No, neither Expo 2027 nor a lithium mine and battery factory, nor even the European Growth Plan for the Western Balkans and the implementation of the Green Agenda, both of which are cited as drivers of growth, are decisive or sufficient sources of future economic growth, according to Dejan Šoškić, a professor at the University of Belgrade Faculty of Economics and a former governor of the National Bank of Serbia.

“None of the topics that you mention are, in my opinion, the “propellant” required for Serbia’s future economic growth, nor any kind of “turning point”, nor the condition for some kind of “quantum leap” in our country’s economic growth and future prosperity,” warns our interlocutor.

So, they are delusions?

— The majority of today’s rich countries became wealthy in the same way: through their citizens acquiring increasingly higher quality knowledge via education and science, through the strengthening of institutions and affording all citizens an equal and dignified position with state institutions by effectively protecting contracts and private property and encouraging free competition, and through the hard work of residents in a well-organised institutional system that encouraged the domestic population to stay in the country and develop their careers, and by enticing high-quality people from abroad to pursue their careers and entrepreneurial ambitions in those countries.

Serbia isn’t achieving satisfactory results in any of these areas that are vital to the country’s future economic growth being healthy and sustainable, and for its desired path to prosperity, says Šoškić, citing the poor results being recorded in our education system.

In PISA tests [Programme for International Student Assessment, OECD], our children achieve poorer results than their peers in Western Europe, China and other countries. Education has fallen to very low levels across the board, and the intolerable erosion of respect for teachers, lecturers and professors in our society is most evident in the incidents occurring between pupils and teachers or between parents, teachers and professors. Such conduct has never previously been recorded in the history of our society. Budget allocations for science (as a percentage of GDP) are lower than they were in the 1990s, when we were under sanctions and with wars in the surrounding area, while a large number of our scientific institutes have been closed down or are struggling to function, and some have been privatised and thus de facto transformed into commercial consulting companies, losing the most of their scientific function.

And yet, it cannot be denied that Expo 2027 is a widely debated topic among investors?

— Anyone who thinks that some kind of exposition will make Serbia a rich country is either naïve and ignorant on matters of economic development, or is expressing such views with manipulative intentions. If the organising of some expo or the opening of a mine is the way to make a nation wealthy, how come no country thought of that recipe before us? How come China, South Korea, Japan, Germany, Finland, Israel, and many other countries that have had successful periods of rapid economic development, didn’t opt to organise an expo and open a mine and strike it rich “overnight”? How come all these countries today have top universities, scientific research institutes, strong institutions and a developed meritocracy, i.e. everything that Serbia doesn’t have, but we apparently don’t understand what we must strive to acquire in order to became a rich, well organized and prosperous society, where people stay to live and work and don’t flee in their tens of thousands each year.

Many cite the agreement on critical raw materials between the Government of Serbia and representatives of Germany and the EU as creating slightly unexpected opportunities for economic growth and accelerated European integration?

— In my opinion, the agreement on critical raw materials between the Government of Serbia and representatives of Germany and the EU doesn’t create any unexpected opportunities for economic growth and accelerated European integration. All I see is that this agreement creates the possibility for the EU to acquire what are for them essential raw materials, while reducing their future reliance on Chinese imports.

When it comes to the opening of any mine, there are economic and environmental ramifications and the key question relates to the net benefits of such an investment. Who becomes the owner of mined mineral wealth? How many new jobs are created and how many “old jobs” are lost? How much new budget revenue is generated, and how much “old” budget revenue is lost? One special and very important question relates to the ecological consequences of such a project, i.e. the so-called negative externalities.

Domestic private investments represent the foundation of development. Why they aren’t encouraged in our country is a good question for representatives of the government

If a foreign company exploits our mineral resources, it becomes the owner of those resources, and pays our state only mining rents (in the range of just a few per cent of the value of mined materials, with Serbia’s mineral rent among the lowest in Europe). In such a scenario, the vast majority of the new value remains with the foreign company, which isn’t even required to pay our country profit tax if it “moves” the profit to other subsidiaries in countries where the tax conditions are more favourable (which multinational companies do regularly). When it comes to the large investments brought by foreign companies, we should consider that most of those investments are used to pay for technology that is predominantly imported from abroad. One part of those investments will be received as short-term additional income for domestic construction companies, until construction of the required facilities, and one part will be received by the sellers of land as a one-off payment.

And subsequently?

— It would be tough for there to be any mention of the guaranteed construction of factories for batteries, vehicles or anything else, because mining companies cannot influence the business policies of companies that produce cars or batteries (unless they are part of the same conglomerate, which isn’t the case in our example). Elon Musk didn’t require an operating mine in order to build an electric car or battery factory. Anyone wanting to build a car or battery factory in Serbia can do so now, without lithium mining in our country, but that hasn’t happened. On the other hand, the situation could be different if our mineral resources were extracted by a domestic state company. The total value of the mined raw materials (and not only negligible mining rents) would remain in our country.

And then the state, as the owner of significant mineral resources, could attract foreign companies to open battery and car factories with more favourable access to essential mineral resources. It is thus not surprising that the wealthy Norway long ago made the smart decision to entrust the extraction of its mineral wealth (North Sea oil and gas) to a state company that invests its profits in global long term securities for the long term benefit of Norwegian pension fund and transfers part of its profits to the state budget, for the short term benefit of all Norwegian citizens. But this is not being proposed in Serbia. It is instead being proposed that the country’s mineral wealth be entrusted to a foreign company that has a very controversial business history. Another question is how much such a project leads to losses for the agriculture and tourism that are currently developing in that area and could operate there for much longer than the active period of mineral wealth extraction? Perhaps even more could be obtained from agriculture and tourism with additional investments and incentives in that area. And that is also a factor that should be taken into consideration.

Finally, the environmental ramifications. Following the publishing of the proceedings of the SANU meeting of two years ago, entitled “Project Jadar – what is known?”, and the conclusions of this meeting of our country’s preeminent experts, who predominantly expressed a negative view regarding the implementation of this project, this issue is closed for me. This topic could only be reopened through some new independent scientific congress or independent scientific papers on this topic, or a concrete positive example of exploitation realised using the same technology and related to the same mineral wealth in another location. Until then, I think the wisest option is to follow the advice of our cleverest people in this field that’s been published by SANU.

Returning to the issue of the importance of a highly educated workforce, how would you explain the constant decline in the number of students enrolled in our higher education institutions? What are young people doing today if they aren’t getting an education and what kind of future economy is that leading us towards?

— Without fundamental and comprehensive positive change regarding the quality of education of the population at all levels in our society, it isn’t possible to talk about future economic growth and success for our country. The ambitions of our children and young adults (and the parents who guide them in their life choices) should be directed towards gaining a high-quality education and further schooling and training in order to qualify for high-paying jobs. But they should also be able to see in the life unfolding around them that acquiring knowledge leads to a better quality of life. A society in which teachers and lecturers can barely make ends meet, while young people see a chance to make money in betting shops and view their career development through the acquiring of diplomas without knowledge and membership in political parties that appoint them to positions that they aren’t objectively qualified to hold, cannot have realistic prospects of developing and creating a prosperous society. The huge number of Serbian people emigrating from our country is a clear indicator that our society – and its current scale of values – should be changed for the better from its core.

Some analyses have shown that, in addition to investments in labour-intensive sectors, there are increasing investments in more technologically intensive sectors. Do you recognise this progress?

— Genuine progress in this area will only be possible when we can offer a high-quality and technologically educated workforce. Quality education and science can’t be omitted from any successful long-term story of a nation’s economic development and prosperity.

When it comes to the general institutional and investment environment, what do you see as being the key drivers that are lacking in order for announced investments to prove effective?

— Best testifying to the erosion of the institutional environment in Serbia are the international analyses (conducted by the World Bank, Transparency International and other institutions) showing continuous decline in the institutional environment, particularly since 2015, while we languish among the four worst countries in Europe when it comes to the perception of corruption. Under such conditions, no “propellant” will help and no “quantum leap” will occur.

In my opinion, a well-ordered system with strong institutions, the rule of law, a lack of corruption, a highly educated workforce at all levels, with quality and accessible healthcare, are key drivers of development and the encouraging of foreign private investments and, even more importantly, domestic private investments.

Individual researchers claim that Serbia is seeing the slow emergence of a group of domestic companies able to compete on foreign markets, with more complex products on offer. Why is it so rare that we hear about the existence of measures to encourage domestic investment?

