign pension". At the same time, the Slovenian Institute stated that the submission of data via the Internet is free, secure and easy should provide timely and uninterrupted payment of the annual allowance.

Beneficiaries who submit the requested information by 30 April 2020 can expect payment by September 30, 2020, and beneficiaries who submit information by September 30, 2020, can expect payment of the annual allowance by the end of 2020. In case the beneficiaries do not send the data on the amount of the foreign pension to the Pension and Disability Insurance Institute of Slovenia by 30 September 2020, the annual allowance will be paid in the minimum amount, i.e. in the amount of the corresponding proportional part.

March 25, 2020. godine

In order to enable the payment of foreign pensions to residents of the Republic of Serbia who, due to the state of emergency and the spread of the COVID-19 virus, are unable to submit their life certificates due time, we inform the beneficiaries that an agreement has been reached with the competent institutions for pension insurance of certain countries, allowing continuous payment of pensions during emergency situations evan in cases of failure to provide a life certificate. These are the following countries:

- Canada,
- Netherlands,
- Bulgaria
- Austria,
- Croatia,
- Slovenia,
- Cyprus,
- Italy

About reaching an agreement with the institutions of other countries beneficiaries will be informed in due course.

February 25, 2020

In Baku, from 18 to 20 of February, the first round of negotiations between the delegations of the Republic of Serbia and the Republic of Azerbaijan regarding the conclusion of the Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Serbia and the Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan on social security was held. The delegation of the Republic of Serbia was led by Mr. Zoran Milošević, Acting Assistant Minister in Ministry of Labor, Employment, Veterans and Social Affairs, and delegation of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Mr. Mustafa Abasbajli, Advisor to the Minister of Labor and Social Welfare.

At the meeting two delegations exchanged information on social security legislation in the Republic of Serbia and the Republic of Azerbaijan. After that, a detailed analysis of the draft of the Agreement was made and certain numbers of articles were agreed. It was agreed to hold the next round of negotiations in Serbia, Belgrade, in the second half of 2020, in order to finalize the text of the Agreement.

January 31, 2020

In Belgrade, on January 30 and 31, 2020, on the initiative of Institute for Social Insurance, in cooperation with the Office of the Attaché for Labor, Social Affairs, Health and Consumer Protection of the Embassy of the Republic of Austria in Belgrade, the Director of the Social Security Service for Entrepreneurs - Sozialversicherungsanstalt der Selbständigen (SVS), Mr Hans Aubauer, has visited competent institutions in the Republic of Serbia for the field of social security. At the meetings information regarding the organization of social security institutions and their competence were exchanged and social security systems and ongoing reforms in Serbia and Austria were presented. The meetings were held with representatives of the Ministry of Labor, Employment, Veterans and Social Affairs, Institute for Social Insurance, Republic Fund for Pension and Disability Insurance and Republic Fund for Health Insurance.
It was agreed to intensify cooperation between the institutions of two countries for the purpose of more efficient implementation of the Agreement between the Republic of Serbia and Republic of Austria in the field of social security.

January 10, 2020

On March 1st, 2020, the Agreement between the Republic of Serbia and the Republic of Greece on social security shall enter into force. The Agreement was signed in Thessaloniki on 13 July 2017 and published in the Official Gazette of Republic of Serbia - International Treaties ", No. 9/2018 and the Official Journal of the Hellenic Republic, No. 198, part A, of 9 December 2019.
The agreement covers the area of pension and disability insurance and enable realisation of rights in this area in the Contracting States. The competent institution to resolve the requests for exercising the right to retirement and disability insurance by applying the Agreement, in the Republic of Serbia is Republic Fund for Retirement and Disability Insurance, while in the Republic of Greece it is Unified Social Security Fund (EFKA): Unified Social Security Fund, International Insurance Relations, 8, Agiou Konstantinou str, Athens 102 41, GREECE (phone +30 210 6783661, website: http://www.efka.gov.gr).

