The methodology of compiling the JBR is in compliance with the regulations of the national ministry responsible for science, as the government regulatory and funding institution and, at the same time, a research funding body. Where these regulations are contrary to international standards and procedures, and especially those defined by the bodies of the Council of Europe (since Serbia is a member country) and the European Commission (with which Serbia has contractual relations), CEON/CEES, as an independent evaluation agency, is obliged to give priority to international standards. These are principally the standards used in determining the legitimacy of open access journals, and those related to mandatory editorial policies, licensing, the originality of published papers and the legitimacy of cited references.