— Prior to World War II, just a couple of decades after the Wright brothers’ pioneering flight, Serbia was home to seven aircraft factories. If we were already able to offer the market complex products with advanced technology back then, I’m certain we could also do so today. Domestic private investments represent the foundation of development. Why they aren’t encouraged in our country is a good question for representatives of the government.

We are nonetheless witnessing the constant growth of exports. Doesn’t that prove that investments really are increasing?

— It is the quality of exports that’s essential. Serbia should export products and services that also mean exporting knowhow (professional and scientific), and as a rule such products and services are more expensive and profitable on the world market, equating to countries that have such exports being wealthier. No country has grown rich from exporting raw and unprocessed minerals and timber…

The post Producing Delusions and Ignorance appeared first on CorD Magazine.

Juan Joze Sanz Aparicio, the new Spanish ambassador in Belgrade, confirms that bilateral relations between Spain and Serbia are currently excellent. However, he immediately adds that there is still room for progress because “economic and cultural exchanges, although improving every year, are still well below the level of our political relations”. Speaking in this interview for Cord Magazine, Ambassador Sanz Aparicio says that trying to bring more Spanish companies and investments to Serbia will be one of his goals during his time in Belgrade.

Your Excellency, you have been in Serbia for a few months now; in this a country which, according to your embassy’s website, has a relationship with Spain that’s marked by mutual respect and affection. What are your first impressions?

— My first impressions are very positive. I arrived in Belgrade on 28th January and from the very first moment my wife and I have felt your warm hospitality and this affection that we mention on our website. Belgrade is a vibrant city that’s full of history and places to enjoy. Serbia is a wonderful country with an amazing history and a dynamic, stable and flourishing economy (by the way, the most important economy in the region). Moreover, we have ahead of us plenty of historical moments to experience together, such as Expo 2027. I personally look forward to taking part in all these events and doing my bit to try to improve the already good bilateral relation between our two countries.

How would you characterise current bilateral relations?

— Our bilateral relationship is, in general terms, excellent. We have no bones of contention. We have an extraordinary connection politically, as was evident during 2022’s respective visits of President Vučić to Madrid in February and Prime Minister Sánchez to Belgrade in July. I would like to place special emphasis on the fact that this was the first ever visit of a Spanish Prime Minister to Serbia.

These personal contacts yielded excellent results and reinforced and accentuated our bilateral bonds. There is therefore still room for improvement, because our economic and cultural exchanges, although improving every year, are still well below the level of our political relations. It is true that we have witnessed a significant increase in our economic and commercial exchange.

Let me point out that our bilateral exchange grew by 80% between 2022 and 2024 alone, reaching a billion euros. This figure was unprecedented. However, despite all these positive developments, only a handful of Spanish companies are permanently on the ground in Serbia. One of my goals in Belgrade will be to try to improve our business cooperation by bringing more Spanish companies and investments to Serbia, by developing, for instance, infrastructure projects. In this regard, Expo 27 offers us a great window of opportunity.

The recent vote in the Spanish parliament, which overwhelmingly rejected the proposal to recognise Kosovo as an independent state, has attracted significant attention in Serbia. What do you consider as being the strongest argument for Spain maintaining this stance, despite calls to the contrary from the EU majority?

To sum up our position, allow me to quote the Spanish intervention at the International Court of Justice in 2009: “Spain is convinced that the unilateral declaration of independence of Kosovo proclaimed by its provisional government institutions is not in accordance with International Law, nor with the principle of sovereignty and territorial integrity of Serbia”.

This 20th anniversary of the 2004 opening of the Instituto Cervantes in Belgrade provides a great opportunity to relaunch our cultural strategy, offering the Serbian public new content and activities

Our position is therefore based firmly on solid principles of International Law and especially on the universally accepted principle of state sovereignty as established by the UN Charter, some resolutions adopted by the UNGA and other international instruments of great importance, such as the Helsinki Final Act or the Charter of Paris for a New Europe. Considering this legal argument, all Spanish Governments since 2008, without exception and regardless of the political party that won the elections, have maintained the same position: Spain defends the sovereignty and principle of territorial integrity of the Republic of Serbia and therefore does not recognise Kosovo’s Unilateral Declaration of Independence.

You have stated that improving economic cooperation is a priority of your future work. In which areas could this cooperation develop most rapidly?

— For Spain, it is essential that the Framework Protocol on Financial and Technical Cooperation, signed on 2nd November 2022, enters into force. This international bilateral agreement should become a crucial element of our future relationship and should allow Spanish companies, some of which are world leaders in their capacities, to share their experiences and knowhow with Serbian counterparts in different areas, such as railway infrastructure, renewable energy, the food industry, smart cities, agricultural technology or tourism.

You have expressed the ambition to increase the presence of Spanish culture in Serbia. How do you envisage the Cervantes Institute, which recently celebrated 20 years of operations in Belgrade, evolving over the decade ahead?

— I have also realised that Serbian people know and love Spanish culture, which they find very appealing. Considering this, we plan to reinforce our cultural presence all around this country, and not only in Belgrade.

Obviously, Instituto Cervantes will have a fundamental role to play on this issue, as our flagship institution of culture, which offers a wide selection of cultural events including literature, music, cinema, theatre and exhibitions, as well as Spanish language courses for all levels of proficiency. This work is complementary to the amazing efforts of the Spanish Language Departments at the universities of Belgrade, Kragujevac and Novi Sad, as well as of the many Spanish language teachers in public and private schools across Serbia.

This 20th anniversary of the 2004 opening of the Instituto Cervantes in Belgrade provides a great opportunity to relaunch our cultural strategy, offering the Serbian public new content and activities.

After two decades, I also believe it is now time for Instituto Cervantes to formalise its situation in Serbia, overcoming the limitations stemming from the fact that it is housed in a rented building. Permanent offices for this institute won’t only represent an acknowledgment of our firm and solid commitment to Serbia, but will also allow it to fulfil its mandate more effectively – not only in Serbia, but across the entire Balkan region.

You convey a message of support for Serbia’s European integration to your interlocutors in the country. Given your experience, do you believe the EU will admit a new member state in the foreseeable future and, if so, is it more likely to be Ukraine or a Western Balkan country?

— Serbia’s place is in Europe. In fact, it is difficult to understand the history of Europe in the 20th century if you don’t know the history of Serbia and the Balkans. Spain fully supports Serbia’s candidacy to join the European Union and we have consistently reaffirmed our commitment to the EU membership of all Western Balkan countries. Moreover, the Council of the European Union decided in December 2023, under the Spanish Presidency, to accelerate the process. However, you must take into account the fact that these negotiations are always long and complicated and have their ups and downs. Sometimes you can’t see the light at the end of the tunnel. They are also influenced by internal (domestic) and external (international) factors that are sometimes unpredictable (such as the war in Ukraine), and it is therefore very difficult to foresee their development over the long term. At any rate, accession negotiations with the country you mention started recently, and it would consequently be logical to expect those negotiations that are already more advanced to conclude earlier. In diplomacy, persistence and patience are two indisputable values.

Prior to your arrival in Serbia, you served as special envoy of the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs for the Gibraltar region. This area has become particularly interesting post-Brexit, due to the need for a long-awaited agreement between Spain and the UK on Gibraltar’s final status. What is the fate of this “British colony on Spanish territory”?

Brexit was a disaster for Gibraltar. Some 98% of voters there voted to remain in the EU. Considering the close social and economic links between Gibraltar and the surrounding area (The Campo), the Spanish Government decided to take the bull by the horns and devise an original proposal to build a new relationship between Gibraltar and the EU in which Spain would be the member state responsible for applying European Law in Gibraltar. The final goal is to create a zone of shared prosperity covering the whole area, integrating Gibraltar into the Schengen Area and, partially, into the Custom Union, while removing all existing physical barriers preventing the circulation of people and goods. And, more importantly, safeguarding the respective positions of the United Kingdom and Spain on Gibraltar’s sovereignty. This is what we have been negotiating since 2020. It is very complex, but if you consider that this situation is 320 years old (England first occupied Gibraltar on 4th August, 1704), who said it would be easy? We once again need persistence and patience.

The post Relationship Without a Bone of Contention appeared first on CorD Magazine.