Year 2019

December 17, 2019

In the period of December 10-12, 2019, in Belgrade, the liaison body of the Republic of Serbia and the liaison bodies of the Republic of Austria held talks, regarding the implementation of the Agreement between the Republic of Serbia and the Republic of Austria on Social Insurance, in the field of health insurance and pension and disability insurance.
The delegation of the Republic of Serbia was led by Mr. Zoran Panović, Acting Director of the Institute for Social Insurance, and the delegation of the Republic of Austria, Mr. Peter Wieninger, Head of the Department for International Affairs, to the General Association of Austrian Social Security Institutions.
The two sides exchanged information on changes that have occurred in the legislation of the two countries, as well as lists of contact persons. The Austrian side has notified about the organizational changes of the social security institutions and liaison bodies in the Republic of Austria, which will take place from 1 January 2020.
At the meeting it was agreed on further steps in the process of concluding the Agreement on electronic exchange of information in the field of health insurance and pension and disability insurance, and it was discussed about the initiative of the Serbian side to move on to the calculation of actual health care costs for all categories of insured persons.

December 5, 2019

International Consalting Days between pension competent institutions of the Republic of Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina will be held on December 16 2019 in Užice and December 17 2019 in Belgrade. On that occasion, the experts from Republic Fund for Pension and Disability Insurance, Fund for Pension and Disability Insurance of the Republika Srpska and Federal Institute for Pension and Disability Insurance in direct contact and discussion, will provide an expert assistance and advice to interested persons regarding the exercise of rights from pension and disability insurance, based on the periods of insurance completed in the Republic of Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. This consalting is free.
Persond interested in coming to the consalting days in Užice and Belgrade, should register their arrival in accordance with the instructions given in the posters attached.

Poster, Užice

Poster, Belgrade

December 4, 2019

International Consalting Days between pension competent institutions of the Republic of Serbia and Montenegro will be held on December 12 2019 in Niš and December 13 2019 in Belgrade. On that occasion, the experts from Republic Fund for Pension and Disability Insurance and Fund for Pension and Disability Insurance of Montenegro in direct contact and discussion, will provide an expert assistance and advice to interested persons regarding the exercise of rights from pension and disability insurance, based on the periods of insurance completed in the Republic of Serbia and Montenegro. This consalting is free.
Persond interested in coming to the consalting days in Niš or Belgrade, should register their arrival in accordance with the instructions given in the posters attached

Poster, Niš

Poster, Belgrade

November, 19-21, 2019

In Moscow, between 19 and 21 November 2019, meeting was held between the liaison bodies of the Republic of Serbia and of the Russian Federation regarding issues raised in the implementation of the Agreement between the Republic of Serbia and the Russian Federation on social security signed December 19, 2017, since its entry into force March 1, 2019.

Certain issues in the field of pension and disability insurance relating to the exercise of the right to retirement in both Contracting States and the conduct of competent institutions in certain contentious situations were discussed. Related to, certain agreements have been reached that should contribute to the equal treatment of the holders of both states, to establish a single practice and to facilitate the exercise of rights for insured and beneficiaries. The need for introducing electronic data exchange between competent authorities was jointly stated and further steps were agreed with a view to concluding such an agreement.

After analyzing the previous period of application of the Agreement, the need to amend certain bilingual forms was identified in order to more effectively implement the Agreement.

The delegation of the Republic of Serbia was led by the Director of the Social Insurance Institution, Mr. Zoran Panović, and the delegation of the Russian Federation by the Deputy Chairman of the Board of the Pension Fund of the Russian Federation, Mr. Sergey Cirkov.

November 7, 2019

In Belgrade, on November 5 and 6, 2019, meeting between the liaison body of Republic of Serbia and the liaison body of Montenegro have been held, regarding to the implementation of the Agreement between Republic of Serbia and Republic of Montenegro on Social Insurance, in the field of pension and invalidity insurance.

