German development cooperation with Serbia began immediately after the country’s democratic uprising in the year 2000. Since then the Federal Republic of Germany has been supporting the transition process in Serbia, where it is the largest bilateral donor. Serbia plays a crucial part in ensuring political stability and development throughout the region. The most important objectives of Serbian-German development cooperation are to bring Serbia closer to the European Union, to make its economy more effective, and to consolidate democratic structures.

Serbia is currently in the throes of a complex reform process. After years of regional conflicts and international isolation, the overthrow of the Milosevic regime in 2000 marked the start of complex reform moves and the strengthening of the country’s economy. Yet the long-standing conflict over the status of Kosovo in particular has slowed the reform process. Serbia is still struggling with high unemployment, especially among young people, corruption, a weak legal system and excessive red tape. More than nine per cent of the population live below the poverty line. Like all countries in the region, Serbia aspires to join the EU. It lodged a formal application in December 2009.

Since November 2000 GTZ (since January 2011 GIZ) has run its own office in Belgrade. On behalf of the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) we are supporting Serbia’s efforts to put in place a democratic framework in line with the rule of law and to establish a modern market economy aligned to EU standards. GIZ is implementing programmes and projects in the following fields:

• Sustainable economic development and employment
• Democracy, civil society and public administration
• Public infrastructure (energy and water).

Serbia receives funding from the Open Regional Funds for South-East Europe. BMZ thus promotes legal reforms, foreign trade advisory services, the modernisation of municipal services, energy efficiency and renewable energies.

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• Germany and Serbia – German-Serbian Economic Cooperation
  Brochure (2008)
  en-economic-cooperation-germany-serbia.pdf, 5.22 MB (English)