Preparing for his departure from Serbia, Ambassador Urs Schmid says that the two countries’ excellent bilateral relations have been further strengthened over the previous few years, while traditional good relations have been expanded to encompass the new areas of science and innovation. Speaking in this CorD Magazine interview, he summarises his time in Serbia as representing “the most rewarding posting of my diplomatic career”.

Your Excellency, you are nearing the end of your mandate in Serbia, which began during the Covid-19 pandemic. How would you summarise your past few years in Belgrade?

— I would summarise the last few years as a whirlwind of remarkable events, when our excellent bilateral relations further strengthened and our cooperation expanded into new fields like science and innovation, and I would define this time in general as the most rewarding posting of my diplomatic career. It’s true that the start was challenging, with the pandemic, but that allowed me to witness the impressive resilience of the Serbian people and the remarkable response of the Serbian government, including its early procurement of vaccines. The Russian aggression against Ukraine has brought unforeseen challenges to both of our countries, but has also created new areas of cooperation, and I am grateful to Serbia’s government for its support of the Summit on Peace in Ukraine that was recently organised by Switzerland.

How would you assess the quality of political relations between Switzerland and Serbia?

— Diplomatic relations between Switzerland and Serbia had already been established in 1916, and our political relations have been strong and varied ever since. Certainly, we may sometimes differ in our position on certain issues of domestic and foreign policy, but this wouldn’t hamper the quality of our relationship, which is based on mutual respect, understanding and support. Let me just recall the intensive cooperation we had during our consecutive chairmanships of the OSCE in 2014/2015, or our continuous collaboration in the framework of the Bretton Woods Institutions and the EBRD, where we have been partners in the same constituency for 31 and 23 years respectively.

Switzerland was also among the very first countries to provide humanitarian assistance to Serbia in the early 1990s, when Serbia sustained a massive influx of refugees. This laid the basis of our current bilateral cooperation programme, which supports Serbia’s reforms aimed at advancing its European integration and which celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2022, certainly marking one of the many highlights of my mandate. We are this year also celebrating 15 years since the conclusion of the bilateral Migration Partnership Agreement, with the importance of this partnership underlined by the visit of our Minister of Justice and Police, Federal Councillor Beat Jans, on 2nd and 3rd July 2024.

Speaking in another interview with the Serbian media, you mentioned the importance of an independent judiciary and strong institutions, including parliament, to a democratic society. Given that Switzerland has supported this process through various projects, how would you evaluate the level that Serbia has achieved?

— Indeed, both an independent and effective judiciary and a strong parliament are key elements of any democracy and, accordingly, they have a central place in the fundamentals of the EU accession process, as well as in global Agenda 2030, as specified under UN SDG 16. I recently had the privilege of meeting with Serbian Justice Minister Maja Popović, and her clear vision of the remaining judicial reforms made a strong impression on me.

Concerning legislative power, we have been supporting the National Assembly and a number of local Assemblies over the past 12 years, with several measures to increase efficiency, transparency and accountability. E-parliaments have been installed at a number of local Assemblies. Digital instruments like the Open Budget Portal would enable MPs to have real time oversight of public spending. Deliberative processes, including public hearings and cross-party caucuses, such as the Women’s Parliamentary Network or the “green chair”, are other concrete examples of these measures. I am, however, disappointed to note that many of these instruments and procedures are unfortunately not active currently. They deserve to be invigorated, as they provide mechanisms that support Serbia’s further democratic development.

Are you satisfied with the progress of local governance in Serbia in terms of improving the quality of services and digitalisation, to which the Swiss embassy has provided significant contributions in recent years?

— Local self-governments are central partners for us, as evidenced by the hundred or so partnerships that we’ve concluded, in addition to cooperating with the Ministry of Public Administration and Local Self-Government and with the Association of Towns and Municipalities (SCTM). We have been creating improved conditions for service delivery by working on digitalisation, good governance practices and extensive capacity building. Let me quote a number of indices to answer more precisely: the Transparency Index of Transparency Serbia shows an upward trajectory when it comes to disclosing local budgets and policies. The “Citizen Satisfaction Survey”, conducted by UNOPS, indicates an increasing level of citizen satisfaction with local public services since 2010. The “Good Governance Index”, implemented by the SCTM, testifies to the better respecting of good governance principles among local authorities, even if there is still room for improvement. Deplorably, however, according to the “CSO Sustainability Index” commissioned by USAID, the ecosystem for civil society organisations has been deteriorating over previous years.

Even after your mandate in Serbia comes to an end, the Swiss project supporting small and medium-sized enterprises in Serbia should continue. Do you believe that the goal you mentioned – connecting 80 SMEs as suppliers to large multinational companies over the next few years – will be achieved?

— When it comes to the economy, Switzerland is by all means an important player: we are ranked as Serbia’s 4th partner globally in terms of trade in services, are in the top ten investors for the 2010-2023 period and represent the second biggest source of remittances, after Germany. We are also working hard to further grow our trade in goods, as it has not yet reached a billion euros annually. Against this backdrop, it is understandable that some of our most significant cooperation projects are oriented towards supporting reform efforts in the economic field.

Switzerland was among the very first countries to provide humanitarian assistance to Serbia in the early 1990s, when Serbia sustained a massive influx of refugees

The recently created SME Hub isn’t a project in the classic sense. It is a partnership between the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and private company ICT Hub d.o.o., which specialises, among other things, in providing customised advisory services to large corporations. The aim is to make such cutting-edge advisory services available to smaller companies that haven’t so far been able to afford them, and which sometimes didn’t live up to their full potential as a result. SMEs interested in benefiting from the SME Hub’s services pay 50% of the cost of services upfront, in order to demonstrate their interest and determination. Thanks to the strong relationship that the SME Hub has built with financing partners, including Serbian commercial banks, the Serbian Development Agency and the EBRD, it can serve SMEs very cost-effectively. This is all possible thanks to the substantial expertise available in Serbia’s private sector.

As ambassador to Serbia, you have – like your predecessors – continued to advocate dual education. Can we already talk about the positive effects that this concept has brought to education in Serbia?

— There is no need for advocacy, as the Serbian authorities – including the Ministry of Education, the Government Office for Dual Education and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCIS) – have been doing a tremendous job in advancing dual education in Serbia. Given the scarcity of labour and demographic developments, but also rapidly advancing technology, it has become clear that the private sector and the education system need to collaborate more intensively to convey to young people the skills that are relevant to their professional success.

Our role is more of an advisory one. Switzerland has great expertise in this field, which is why the Serbian Government appointed leading experts from Switzerland to advise key stakeholders involved in dual education, basically the education system and the employers, represented in Serbia by the CCIS. Regarding progress achieved to date, Serbia really stands out across the entire region. Approximately 7% of Serbia’s secondary-level vocational students are currently enrolled in a dual studies programme. But our advice is to focus on quality as much as on quantity. In our experience, it is really important for students to spend as much time as possible in the workplace, rather than in school. Through such an approach, students are exposed to real-life workplaces and are empowered to progressively take on responsibilities, boosting their subsequent employability, while employers are able to train their future workforce in an efficient and cost-effective manner.

Given that the whole of Europe, including Serbia, views the conflict in Ukraine with concern, how would you assess the outcomes of the peace conference hosted by Switzerland? Will such initiatives be continued?

— Given the broad, high-level participation and the development of a common understanding on some elements that are crucial for achieving lasting peace in Ukraine, as summarised in the Joint Communiqué, the Summit on the Bürgenstock mountain achieved more than we could have expected. It should be seen as a first important step on the challenging path towards a peace process. The discussions of 15th and 16th June provided a much-needed opportunity to listen to different ideas, learn from each other’s experiences and propose possible solutions. We are therefore confident that the outcomes of this Summit will inspire a constructive way forward and pave the way for further talks with the involvement of all parties. Switzerland stands ready to support such efforts and to continue to play an active role in such endeavours, and we encourage other countries to do so as well.

The post Whirlwind of Remarkable Events appeared first on CorD Magazine.

Swiss investors have ranked among the leading foreign investors in Serbia for many years. And according to Ana Govedarica, president of the Swiss-Serbian Chamber of Commerce, whether we’re talking about the encouraging of foreign investments or domestic ones, “the stability and transparency of conditions for doing business on the domestic market remain crucial prerequisites for further investment”.