At the meeting issues regarding to the implementation of the Agreement, recalculation of pensions and pension payments, and electronic data exchange, were discussed. The information about the changes in legislations in the area of pension and disability insurance in both Contracting States, as well as the information regarding the newly concluded international agreements in the field of social security, were exchanged. Certain agreements have been reached that should contribute to a better and more effective implementation of the Agreement.

November 4, 2019

The second round of negotiations between the delegations of the Republic of Serbia and the Republic of Tunisia took place in Tunis from 28 to 31 October 2019 in order to conclude the Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Serbia and the Government of the Republic of Tunisia on social security.

Two delegations carried out a detailed analysis of the draft Agreement and agreed on most of the articles.

The next round of negotiations will take place in Serbia, Belgrade, in the first half of 2020, with the aim to finalize the text of the Agreement and harmonization of the provisions of Draft Administrative Agreement for the implementation of the Agreement.

October 28, 2019

International Consalting Days between the pension institutions of the Republic of Serbia and Hungary will be held on November 5 of 2019, in Senta. On that occasion, experts of the pension insurance institutions of both countries will, in direct contact and discussion, provide an expert assistance and advice to interested persons regarding the exercise of rights from pension insurance, based on the periods of insurance completed in the Republic of Serbia and Hungary. Professional assistance is free, with aim to inform interested persons about the conditions for exercising rights from pension insurance, the amount and payments of benefits, about the completed periods of insurance, about the status of the claims they submitted, as well as other issues in this area.Persons interested in coming to the consalting days in Senta, should register their arrival in accordance with the instructions given in the poster attached.

Poster Senta

October 23, 2019

In Berlin, on October 17, 2019, meeting between Institute for Social Insurance and German Federal Pension Insurance and German Pension Insurance Bavaria South was held, at which the results of the International Consulting Days held between the competent institutions for pension and disability insurance of the Republic of Serbia and the Federal Republic of Germany in 2018 and 2019 have been evaluated, and dates and places for holding the Consulting Days in 2020 and 2021 have been agreed. It was also agreed to introduce a new form of co-operation between the two countries - the exchange of experts, and in that sense it was agreed to arrange this visit in 2020 in Landshut and in 2021 in Belgrade.

At the same time, at the meeting two contracting states exchanged information about changes in their legislation in the field of pension and disability insurance.

October 23 2019

The World Social Security Forum and the 33rd General Assembly of the International Social Security Association (ISSA) took place in Brussels (Kingdom of Belgium) from 14 to 18 October 2019 and 1200 people from 330 different organizations from 140 countries participated.

Within the five-day work, a large number of sessions, panels and presentations were held, presenting the views of states and social security institutions on possible ways for dealing with new challenges related to the digital economy and new forms of work, due to the increasing technological, economic and demographic changes in the the world, population aging and other challenges facing the welfare systems of countries in the world. Organizations and institutions from all continents were represented at the Forum.

Within the Forum, charters and plaques were awarded to individuals and institutions for the contributions they made to promoting social security and promoting the ideas of this largest social security organization in the world.

Belgium, as a host country of this large gathering, has made the presentation about their social security system and the some solutions applied by their social security institutions.

Representatives of the Institute for Social Insurance, as an associate member of the International Social Security Association, also participated in the Forum, and made numerous international contacts. Among others, a meeting between the Director of the Institute for Social Insurance, Mr. Zoran Panović, and the Secretary General of the International Social Security Association, Mr. Marcelo Abi-Ramia Caetano, was held, and the possibility of establishing closer cooperation and organizing joint activities in the upcoming period was discussed.

October 10 2019

In Ljubljana, on October 8 and 9 2019, in the Institute for Pension and Disability Insurance of the Republic of Slovenia (ZPIZ), meeting between the liaison body of Republic of Serbia and the liaison body of Republic of Slovenia was held, regarding to the implementation of the Agreement between the Republic of Serbia and the Republic of Slovenia on Social Insurance, in the field of pension and invalidity insurance.

