Agencije

Agencije, and the singular agencija, is a term used in several Slavic languages such as Croatian, Serbian, Bosnian, and Slovenian to denote organizations that provide specialized services or act on behalf of clients. In broader usage, an agency can be a public body that implements policy or a private firm that delivers services under contract or on commission.

Public agencies operate within government structures and may oversee regulation, licensing, or service delivery in areas such as health, transportation, or environment. Private agencies work across markets and sectors, representing clients, managing transactions, or delivering expert services. They typically earn revenue through fees, commissions, or contracts and may operate under professional standards or industry regulation.

Common examples include advertising agencies, travel agencies, recruitment or staffing agencies, real estate agencies, and talent or literary agencies. Public sector agencies include regulatory agencies, ministries or departments, and independent agencies performing enforcement, statistics, or public service duties. International agencies encompass intergovernmental organizations or development agencies that coordinate aid and policy across borders.

The concept of an agency has ancient roots in trade and governance. The English word agency derives from Old French agence, from Latin actus via agere to act.

Today, agencije are a common structure for organizing services and representation in modern economies, with significant variation in scope and authority by country.