“We expect the new government of the Republic of Serbia to continue encouraging FDI inflows, and particularly those that contribute to the Serbian economy’s sustainable development, support the advancement of the country’s scientific research and innovation ecosystem, and promote socially responsible operations,” explains our interlocutor. “The holding of the world-renowned EXPO 2027 exposition in Belgrade is an impressive step towards increasing the visibility of the Serbian market’s attractiveness – not only in Switzerland, but across the international business community”.

How satisfied are your members with Serbia’s business climate and what do they see as the most important future steps to improve the business environment for existing companies?

— Last year’s survey among member companies showed that the majority of respondent companies (71.43%) rate Serbia’s business climate as satisfactory, while they express particular satisfaction with the extent to which the economy is transforming digitally. Further improvements are expected in the following areas: efficiency of public institutions and bureaucracy, implementation of legal regulations, and ensuring legal certainty and stability.

Among the most important future steps to advance the business environment, I would emphasise the further implementation of not only the digital transformation of the Serbian economy, but also its green transformation. With this in mind, the European CBAM (Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism) regulation aimed at reducing the carbon footprint of products is an important mechanism in the Serbian economy’s energy transition process, while it will also unlock new investment potential for our country. Numerous SSCC member companies are committed to green transition, which is why we initiated a conference on this topic as a chamber, in cooperation with the Chamber of Commerce & Industry of Serbia (CCIS), which was held this April and brought together a large number of participants.

Adjustment Mechanism) regulation aimed at reducing the carbon footprint of products is an important mechanism in the Serbian economy’s energy transition process, while it will also unlock new investment potential for our country. Numerous SSCC member companies are committed to green transition, which is why we initiated a conference on this topic as a chamber, in cooperation with the Chamber of Commerce & Industry of Serbia (CCIS), which was held this April and brought together a large number of participants.

What would you highlight as the SSCC’s greatest successes in its 10 years of operations?

— The Swiss-Serbian Chamber of Commerce was founded in 2014 as an independent, self-financing and private business association. We celebrated our anniversary this June: a full decade of successful activity, thanks to the support of our member companies. Special appreciation plaques were presented on this occasion to the member companies that recognised the SSCC as a reliable business partner from the outset and this year achieved a full ten years of membership! We also had the honour of our jubilee celebration being attended by Swiss and Serbian officials, including Serbian Science, Technological Development and Innovation Minister Jelena Begović, Swiss Ambassador in Belgrade H.E. Urs Schmid and State Secretary Andrea Horvat Kiralj of the Serbian Ministry of the Economy, as well as numerous other representatives of institutions that the SSCC has cooperated with successfully.

Our underlying success is reflected in the creation of a tightly connected and dynamic business community of Swiss and Serbian companies, which was evident at the jubilee celebration that was attended by a hundred guests. We have also established a longstanding partnership with Switzerland Global Enterprise, the Swiss national agency for the promotion of investments and exports, headquartered in Zurich, with which we’ve organised a series of events aimed at promoting business opportunities on the Serbian market among Swiss companies, such as last October’s webinar on the topic of railway infrastructure development that included the participation of Andreas Haas, CEO of Swiss railway industry association Swissrail, and was attended by around 50 Swiss companies. Moreover, cooperation with Serbian institutions has been improving constantly and we’ve implemented activities over previous years together with representatives of the Serbian Ministry of Finance, the CCIS, the National Employment Service and others. I would also highlight the importance of continuity in the SSCC’s work over the course of these ten years and the continuous adapting of our activities to the current Swiss-Serbian reality, such as digitalisation, innovation, technological development, scientific research and sustainable development.

How do Swiss companies that are present on the Serbian market contribute to the development of scientific research and strengthening cooperation between business and academia?

— Switzerland is a world innovation leader, as shown by last year’s WIPO Global Innovation Index. Switzerland achieved this position thanks to strong educational and scientific research systems, investment in the development of new technologies, an innovative and dynamic startup ecosystem and strong links between industry and universities.

I would mention the example of Roche’s activities directed towards supporting investments in scientific research activities on the Serbian market and the development of new innovative solutions: Roche and the Government of Serbia signed an Agreement on scientific research cooperation in the field of “precision medicine” in 2022. With this agreement, work is planned on the creation of new research and development capacities through innovative projects, with the aim of advancing the healthcare system. As a partner of the Bio4 Campus initiated by the Government of the Republic of Serbia, Roche is striving to support the development of scientific institutes and educational institutions that will enable the further positioning of Serbia on the global innovation map. I would point out in particular the fact that Roche will be a partner in the newly established educational programme Master 4.0 in the field of bioinformatics.

As a partner of the Bio4 Campus, Roche strives to support the development of scientific institutes and educational institutions, enabling Serbia’s further positioning on the global innovation map

The SSCC then also signed a Memorandum of Cooperation last year with the Faculty of Economics in Belgrade, as well as organising numerous activities for students in cooperation with member companies, such as Nestlé, Kuehne+Nagel and Sky Express. We are thus contributing to the further strengthening of links between the university and the economy, as well as providing students with the opportunity to take their first steps in the business world. We are likewise continuing to expand our network of partners among academic institutions, and in that sense have already taken the first steps towards implementing cooperation with the Faculty of Organizational Sciences.

How do you view the role of digitalisation in the development of Serbia’s healthcare system?

— The digitalisation of healthcare plays a key role in advancing the healthcare system. By investing in today’s technologies and through the efficient use of data, we can accelerate and improve the accuracy of diagnostics, thus promoting personalised therapy and improving outcomes for patients. The implementation of digital healthcare solutions enables improved coordination between doctors and patients, optimising resources and improving the overall quality of services. The changes created by new therapies and digitalisation are huge and require the creation of a strategy for a modern healthcare system and a new approach to financing it. This new approach enables the better planning and more efficient financing of the healthcare system on the basis of data, as well as personalised communication with users of healthcare services, leading to improved treatment outcomes and reduced costs.

What do you see as being the SSCC’s most important priorities in the decade ahead?

— Like in the previous decade, the fundamental focus of the Swiss-Serbian Chamber of Commerce’s work will remain on maintaining a regular dialogue with member companies and strengthening our chamber’s business community. Alongside this, the transfer of Swiss knowhow and examples of good business practices, attended by guest lecturers from Switzerland, form part of the SSCC’s regular events. Digitalisation, science and research continue to represent the central pillar of the SSCC’s work, not only because they are essential to the further development of the economy, but also that of the healthcare system, while they represent areas that have special significance to the Republic of Serbia’s overall development.

We will devote special attention to promoting the Serbian market in Switzerland and the continued business networking of Swiss-Serbian companies. In that sense, the SSCC will be among the participants in the CEE Day 2024 event, to will be held in Zurich in September, organised by our partner institution Chamber of Commerce Switzerland – Central Europe.

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The greatest achievement of the Swiss-Serbian Chamber of Commerce (SSCC) over the ten years of its operations to date is the creation of a solid community of members who recognise the Chamber as a trusted business partner, says SSCC Executive Director Ana Grujović, who has led this successful business association since its inception.

The number of new SSCC activities initiated and implemented in collaboration with member companies has grown over the years, focusing on the transfer of Swiss knowhow and best practices. These include the annual SSCC-Holycode working lunch on the Swiss start-up ecosystem and its key success factors, regular webinars on cyber security organised in cooperation with Sky Express, and the SSCC-Zuehlke Engineering seminar on agility and organisational transformation, among many others. “Additionally, the number of SSCC members with special status has increased and currently includes SSCC Gold members ABB, Novartis, Emil Frey, Phytonet and Sky Express, as well as SSCC Premium member Codetribe, which testifies to the establishing of long-term trust within the SSCC community,” adds Grujović.

What distinguishes the SSCC from other business associations and makes it attractive to new members? From which sectors do they most frequently come today?

Reliability, flexibility and creativity are fundamental characteristics of the Swiss-Serbian Chamber of Commerce. It has been developing successfully for ten years thanks solely to the continuous support of member companies, which continuously enrich the chamber’s programme of activities with their ideas and initiatives. Moreover, our member companies’ business activities are renowned for their high degree of innovation and commitment to sustainable economic development, providing excellent opportunities for the exchange of business experiences and networking.

Among the sectors that are most attractive to new members, I would currently highlight the ICT sector – from which a significant number of SSCC member companies originate, such as Codetribe, Prodyna, Interventure, Zuehlke Engineering, Holycode, Sky Express, Consulteer and others. New members also come from other areas of business, such as Swiss company ‘emost’ from Zurich, which provides clients with solutions in sustainable energy efficiency through mobile innovative generators (mobile Battery Energy Storage Systems BESS), or ‘AXPO’, headquartered in Baden, which provides innovative energy products and services in accordance with the needs of companies, enabling them to achieve their corporate social responsibility goals. Both examples reflect the SSCC’s focus on innovation, digitalisation and sustainable development.