At the meeting issues regarding to the implementation of the agreement on social insurance, recalculation of pensions and pension payments, and electronic data exchange, were discussed. The information about the changes in legislations in the area of pension and disability insurance in both Contracting States, as well as the information regarding the newly concluded international agreements in the field of social security, were exchanged. Certain agreements have been reached that should contribute to a better and more effective implementation of the Agreement.

Octobert 4, 2019

International Consalting Days between pension competent institutions of the Republic of Serbia and the Republic of Croatia, of will be held on October 15, 2019 in Novi Sad and October 16, 2019, in Belgrad. On that occasion, the experts from Republic Fund for Pension and Disability Insurance, the Croatian Institute for Pension Insurance in direct contact and discussion, will provide an expert assistance and advice to interested persons regarding the exercise of rights from pension and disability insurance, based on the periods of insurance completed in the Republic of Serbia and Republic of Croatia. This consalting is free.

Persons interester in coming to he consalting days in Novi Sad and Belgrade should register their arrival in accordance with the instructions given in the poster attached.

Poster, Beograd

Poster, Novi Sad

October 1 - 4, 2019

In Belgrade, from October 1-4, 2019, meeting between the liaison bodies of the Republic of Serbia and the liaison bodies of the Republic of France was held, where is agreed on the content of bilingual forms, for the field of pension and disability insurance and family benefits, with the aim of creating conditions for the implementation of the Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Serbia and the Government of the French Social Security and the Administrative Agreement for the implementation of the Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Serbia and the Government of the French Social Security upon their entry into force.

September 23. – 27, 2019

In Warsaw, Poland, from 23rd to 27th September 2019, negotiations between the competent ministers of the two countries were held discussing the draft of the new Social Security Agreement, which would replace the existing Convention on Social Security between the Government of the Federal People's Republic of Yugoslavia and the Government of the People's Republic of Poland from 1958. A number of articles of the new Agreement were agreed upon during the negotiations and it was agreed that the next round of negotiations would take place in Belgrade during 2020.

September 20, 2019

International consalting days between Republic Fund for Pension and Disability Insurance and Institute for Pension Insurance of the Republic of Austria will be held on October 1, 2019 in Linc and October 2 2019, in Vienna. On that occasion, the experts of the pension insurance institutions of both countries, in direct contact and discussion, will provide appropriate expert assistance and advice to interested persons regarding the exercise of rights from pension and disability insurance, based on the work and periods of insurance completed in the Republic of Serbia and the Republic of Austria.

Professional assistance is free and organized every year in Serbia in April and in Austria in October in different cities in order to inform interested persons about the conditions for exercising the rights from pension insurance, about the amount and payment of benefits, about the completed periods of insurance, about the status of the claims they submitted, as well as about other issues in this area.

Persons interester in coming to he consalting days in Linc and Vienna should register their arrival in accordance with the instructions given in the poster attached.

Poster, Linz

Poster, Vienna

September 12, 2019

International consalting days between German pension competent institution and the Republic Fund for Pension and Disability Insurance of the Republic of Serbia will be held on September 24, 2019 in Kraljevo and September 25 and 26 2019, in Belgrade. On that occasion, the experts of the pension insurance institutions of both countries, in direct contact and discussion, will provide appropriate expert assistance and advice to interested persons regarding the exercise of rights from pension and disability insurance, based on the work and periods of insurance completed in the Republic of Serbia and the Federal Republic of Germany.

Professional assistance is free and organized every year in Germany in March and in Serbia in September in different cities and aims to inform interested persons about the conditions for exercising the rights from pension insurance, the amount and payment of benefits, years of service achieved, as well as on the state of the proceedings on the request that they submitted and about other issues in this area.

Persons interester in coming to he consalting days in Kraljevo and Belgrade should register their arrival in accordance with the instructions given in the poster attached.

