Serbia has committed itself to the European Union’s climate goals. This includes a pledge to align the national climate and energy policy with the European Green Deal. The joint cooperation contributes to the fulfilment of these EU requirements with a special focus on the topics „energy“ and „environment and climate change“. Germany is supporting Serbia on this path with different instruments and on different levels (strategy and policy formulation, elaboration of technical and administrative framework conditions as well as provision of required investment programs, knowledge transfer and skills development). Germany finances and supports projects to increase the share of renewable energy sources, higher energy efficiency and for setting the framework for decarbonisation. Moreover, we finance the construction of state of the art water and waste-water treatment plants.
Three Key Areas of Cooperation
Economic cooperation between Germany and Serbia is focused on three key areas agreed jointly by the governments of these countries. The goal of German support has been to bring Serbia closer to the European Union and to strengthen the efficiency of the economy, to improve the living standards of citizens.
Climate & Energy (Environment)
Sustainable Economic Development and Employment
The transition to a climate-neutral, environmentally friendly and inclusive economy is a main requirement for accessing the EU. In this context, it is important to support the private sector, especially small and medium sized enterprises, and the Serbian workforce to adapt to the new challenges and needed skills. Therefore, the development cooperation in this area consists in supporting the ongoing dual education implementation process in Serbia, but also in enabling the private sector to master the green and digital transformation, all of this involving young people in rural areas and vulnerable groups.
Good Governance
The declared goals in this important area of cooperation are improving public services for citizens and enhancing their opportunities for social participation through strengthening the efficiency and effectiveness of public administration, ensuring transparency and participation and claiming and enforcing rights. Germany does not only support the judicially reform process but pays also a particular attention to supporting marginalized groups, including Roma, people with disabilities and older people, while including the concept of feminist development cooperation.
Climate Partnership
Working together on climate action – in Europe and around the world.
The Serbian Ministry of European Integration (MEI) and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) have agreed on the importance of a strengthened effort towards a climate-oriented transformative process. Both countries are convinced that a Strategic Climate Cooperation is of mutual benefit towards the better achievement of the Paris Agreement goals, the EU Green Deal and the implementation of the Green Agenda for the Western Balkans. In that line, a Joint Declaration of Intent on the “Strategic Cooperation on Climate Action” was signed between the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development of the Federal Republic of Germany and the Ministry of European Integration of the Republic of Serbia in October 2021, acknowledging that climate change and its adverse effects are common concerns which need be addressed through international cooperation.
A Task Team comprising of members from GIZ and KfW has been established in order to support the implementation of the Climate Partnership. The Team’s main tasks refer to providing tailored ad-hoc support to partner structures as well as enhanced coordination of financial and technical support of ongoing development cooperation.
German support for Serbia aims to contribute to EU rapprochement, to strengthen the performance of the economy and, in turn, to improve living conditions in the country.