What will the Council of European Chambers and Associations bring to its members regarding advocacy for improving the business climate, and how has the creation of this council impacted the internal organisation of the SSCC’s work?

The SSCC Board of Directors supported the creation of the Council of European Business Associations and Chambers in Serbia (CEEBAC) as a new platform for joint action with colleagues from other bilateral chambers and business associations aimed at further improving the business climate and representing the common interests of member companies.

Reliability, flexibility and creativity are fundamental characteristics of the Swiss-Serbian Chamber of Commerce

The creation of so-called working committees is underway, with members identifying their direction and priority topics in the following areas: Transport, ESG and HR. Regarding the internal organisation of the SSCC’s work, our board members closely monitor CEEBAC’s work and are actively involved in the new platform to ensure that SSCC members’ current needs are represented adequately.

Which SSCC activities would you highlight in particular for 2024?

I would highlight one event that I consider as being extremely significant: the celebration of the Swiss-Serbian Chamber of Commerce’s 10th anniversary, which was held in June and attended by representatives of the Swiss-Serbian business community, state institutions, business associations and academic and other institutions. On this occasion, the SSCC Honorary Member plaque was awarded to Yana Mikhailova, Nestlé Head of Coffee for Europe and former SSCC president, who travelled to Belgrade from Nestlé’s Vevey headquarters specifically to attend our anniversary celebration. It also marked my ten-year tenure at the chamber, and I must take this opportunity to thank all board members, currently led by president Ana Govedarica, general manager of Roche d.o.o., for presenting me with a special plaque for my dedication to the work over the past decade, which I received from SSCC vice president Majo Mićović, general manager of Sky Express. I would also like to thank other SSCC members for their heartfelt congratulations. The entire decade of the work of the SSCC has been marked by excellent cooperation with the Swiss Embassy in Belgrade, especially with outgoing Ambassador H.E. Urs Schmid, who has attended a large number of SSCC events.

The SSCC Board boasts almost equal representation of women and men. How important do you think this is when it comes to fostering gender equality in the business sector, where women still face significant obstacles?

The SSCC is being led by a woman for the second time: Ana Govedarica, general manager of Roche d.o.o., while Yana Mikhailova was the first SSCC president at a time when she was also regional director of Nestlé Adriatic. There has been a gender balance in the SSCC’s management structure for many years. Additionally, many SSCC member companies are led by successful businesswomen: Marjana Davidović, general manager for the southern Adriatic region at Nestlé Adriatic; Milena Gajović Shrestha, general manager of SR Technics Services d.o.o., and many others. The growing number of women in leadership positions at companies operating in Serbia contributes significantly to promoting a corporate culture of inclusivity, employee diversity and the creation of equal opportunities for all employees.

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Mariko Kaneko, Deputy Press Secretary, Deputy Director-General for Press and Public Diplomacy, and Deputy Assistant Minister for Evidence-based Policymaking at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, accompanied Japanese Foreign Minister Kamikawa Yoko on her first visit to Serbia on 17^th July. Serbia is just one of the countries that Minister Kamikawa is visiting on her tour, along with Italy, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Kosovo. We took the opportunity to interview Ms Kaneko about bilateral relations between Japan and Serbia. 

“The purpose of Minister Kamikawa’s visit is to reaffirm our commitment to stability in Europe and to underscore the importance of the Western Balkans and Serbia for fostering peaceful relations within the region and beyond. Japan is committed to the sustainable development of Serbia and this is the message she is going to reiterate in her meetings with representatives of the Serbian government,” says our interlocutor.

With diplomatic relations between Serbia and Japan lasting more than 140 years to date, what steps are being taken to further strengthen political dialogue and high-level exchanges aimed at deepening cooperation in various fields?

We celebrated the 140^th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Japan and Serbia in 2022, thus marking a significant milestone in our longstanding partnership. I believe that our nations are well aware of the strong relationship between us, but there is always room to share more about how the bonds between our two countries have evolved. Minister Kamikawa’s decision to visit Serbia first during her tour of several Western Balkan states underscores Japan’s commitment to the sustainable development of Serbia and the region. This visit also highlights our ongoing support for reconciliation and stability within the region.

We live in a deeply divided world that’s facing numerous complex challenges, such as the wars in Ukraine and Gaza, and a severe global security environment. North Korea’s unprecedented pace of ballistic missile launches and China’s expansionist policies in the South China Sea and East China Sea pose significant threats to our security. Amidst these global tensions, it is crucial to emphasise the importance of peace, stability and human dignity.

Minister Kamikawa’s visit to Serbia reflects our understanding of the region’s ongoing struggles to overcome past conflicts. We believe Serbia and its neighbours have the potential to exemplify the value of peace, drawing from the experiences of the past 30 years. Japan has been a dedicated partner since the end of the civil war, providing assistance for reconstruction and supporting sustainable development in Serbia and other countries around the region. We remain fully committed to continuing this support and fostering a peaceful and stable international community in which every individual can live with dignity.

How have the initiatives launched during the mandate of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe contributed to excellent bilateral relation between the two countries?

In 2018, then-Prime Minister Shinzo Abe visited Serbia, marking the first visit by a Japanese Prime Minister. During his visit, he launched the Western Balkan Cooperation Initiative, which has since become a cornerstone of our diplomacy towards Serbia and the region. This initiative focuses on supporting social and economic reforms, as well as promoting reconciliation among the people and countries of the Western Balkans.

Under this framework, Japan has been extending assistance through its Official Development Assistance (ODA). This includes promoting social and economic reforms, stabilising Serbia’s economy and contributing to the region’s sustainable development.

We are seeing a growing number of prestigious Japanese companies recognising Serbia as a prime destination for significant investments. What factors have driven this positive shift? What strategies do you believe are essential to ensuring the continued success of existing investors and an increase in FDI from Japan to Serbia?

Japanese companies have increased their investments in Serbia significantly over recent years. We’ve seen major investments from three prominent Japanese companies: Nidec, Japan Tobacco International (JTI) Corporation, and Toyo Tire. Nidec, a leading manufacturer of electrical components used in electric vehicles and semiconductors, has established a strong presence in Serbia. JTI Corporation, one of Japan’s largest tobacco and vaping companies, has set up a branch here, and Toyo Tire, a renowned tire manufacturer, has also invested in Serbia.

Minister Kamikawa’s decision to visit Serbia first during her tour of several Western Balkan states underscores Japan’s commitment to the sustainable development of Serbia and the region

These examples illustrate the growing trend of Japanese investment in Serbia, which is likely to continue. Serbia offers a conducive business environment that attracts Japanese companies, notably through its high-quality workforce. Serbian workers are well-educated, particularly in the IT and science and technology sectors, which is highly beneficial for Japanese companies. Additionally, the Serbian government provides substantial support to foreign investors, such as corporate tax reductions and partial coverage of social welfare costs for employees of foreign companies. These measures are crucial to fostering a favourable investment climate.

Moreover, Minister Kamikawa Yoko and Serbian Foreign Minister Marko Đurić have just agreed to commence negotiations on a bilateral investment treaty. This agreement will further encourage investment between our two countries, promoting mutual economic growth and strengthening our bilateral relations.

Could you elaborate on the details of the current Japanese support programmes for Serbia, particularly in the fields of infrastructure development and education, and how these initiatives contribute to strengthening bilateral relations?

I already mentioned some of the examples of our support to Serbia. Here I would like to add some more details about particular projects. For instance, one major project involved the desulphurisation of the Nikola Tesla Thermal Power Plant, which aims to improve environmental standards. Another ongoing project, initiated by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), involves a feasibility study for a water pumping project, which is crucial for the energy sector.

The energy sector is particularly important for the stability and sustainable development of Serbia and its neighbouring countries. In addition to energy, Japan has also been supporting the welfare and healthcare sectors, reflecting our comprehensive approach to development and our commitment to the wellbeing of the region’s people.

Japan has been extending its technical cooperation in various areas. Japanese companies investing in Serbia also engage in technical cooperation and human resource development projects. One recent initiative is a waste management project undertaken by Itochu Corporation in collaboration with a French company. This project is part of our broader technical cooperation efforts for waste management.