Poster, Kraljevo

Poster, Beograd

September 10 - 11, 2019

In Belgrade, on 10 and 11 September 2019, meeting between the liaison body of the Republic of Serbia and the liaison body of the Republic of Turkey was held regarding the implementation of the Agreement between the Republic of Serbia and the Republic of Turkey on social security in the field of health insurance and pension and disability insurance.

On this occasion, bearing in mind that the liaison bodies meeting were not held since the beginning of the implementation of the Agreement at the end of 2013, the experience gained during that period was reviewed and the issues that hinder its effective implementation were discussed. Information on the legislation of the two countries were exchanged, lists of contact persons for the implementation of the Agreement were updated as well as the addresses of the branch office of the competent institutions.

The process of reimbursement of health care costs was discussed and further cooperation was agreed in order to conclude a new Protocol on reimbursement of health care costs.

The delegation of the Republic of Serbia was led by the Director of the Institute for Social Insurance, Mr. Zoran Panović, and the delegation of the Republic of Turkey by the Director of the General Directorate for Retirement Services at the Social Security Institution, Mr. İsmail Yilmaz.

September 10, 2019

International Consalting Days between pension competent institutions of the Republic of Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina will be held on 17-18 September 2019 in Zenica. On that occasion, the experts from Republic Fund for Pension and Disability Insurance, Fund for Pension and Disability Insurance of the Republika Srpska and Federal Institute for Pension and Disability Insurance in direct contact and discussion, will provide an expert assistance and advice to interested persons regarding the exercise of rights from pension and disability insurance, based on the periods of insurance completed in the Republic of Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. This consalting is free.

Persond interested in coming to the consalting days in Zenica, should register their arrival in accordance with the instructions given in the poster attached

Poster, Zenica

September 6, 2019

In August from 27 to 29 2019, an expert visit of the delegation from the Institute for Pension Insurance of the Republic of Austria (Pensionsversicherunganstalt - PVA) to rehabilitation centers and special hospitals in the Republic of Serbia was organized. The purpose of the visit was to get acquainted with the medical standards and procedures of the rehabilitation centers and with the treatment and process of medical rehabilitation of the insured persons and beneficiaries. This visit is a continuation of the activities carried out by the competent institutions of the Republic of Serbia and the Republic of Austria since 2017, in order to establis institutional cooperation and provide the posibility for Austrian insured persons and beneficiaries to rehabilitate and to recover in rehabilitation centers in the Republic of Serbia. The visit included detour of Rehabilitation Institute „Selters“ Mladenovac, Special Hospital „Merkur“ Vrnjacka Banja, Special Hospital "Cigota" Zlatibor and Special Hospital for Rehabilitation „Banja Koviljaca“.

September 5, 2019

On 5 September 2019, meeting between the liaison body of the Republic of Serbia and the liaison body of the Republic of Slovenia was held regarding the implementation of the Agreement between the Republic of Serbia and the Republic of Slovenia on social security in the field of health insurance.

The Director of the Institute for Social Insurance, Mr. Zoran Panović, and the Director of the Health Insurance Institute of Slovenia, Mr. Marjan Sušelj, have signed an Agreement on reimbursement of health care costs and on the content of bilingual forms. The new agreement will, in the future, reimburse the cost of the health care provided to the insured of Contracting States in real amounts, rather than by paying monthly lump sums. This method of payment will apply from 1 July 2020.

The two delegations discussed the continuation of work on the conclusion of the Protocol on the Electronic Data Exchange in the field of Health Care and Mandatory Health Insurance.

June 20 - 21, 2019

In Belgrade, on June 20 and 21 June 2019, the meeting between the liaison bodies of the Republic of Serbia and the People's Republic of China was held. The delegation of the People's Republic of China was led by Mr. Jia Huaibin, General Director of the Social Insurance Administration, while the Serbian delegation, comprised of representatives of the Institute for Social Insurance, the Ministry of Labor, Employment and Social Affairs, the Republic Health Insurance Fund and the Republic the Pension and Disability Insurance Fund, was led by Mr. Zoran Panović, Director of the Institute for Social Insurance.

