Scientific Research Study “Demographic Development and Population Policy of the Republic of Srpska – Situation Analysis and Proposed Measures” presented at the initiative of the President of the Republic of Srpska

At the initiative of the President of the Republic of Srpska Željka Cvijanović, a scientific research study “Demographic Development and Population Policy of the Republic of Srpska – Situation Analysis and Proposed Measures” was presented at the Palace of the Republic.

The President of the Republic of Srpska stated that the institutions of the Republic of Srpska had important measures and significant allocations to support the family in general. After the meeting, the President Cvijanović said that in addition to the measures to be implemented, there are those which had been made earlier and as such would be analyzed.

The President of the Republic assessed that demographic development and population policy are of utmost importance for the society as a whole, and that a scientific-research study provided an overview of the situation in the field of demographic policy and proposed general measures for improving the situation in this field.

“The institutions of the Republic of Srpska, together with the expert team and the general public, will deal with population policy issues in an organised way, not in some isolated manner, since it is a matter of general social character that requires a united front of all institutions in cooperation with the skilled people, who know how to recognise certain trends and what to do in the future”, it was explained by the Republic of Srpska President.

The President Cvijanović emphasized that for the first time now, the Republic of Srpska has systematic population policy measures on the basis of which an analysis of future steps and effects achieved should be done, which means that the results of each of the measures envisaged will be monitored in a different way.

The President of the Republic pointed out that no one can be satisfied with the new human resources, their potential number of newborns, and that this issue should be treated expertly.

“The second segment, which is a part of this study, is an issue that has emerged in the previous few years and relates to the population migration. This issue is not an isolated problem and it is not a problem in Srpska only, but in the entire region, even in the EU member states where there is movement of people from one country to another in order for people to be provided with different living and working conditions”, said the President Cvijanović.

In this regard, the President of Srpska pointed out that a number of measures are planned to be taken to support the mother, the child and the family as a whole, starting with measures already implemented such as first aid for newborns, through the financial support for the third and fourth child, free textbooks for the first and second grade students, free textbooks for best students coming from the multi-member family from third to ninth grade, as well as housing loans for young married couples, child allowance, support for unemployed and employed mothers.

“Many things have been made, many benefits have been provided, but we have to provide a base for more of us by encouraging and increasing birth rates. In order to increase and encourage the birth rate, it is not only a matter of financial giving, it is a social problem and there are a number of immaterial giving and steps that we all need to take to achieve results”, said the President Cvijanović, adding that one of the measures is certainly raising the living standard.

“We support what the Government of Srpska is doing in this regard, which means that it is necessary to provide higher employment, higher salaries for employees and better living conditions in every segment”, said the President of the Republic.

The President of Srpska stressed that there are many measures that can be taken and that a major work and comprehensive reform of the education system is ahead at the moment. “We are preceded by measures that involve giving up the old ways of education, abandoning the learning of things you can easily reach today or get information about.

We need to create an education system that will enable more employment opportunities and educational staff to have alternative knowledge”, said the President Cvijanović, noting that there are many steps that need to be taken in the coming period, which may seem realistic and will allow to move forward in the future period.

The President Cvijanović added that this study deals largely with all these aspects, which should mobilise all institutions, people and society as a whole to continue to work for the benefit of Srpska. “We want to make a link between the institutions and the non-governmental sector. We will have many partners involved, all with the aim of making this study the property of the entire society, not just of the institutions. Today, we already have the first debate in the Republic of Srpska Government organised by the competent ministries and in cooperation with our experts, with the gradual involvement of some other actors”, said the President Cvijanović.

The President of Srpska stressed that everyone understands the complexity of these issues, which have been thoroughly analysed in the surrounding countries as well. “We are aware of what the countries in the region have been doing and in this regard we have come to the conclusion that our benefits are, if nothing else, comparable to theirs, and in some segments they are even better than those of the surrounding countries”, said the President Cvijanović.

The research study “Demographic Development and Population Policy of the Republic of Srpska – Situation Analysis and Proposed Measures” was prepared by an expert team led by Draško Marinković at the initiative of the Republic of Srpska President Željka Cvijanović.

Apart from the President Cvijanović, the meeting was also attended by the Serb Presidency Member Milorad Dodik, Republic of Srpska Prime Minister Radovan Višković, Ministers in the Government of the Republic of Srpska who make up the Council for Demographic Reconstruction, as well as the members of the expert team.

The study presents an overview of the situation in the area of ​​demographic policy in Srpska, as well as a proposal of general measures for improving the situation in this field, which should be the subject of implementation by the competent institutions of the Republic of Srpska.

Members of the expert team are the most prominent experts in the field of demography, reproductive health and social care Branislav Đurđev, Mirjana Rašević, Mirjana Bobić, Milimir Mučibabić and sociologist Jovanka Vuković.