These efforts reflect our commitment to the social and economic development of Serbia and the region. Japanese companies will continue to provide assistance, contributing to sustainable development and fostering stronger bilateral ties.

I hope that more people in Serbia become aware of our approach and commitment.

What role do women play in Japanese politics today, and what plans does the Japanese government have to improve the representation of women in political life?

Minister Kamikawa has been actively promoting the participation of women in society, particularly through the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda, a concept adopted by the United Nations Security Council in 2000. This initiative is not only being championed in Japan, but also internationally, highlighting its global importance.

Significant progress is still needed in Japan. The ruling Liberal Democratic Party, to which Minister Kamikawa belongs, has set a numerical target to have 30% of politicians be women. The current average stands at approximately 15%. Similarly, the government aims for 35% of its officials to be women, which has not yet been achieved. Despite these challenges, efforts to improve gender representation and inclusion are ongoing.

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Much has already been written about the Paris Olympics. As we count down to the 2024 Summer Games, branded as ‘Paris 2024’ and set to take place from 26th July to 11th August, we’ve decided to focus on the Olympics’ impact on the social fabric of society. Paris will be the main host city, with events also taking place in 16 other cities across Metropolitan France and one subsite in Tahiti, French Polynesia.

Our interview with Paris 2024 CEO Etienne Thobois focuses primarily on the potential impact of the Olympics on Seine-Saint-Denis, one of Paris’s departments. Seine-Saint-Denis is the youngest, fastest-growing and poorest department in France, and its inhabitants are set to benefit from the economic opportunities likely to be brought by the Games.

While each event is unique, the philosophy behind the Paris Olympics— focused on supporting equality, sustainability, and efficiency—can serve as a model of modern thinking for Serbia’s organisers of Expo 2027.

The French government was determined to ensure this year’s Summer Olympics would be green, inclusive and socially beneficial. Could you please introduce us to this aspect of Paris 2024, before we immerse ourselves in the sports, winners and medals?

— From the bid phase, we had a clear objective – shared by all Paris 2024 stakeholders – to organise Games of a new era, which would be both spectacular and useful, responding to the challenges of our changing world.

The starting point is our plan for the Games to use 95% existing and temporary infrastructure. Those temporary venues, set among some of the world’s most iconic landmarks, are central to our Paris 2024 concept. When we talk about ’Games Wide Open’, it’s this idea of taking sport out of its traditional spaces and bringing it to the heart of the city and our communities, notably with the first-ever Opening Ceremonies to be held outside of stadium, where more than 220,000 people will have the opportunity to attend for free, and with the first-ever mass participation events in the context of an Olympic and Paralympic Games.

So, it’s about bringing the Games closer to the people, for everyone to be able to share in the experience, but it’s also about aligning them more with the needs and expectations of modern society. Our low-build venue plan supports our commitment to cut the carbon footprint of the Games in half compared to the average of London 2012 and Rio 2016. It also means that our Olympic Legacy project differs from what we’ve seen elsewhere, with a very targeted physical legacy, focused on the host department of Seine-Saint-Denis, which is the youngest, fastest-growing and poorest in France. Our only two major construction projects both respond to very specific needs of the local area, and will contribute powerfully to its ongoing social and economic development.

Alongside this, we have a wider project to drive positive impacts throughout France by strengthening the place of sport in our society and as a tool to address today’s biggest societal challenges. One good example is our ’30 Minutes’ initiative, which has been adopted by 91% of French primary schools and sees children now doing 30 minutes of sport or physical activity every day, in addition to their PE les econsons. This is a type of legacy that did not need to wait for the Games, and we’ve benefitted from close and early collaboration with government and social institutions to amplify our impact.

With 800 sporting events, 15,000 athletes, 45,000 volunteers and 13 million meals, maintaining sustainability throughout the Olympic Games is undeniably challenging. What innovations are you most proud of?

— Our actions in this area are all geared towards doing better with less. As we have said, it starts with using 95% temporary or existing infrastructure, but there are many examples of innovation across all aspects of our operations.

When it comes to venue development, for example, we are renting materials instead of buying them new – and we are guaranteeing a second life for every piece of equipment used, whether it’s a mattress in the Athletes’ Village or a seat in a temporary stand.

Very significantly, we are connecting every venue, including temporary venues, to the electricity grid in order to reduce our reliance on carbon-intensive diesel generators, both during the Games and for events in the future. Every Olympic venue is also guaranteed to be powered 100% by renewable energy thanks to a unique (in the context of the Games) power purchase agreement.

We want to bring the Games and the public closer together. At the Opening Ceremony down the River Seine, more than 220,000 people will enjoy free access on the upper banks

We could also include the example of catering, where we are doubling the amount of plant-based food on offer to athletes and spectators across our venues compared to previous Games, with 80% of all produce used coming from French sources. This will equate to 50% carbon reduction per meal.

And something that definitely makes us proud is the way we have engaged our whole ecosystem in this effort to make the Games an accelerator of bold sustainability objectives. One example is the work of the City of Paris and State authorities to clean up the River Seine and make it swimmable for the first time in 100 years. We could also talk about Coca- Cola, which is investing significantly in the accelerated roll-out of drinks fountains – representing a big factor in our effort to halve the amount of single-use plastic used in food and beverage service.

Olympic Games are often seen as having been a great hit or a miss, mostly in economic terms. What are your recipes for converting green investments, i.e., costs, into profit generating machines?

— As an Organising Committee, we are not aiming to turn a profit. We’ve been clear from the start regarding our objective to maintain a balanced budget, and we are on track to achieve that.

It’s a matter of some pride, because the global macroeconomic conditions of the past seven years have not made things easy. We’ve maintained a rigorous focus on cost optimisation throughout, which has helped us keep budget increases below the overall rate of inflation across the lifetime of the project. Today, the Organising Committee budget stands at 4.4 billion euros and is 96% privately financed.

The SOLIDEO budget for Games-related, long-term investment is also 4.4 billion euros, 1.7 billion of which is publicly funded, with the remaining 60% coming from private developers. The strategy from the outset was to invest only in new infrastructure where there was a clear and proven long-term need, with 80% of all the public money spent on the Games focused on the fast-growing Seine-Saint- Denis department.

Specifically, as the site of the Athletes’ Village and Media Village Cluster, this department will benefit in legacy from 4,000 much-needed new homes, built to the highest standards of accessibility and eco-design, 25 per cent of which will be dedicated social housing. A further third will be rented as affordable housing for students and key workers.

Alongside this, the new Olympic Aquatics Centre in Saint-Denis is the centrepiece of a major legacy project targeting an unacceptable reality whereby 60% of children across the Seine-Saint-Denis department currently leave primary school (at age 11) unable to swim.

Overall, the Games project will leave a legacy of 20 new community swimming pools across the department. In addition to the four pools of the Olympic Aquatics Centre, these include 12 new pools spread across three training venues for the Games, and four temporary pools used for the swimming competitions at Paris La Défense Arena, which will be permanently relocated to locations in Seine-Saint-Denis after the Games.

The residents and businesses of these areas are also on the frontline to benefit from the economic opportunities of the Games, which are estimated at up to 11.1 billion euros across the Paris region, according to a recently updated forecast by France’s CDES, using new methodology developed with the OECD.

What strategies are being implemented by organisers of the Games and their strategic partners in order to utilise Paris 2024 as a catalyst to develop the economy, reduce inequality and promote employment?

— Many actions have been undertaken by Paris 2024 and SOLIDEO, our delivery partner, to guarantee that the five billion euros of Games-related contracts awarded benefit the entire economic fabric, placing a special emphasis on the small and social business sector.

On the Paris 2024 side alone, 2.7 billion euros of contracts have been awarded, with 79% of contractors and suppliers being small or medium- sized businesses. They include 304 social enterprises.

Our ’30 Minutes’ initiative has been adopted by 91% of French primary schools and now sees children doing 30 minutes of sport or physical activity every day

Likewise, we have placed a major focus on ensuring the jobs boost of the Games benefits those furthest away from employment, and does so in a sustainable way, working with government and social institutions to deploy innovative solutions such as the very popular programme of sportsbased job dating sessions.

In total, 181,000 people will work directly on the Games – and in sectors offering long-term employment opportunities such as construction and tourism. On Games infrastructure projects, 2,935,357 hours of work have been completed in the context of social (re)integration schemes – 120% of the target set for SOLIDEO.