At the meeting the procedures for the implementation of the Administrative Agreement for Implementation of the Agreement on Social Security between the Government of the Republic of Serbia and the Government of the People's Republic of China were discussed. Administrative Agreement should be signed by the end of the year. Delegations agreed trilingual forms that will be an integral part of the Administrative Agreement, thus creating the conditions for its signing.

During the work, Mr. Zoran Djordjevic, Minister of Labor, Employment, Veterans' Affairs and Social Issues greeted the representatives of the People's Republic of China and on that occasion he was pleased with the progress of social security cooperation between the two traditionally friendly countries.

June 20 - 21, 2019

In Ohrid, in the Republic of Northern Macedonia, on June 20 and 21, 2019, the 11th meeting of the directors of pension and disability insurance competent institutions of the states formed at the former SFRY federation was held and it was organized by the Pension and Disability Insurance Fund of Northern Macedonia. Representatives of the Institute for Pension Insurance of the Republic of Austria and the Institute for Social Insurance of the Republic of Albania were also present at the event. Participants were welcomed by Mila Carovska, Minister of Labor and Social Security of Northern Macedonia.

At the meeting the delegations exchanged information related to the implementation of mutually concluded bilateral agreements on social insurance, referring to the issues of exercising rights from pension and disability insurance, reimbursement of pensions, electronic data exchange and appropriate conclusions were reached, whose implementation in the upcoming period should provide greater efficiency in the implementation of social security agreements in this area and faster exercise of the rights of insured persons and beneficiary countries. The central topic of this meeting was the "Perspective of the movement of the number of pensioners in the next ten years", which was concluded after the presented presentations that migration and demography in the countries from the former SFRY region are serious and the main problem we encounter and which have enormous the impact on the sustainability of pension systems and that an adequate response must be found for those challenges.

The next meetings will be held in 2020 in the Republic of Croatia, and will be organized by the Croatian Institute for Pension Insurance.

June 12 - 13, 2019

In Bijeljina, on June 12 and 13, 2019, meeting between the liaison body of Republic of Serbia and the liaison body of Bosnia and Herzegovina regarding the implementation of the Agreement between the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and Bosnia and Herzegovina on social security in the field of pension and disability insurance was held. During the meeting, two sides have disscused issues and problems which have been appearing in the process of the implementation of the Agreement, and find some solution for better implementation. At the same time, the results of the International Days of Consalting between the competente pension institution of the Republic of Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina held from 2015 to 2018 were discussed and it was agreed to hold the consalting days twice a year, as used to, organized by the Republic of Serbia, i.e. by Bosnia and Herzegovina.

May 24, 2019

In the period of May 20-23, 2019, in Paris, the liaison body of the Republic of Serbia and the liaison bodies of the Republic of France held talks with the goal to secure the necessary conditions for the implementation of the new Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Serbia and the Government of the Republic of France on Social Security, after its entry into force, in the sense of establishing adequate bilingual forms for the implementation of the Agreement in the field of health insurance, pension and disability insurance and family benefits (the right to child allowance). The French delegation was led by Mr. Philippe Sanson, Director of the Center for European and International Connections in the Field of Social Insurance (CLEISS), and the Serbian delegation, by Mr. Zoran Panović, Director of the Institute for Social Insurance.

In the framework of the discussion, on May 23rd of 2019, a special meeting was held with the representatives of the National Old Age Insurance Fund (CNAV) - the Directorate for International Relations and the Institute for Pension and Occupational Health (CARSAT) in charge of persons residing in Serbia, in order to clarify the manner of acting in the procedures for resolving claims for exercising the rights in the field of pension and disability insurance by applying the General Convention on Social Security between Yugoslavia and France.