In today’s polarised world, when a larger number of participants are anticipated than was the case a century ago, when Paris last hosted the Summer Olympics, how complicated is it to ensure the safety and security of all participants and spectators?

— From the very beginning, security has been the condition on which our whole plan is based. We want these Games to be open to as many people as possible; we want them to be open to the city on a scale we’ve never seen before. But we are very clear: these ambitions can only be delivered if the security conditions are met.

That’s something we knew from the start. Before confirming the plans for the Opening Ceremony, for example, we carried out extensive feasibility studies with our partners in the State security services, considering every type of threat. We continue to work daily in coordination with the highest levels of the French State security and intelligence services.

Our confidence is based on this work, and based on France’s expertise in delivering festive major events, even in challenging security contexts. We could give the example of Euro 2016, held just a few months after the Paris attacks, which saw thousands of people celebrating together in city-centre fan zones. Indeed, since 2015, risks of a terrorist nature have been systematically built into the design of all security measures in France. This has been the case for Paris 2024.

The Games will see the biggest ever security operation for an event in France. An unprecedented 35,000 state security personnel will be mobilised every day of the Games and the Opening Ceremony will see more than 45,000 State security personnel deployed across central Paris, including specialist air and river forces – in addition to the Games private security force.

Everything is in place for visitors to enjoy a wonderful, safe and oncein- a-lifetime celebration.

How will Paris celebrate sport and innovate the Olympic Games as a sporting arena?

— The experience of the Games for spectators will be like no other. Paris itself will transform into an Olympic Park as the epicentre of an incredible party, extending nationwide throughout France. The Olympic Torch Relay is already giving a taste of the spectacle and the public enthusiasm to join the celebration this summer.

We are introducing a number of innovations, each designed to bring the Games and the public closer together.

So, we have this unique Opening Ceremony down the River Seine, with more than 220,000 people enjoying free access on the upper banks.

We have sporting competitions staged among iconic landmarks, in the very heart of the city, on a scale never before seen.

We have the first-ever Games mass participation event, the Marathon Pour Tous, which will see 40,000 members of the public run the same route, on the same day, as Olympic competitors.

And we also have the first-ever Champions Park, a free-access celebration venue at the foot of the Eiffel Tower, with 120,000 people gathering daily to honour and party with Games medallists.

We are hoping that each of these concepts will leave its mark on the history of the Games.

Finally, what can Belgrade, which is investing a lot in the upcoming Expo 2027 event, learn from your model?

— It is early for us to be giving advice. For now, we are staying humble and focused on delivering our Games.

One key lesson learned on our side is the importance of setting a clear vision for your project – and with a high enough level of ambition to galvanise and bring together behind it all the key public and private stakeholders, as well the public. That’s because organising a major event is truly a team sport.

We certainly believe that our lowbuild model, with its very targeted legacy investments and rigorous focus on cutting carbon emissions, can serve as a blueprint for the future. But every Games, every event and every host city offers something different and you need to know how to play to your own strengths.

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Despite disagreement on some issues, such as Kosovo’s request to join the Council of Europe or support for the Resolution on genocide in Srebrenica, France and Serbia remain close, while France also wants to deepen economic ties with Serbia, says Ambassador Cochard. Speaking in this interview for CorD Magazine, he confirms that discussions of new forms of cooperation could resume in Belgrade during the next visit of the French president, which is planned.

Your Excellency, under what slogan and with what message will France celebrate its National Day this year?

— Fostering fraternity through sport will definitely be this year’s message for our national day. France will host the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris and at various venues across the country and beyond: Marseille, Bordeaux, Tahiti… I am convinced that these Games will provide an occasion for people all around the world to experience French hospitality and witness our knowhow in organising such events. We are very much looking forward to the Olympic Games and our annual celebration will be organised in the spirit of the respect, friendship and excellence that were promoted by Pierre de Coubertin. Most Serbian participants in the Olympics will already be in France by then, but we will hopefully greet many of them, with their medals, on their way back!

The following months will be marked under the sign of excellence in sports, but not only that, as the December 2024 reopening of Notre Dame will demonstrate what we can achieve when we work together and with the support of so many individuals and countries around the world. When it comes to respect and friendship, France does everything that’s possible to promote these principles – by promoting multilateralism and cooperation – both at an international and national level. In Serbia, friendship and respect are at the core of our bilateral relations.

On the eve of this year’s holiday, both in France and across Europe, President Emmanuel Macron’s announcements that France might send its military instructors to support the Ukrainian army are being closely followed. What is the sentiment among the French people regarding this initiative?

— The French people are very conscious of what is at stake in Ukraine. This war has an existential character for all of us. The war of aggression that Russia wages against a sovereign country, constantly denying its very existence, the existence of the Ukrainian nation and the free will of the Ukrainian people, is jeopardising the stability of the European continent as a whole. The French position has always been very clear: we are not at war with Russia, but we will do all we can to support Ukraine’s resistance and to help the Ukrainian people protect their freedom and sovereignty. France has done everything possible to engage in dialogue with Russia. Vladimir Putin rejected this and decided to lead his country into a disastrous war.

When it comes to military instructors, many fake news stories have been circulated. The possibility of training in Ukraine has been discussed with our partners since the Ukraine Support Conference that was held in Paris on 26th February, and taking into account the official request submitted to the EU by the Ukrainian authorities. No decision has so far been taken. Our aim has always been the same: to give Ukraine and the Ukrainian people the means to defend themselves against brutal and illegal aggression.

Paris is preparing to once again host the Olympic Games. Can the Olympics, like in ancient times, serve not only as a venue for sporting competition, but also as a platform for peace talks to bring an end to conflicts in Ukraine or Gaza?

— We have the ambition to offer a moment of hope to people suffering from conflicts, and especially the ones you mention, through the Olympic and Paralympic Games. France is doing everything it can to promote peace. As part of the Olympic tradition, France – as host country of the Games – presented to the UN General Assembly a resolution on the observation of the Olympic truce. And it was largely adopted, with the noticeable abstentions of Russia and Syria. It is in this spirit that President Macron called for an Olympic truce in all theatres of war and stated his willingness to take “diplomatic initiatives” in favour of peace during the Games.

Artificial intelligence, environmental and energetic transition – are essential for the development of Serbia and its alignment with the European Union

I hope that world leaders will seize this opportunity to move forward collectively on such a crucial issue. But the responsibility to silence the guns belongs first and foremost to the aggressors that are acting in violation of international law and the UN Charter.

During the most recent meeting between the presidents of Serbia and France, it was announced that a contract for the purchase of French “Rafale” fighter jets is expected to be signed soon, with the French President personally attending the event. Has this event already been planned?

— President Macron intends to visit Serbia very soon, as he values our close relations with Serbia. His first visit, in 2019, was an important milestone in the renewal of our longstanding friendship that led to the signing of an inter-governmental agreement in 2020, covering important projects like the Belgrade metro. Since that time, our two countries have had numerous high-level contacts. As you stated, President Vučić was in Paris last April, while President Macron has reiterated his willingness to come to Serbia and discuss ways to reinforce our bilateral relations in many fields, in view of our future increased cooperation as fellow EU member states. And, indeed, this includes the reinforcement of our already strong and solid cooperation in the defence sector, in order to be able to protect our common defence and security interests.

It emerged at the same meeting that interest exists in strengthening economic cooperation through the involvement of French companies in the fields of energy, environmental protection and artificial intelligence in Serbia. Can we expect something concrete soon?

— Indeed, France is striving to deepen its economic ties with Serbia. The sectors you mentioned – artificial intelligence, environmental and energetic transition – are essential for the development of Serbia and its alignment with the European Union. French companies are increasingly present in Serbia. Trade between our two countries has tripled since 2010! The recent visit of a delegation of French firms was a concrete indicator of the deepening of our economic relations. The delegation met with President Vučić and several ministers. This visit led to the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Serbian government, Vinci and Suez concerning the Veliko Selo water treatment plant, the first such facility in Belgrade. An agreement regarding the financing of a Smart Grid project has also been signed.

To what extent have bilateral relations between France and Serbia been impacted by your country’s co-sponsorship of the Resolution on Srebrenica, which was proposed to the UN General Assembly by Germany and has been perceived in Serbia as an act against the country and a destabilising factor for the region?