May 8, 2019

International advisory days between the pension institutions of the Republic of Serbia and Hungary will be held on May 14 of 2019, in Budapest. On that occasion, experts of the pension insurance institutions of both countries will, in direct contact and discussion, provide appropriate professional help and advice to interested parties in connection with the exercise of rights arising from pension and disability insurance, on the basis of work and insurance realized in the Republic of Serbia and Hungary. Professional assistance is free, with the aim to inform interested persons about the conditions for the exercise of the rights arising from pension insurance, the amount and payments of benefits, periods of insurance accomplished, state of claims filed and on other issues in this field. Interested parties can report their arrival on the days of consultations in Budapest in accordance with the instructions listed in the poster that appears in the annex.

Poster, Budapest

May 6, 2019

International advisory days between the Republic Fund for Pension and Disability Insurance of the Republic of Serbia and the Fund for Pension and Invalidity Insurance of North Macedonia will be held on May 14, 2019 in Leskovac and on May 15, 2019 in Vranje. On that occasion, experts of the pension insurance institutions of both countries will, in direct contact and discussion, provide appropriate professional help and advice to interested parties in connection with the exercise of rights arising from pension and disability insurance, on the basis of work and insurance realized in the Republic of Serbia and Republic of North Macedonia. Professional assistance is free and the aim is to inform interested persons about the conditions for the exercise of the rights arising from pension insurance, the amount and payments of benefits, periods of insurance accomplished, state of claims filed and on other issues in this field. Interested parties can report their arrival on the days of consultations in Leskovac or Vranje in accordance with the instructions listed in the posters that appear in the annex.

Poster, Leskovac

Poster, Vranje

April 25, 2019

International advisory days between the Republic Fund for Pension and Disability Insurance of the Republic of Serbia and the Croatian Institute for Pension Insurance will be held on May 8, 2019 in Zagreb and on May 9, 2019 in Slavonski Brod. On that occasion, experts of the pension insurance institutions of both countries will, in direct contact and discussion, provide appropriate professional help and advice to interested parties in connection with the exercise of rights arising from pension and disability insurance, on the basis of work and insurance realized in the Republic of Serbia and the Republic of Croatia. Professional assistance is free and is organized every year in different cities, in Croatia in May, and in Serbia in October, with the aim to inform interested persons about the conditions for the exercise of the rights arising from pension insurance, the amount and payments of benefits, periods of insurance accomplished, state of claims filed and on other issues in this field. Interested parties can report their arrival on the days of consultations in Zagreb or Slavonski Brod in accordance with the instructions listed in the posters that appear in the annex.

Poster, Zagreb

Poster, Slavonski Brod

March 26, 2019

In Budapest, on March 26 of 2019, a meeting between the liaison body of Republic of Serbia and the liaison body of Hungary has been held, with regards to the implementation of the Agreement between Republic of Serbia and Hungary on Social Security, in the field of health insurance. The two delegations exchanged information on methods of application of the Agreement in the field of health insurance, procedures and mutual communication in the event of disputed situations, as well as the procedure for registration of family members of insured persons that are residing on the territory of the other contracting country. Issues related to mutual compensation of provided health care costs were also considered.

March 25, 2019

International advisory days between the Republic Fund for pension and disability insurance of the Republic of Serbia and the Institute for pension insurance of the Republic of Austria, will take place on April 9 of 2019 in Kraljevo and April 10 of 2019 in Belgrade. On that occasion, experts from the pension insurance institutions of both countries will, in direct contact and discussion, provide appropriate professional help and advice to interested parties in connection with the exercise of rights arising from pension and disability insurance, on the basis of work and insurance realized in the Republic of Serbia and the Republic of Austria. Expert assistance is free of charge and is organized every year, in Serbia in April, and in Austria in October, in different cities, with the aim to inform interested persons about the conditions for the exercise of the rights arising from pension insurance, the amount and payments of benefits, periods of insurance accomplished, state of claims filed and on other issues in this field. Interested persons can register for the advisory days in Kraljevo or Belgrade in accordance with instructions that are listed in the posters that appear in the annex.

Poster, Kraljevo

Poster, Beograd

March 8, 2019

in Belgrade, on March 4 - 7 of 2019 first round of negotiations between the Serbian and Tunisian delegations was held in order to consider the Draft Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Serbia and the Government of the Republic of Tunisia on Social Security, at which certain provisions of the Agreement have been determined and the two delegations agreed to review the remainder of the Agreement and the Draft Administrative Agreement for the implementation of the Agreement in Tunisia, at the second round of negotiations, by the end of 2019.

March 4, 2019

International days of talks between German pension insurance holders and the Republic Pension and Disability Insurance Fund of the Republic of Serbia will be held on March 19 and 20 of 2019, in Berlin. On that occasion, the experts of the pension insurance institutions of both countries, by means of direct contact and discussion, will provide appropriate expert assistance and advice to interested persons regarding the exercise of rights from pension and disability insurance, based on the work and insurance realized in the Republic of Serbia and the Federal Republic of Germany. Professional assistance is free and organized every year in Germany in March and in Serbia in September in different cities and aims to inform interested persons about the conditions for exercising the rights from pension insurance, the amount and payment of benefits, years of service achieved, as well as on the state of the proceedings on the request that they submitted on other issues in this area. Interested parties can register for the counseling session in Berlin in accordance with the instructions listed on the below attached poster.

Poster, Berlin

March 01, 2019

On March 1st of 2019, the Agreement between the Republic of Serbia and the Russian Federation on Social Security, signed on December 19 of 2017, in Moscow ("Official Gazette of the Republic of Serbia - International Agreements" No. 9/2018) entered into force, whose provisions relate to the field of pension and disability insurance, injuries at work and professional illnesses and the cost of funeral expenses. At the same time, the Administrative Agreement between the Ministry of Labor, Employment, Veterans' and Social Affairs of the Republic of Serbia and the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of the Russian Federation for the implementation of the Agreement between the Republic of Serbia and the Russian Federation on Social Security as well as the Protocol of the liaison bodies for the implementation of the Agreement and the Administrative agreement, have entered into force.

February 22, 2019

On February 22 of 2019 a meeting between the Institute for Social Security and the Republic Pension and Disability Insurance Fund of the Republic of Serbia on one side, and the State Treasury of Hungary, whose integral part as of November 1, 2017 is the National Pension Insurance Institute of Hungary (Országos Nyugdíjbiztosítási Főigazgatóság) on the other side, was held in Belgrade. The meeting assessed the results of the International Advisory Days and other forms of cooperation between the two countries' pension insurance holders, held in 2018. The organization and the achieved results of the conducted activities were assessed positively and the terms and locations of the International Advisory Days in 2019 and 2020 were agreed upon, as well as the terms for exchange of experts between the two countries' pension insurance holders for the same period.

January 18, 2019

On 17 January 2019, in Belgrade, an Administrative Agreement was signed between the Ministry of Labour, Employment, Veteran and Social Affairs of the Republic of Serbia and the Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare of the Russian Federation for the implementation of the Agreement between the Republic of Serbia and the Russian Federation on Social Security of 19 December 2017. On this occasion, the Protocol between the Institute for Social Insurance of the Republic of Serbia and the Pension Fund of the Russian Federation, the Social Security Fund of the Russian Federation, the Federal State Budget Institution for Medical - Social Expertise "Federal Bureau Medical - Social Expertise" of the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of the Russian Federation, on the implementation of the Agreement between the Republic of Serbia and the Russian Federation on Social Security of 19 December 2017 and the Administrative Agreement between the Ministry of Labour, Employment, Veteran and Social Affairs of the Republic of Serbia and the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of the Russian Federation for the implementation of the Agreement between the Republic of Serbia and the Russian Federation on Social Security of 19 December 2017. By concluding these agreements and establishing bilingual forms for their implementation, conditions have been created for the implementation of the Agreement between the Republic of Serbia and the Russian Federation on social security, upon its entry into force.