— Our bilateral relations, as well as the relationship between our two presidents, are based on trust and sincerity. We may disagree on some issues, but we have no hidden agenda. Our only agenda is to remain faithful to our longstanding friendship and to help Serbia become a full member of the EU as soon as possible.

The resolution establishes an International Day of Reflection and Commemoration of what happened in Srebrenica in July 1995, the massacre of 8,000 adults and children, which was unequivocally qualified as genocide by the International Court of Justice. We believe there is a collective duty of memory, a “devoir de mémoire”, as we say in French, when it comes to such terrible events and France did its part concerning the tragic events of our own past. That’s why France supported the adoption of this resolution. It is not a negation of the other crimes that were committed during the conflict in the former Yugoslavia. And the text does not contain any idea of collective responsibility for the Srebrenica genocide.

Whatever judgement we may have on the impact of this resolution, what really matters now is to work together to prevent the hatred, glorification of war criminals and ethnonationalism that are, unfortunately, still present around us. That’s the only way to help peace prevail in the region.

France initially supported Kosovo’s Council of Europe membership application, but then withdrew its support. How firm is Paris’s stance that there can be no progress for Kosovo until the Community of Serb Municipalities has been established?

— Our position is not only firm, but also very clear and has been stated many times. We support Kosovo’s membership in the Council of Europe as a way to protect the rights of citizens and minorities in this country, but this membership requires that Pristina take concrete steps to set up the long-overdue Association of Serb-Majority Municipalities.

The Belgrade-Pristina dialogue is essential for the stability of the region, and both parties must respect their commitments. There is no alternative to normalisation and France, together with its partners, will continue to insist on the creation of the Association of Serb Municipalities, as a priority and necessary step on this road.

How would you evaluate this June’s local elections in Serbia?

— If I am to quote the preliminary conclusions of the ODIHR, they were well-run and freedom of expression and assembly were respected. But the ODIHR mission also raises some concerns that are more or less identical as those raised in the report of the ODIHR regarding the 17th December elections. These shortcomings need to be addressed and the ODIHR has formulated recommendations that are very relevant.

We welcome the commitment made by Serbian authorities to implement them all, through an inclusive and transparent dialogue. I hope that this dialogue will lead to tangible progress in the coming months. This would bring the country closer to European standards, and improve Serbian citizens’ trust in their institutions and democratic processes.

Could the results of the elections for European institutions influence the EU’s course when it comes to events in the region and EU enlargement?

— We will have to wait and see for the new EU institutions to be formed in the coming months, but I believe that the major political equilibriums will remain the same.

Since the Zagreb and Thessaloniki summits of 2000 and 2003, the European Union and its member states have consistently reaffirmed their commitment to the EU membership perspective of the Western Balkan countries. The European Council called for the accelerating of their accession process in December 2023. Enlargement is, and will remain, the key to our common security and prosperity despite the multiple threats we are facing. Ever more Europeans are aware of that, and I am confident that our priority will remain the same and I hope that Serbia will decisively take this opportunity: as its place is in Europe and nowhere else.

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Kosovo’s application to join the Council of Europe is now being considered by the 46 member states represented in the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe and we can’t say when a decision on that issue could be made, says the new head of the Council of Europe Office in Belgrade, speaking in this interview for CorD Magazine. Janos Babity says that, during his time in Serbia, he will be dedicated to raising standards when it comes to the protection of fundamental rights for all citizens. He adds that he will also pay special attention to exploring ways of reflecting on the synergies between human rights and environmental protection.

The Council of Europe is this year celebrating its 75th anniversary. Looking at that history, what would you say have been the Council’s greatest achievements since it was founded?

— Founded in 1949 as the first postwar inter-governmental political organisation in Europe focusing on human rights, the Council has played a pivotal role in shaping a united and stable Europe by promoting these values.

One of the Council’s most significant accomplishments is the European Convention on Human Rights, adopted in 1950. This groundbreaking treaty, which entered into force in 1953, laid the foundation for the European Court of Human Rights, which has since dealt with over a million applications and delivered over 25,000 judgements and decisions, protecting the rights and freedoms of millions of Europeans in the process.

Another cornerstone achievement is the establishment of the European Social Charter in 1961, which ensures social and economic rights, including the right to work, education, health, housing, social protection and welfare. Through its Venice Commission, established in 1990, the Council has provided member states with critical legal advice on constitutional matters, supporting democratic reforms and the rule of law.

Concerns remain regarding media freedom and equal campaign opportunities, which are vital for a healthy democratic environment

Since 1955, the European Cultural Convention has encouraged cross-border collaborations in education, culture and heritage, enriching the cultural diversity of Europe. Moreover, the Council of Europe has been a leader in combating corruption and organised crime. The Group of States against Corruption (GRECO), established in 1999, has been pivotal in promoting transparency and integrity across Europe, contributing significantly to the fight against corruption.

Through other conventions and specialised bodies, the Council of Europe has also been protecting the rights of persons belonging to national minorities, promoting regional and minority languages, rights of women, children, Roma and Travellers and LGBTI persons, as well as countering hate speech and discrimination.

Viewed from the perspective of the Council of Europe, how would you rate Europe today, according to the criteria of human rights, democracy and the rule of law? Are economic, health and geopolitical crises resulting in those values being pushed to the backburner?

Amid the number of economic, social and geopolitical challenges Europe faces today, we see that human rights, democracy and the rule of law appear to be under attack in many parts of our continent. Recent reports from the Council of Europe bodies confirm a mixed picture of the state of human rights in Europe. While many member states have made commendable strides in protecting civil liberties and ensuring judicial independence, there are significant concerns and a sense of democratic backsliding.

Democracy in Europe also faces challenges. The 2024 annual report of the Secretary General of the Council of Europe on the state of democracy, human rights and the rule of law highlights both progress and setbacks. Electoral processes in many countries continue to function effectively, reflecting the robust democratic traditions in place. However, significant threats are posed by the rise of populist movements and the erosion of democratic norms in certain areas. Stronger commitment is needed from member states to increase the level of implementation of the judgements of the European Court and recommendations by various expert bodies of the Council of Europe.

Recent and ongoing crises have indeed placed immense strain on these values. The Covid-19 pandemic, for instance, led to emergency measures that curtailed civil liberties in some cases. The Council has been vigilant in ensuring that such measures remain proportionate and temporary. Marija Pejčinović Burić, Secretary General of the Council of Europe, has consistently highlighted the severe impact of geopolitical challenges and Russia’s war against Ukraine on Europe’s stability, as well as on the principles of democracy, human rights and the rule of law. Our Organisation acknowledges the profound suffering of the Ukrainian people and the broader implications of the military aggression on regional security and global stability, and seeks to mobilise all the instruments available to ensure Russia’s full accountability for human rights violations and to provide compensation to the victims.

Despite economic, health and geopolitical crises, the values of human rights, democracy and the rule of law continue to guide the Organisation’s member states. The Council’s work is crucial to ensuring these principles are not put on the backburner, but remain at the forefront of European policy and action.

The history of the Council of Europe also includes discussion over whether the Council lost its place with the formation of the European Union and, later, with the formation of the OSCE. How would you respond to that claim?

The establishment and the evolution of the European Union (EU) and the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) has not overshadowed the Council of Europe, but rather complemented its mission. The Council of Europe has a clear mandate focused on human rights, democracy and the rule of law. Unlike the EU, which places a greater emphasis on economic integration and political union, the Council’s broad membership of 46 countries allows it to address human rights issues across the continent, beyond the EU’s borders. The OSCE, with its focus on security and conflict prevention, also intersects with the Council’s work.

In recent years, cooperation between these organisations has only strengthened Europe’s capacity to address complex challenges. We highly value our cooperation with the EU and the OSCE and will continue to work together for the promotion of the values in which we all believe.

You have been in Serbia since this February. What have you defined as the priorities of your mandate?

— My commitments revolve around the Council of Europe’s values and role: strengthening human rights, democracy and the rule of law in Serbia.

Amid the number of economic, social and geopolitical challenges Europe faces today, we see that human rights, democracy and the rule of law appear to be under attack in many parts of our continent

I am firmly dedicated, together with the team of the Council of Europe Office in Belgrade, to supporting Serbia’s efforts to align with European standards and ensure the protection of fundamental rights for all its citizens. With reference to the fourth Summit of the Council of Europe held in Reykjavík last year, special attention will be given to the rights of children and the participation of youth in decision-making processes. We are also exploring ways of reflecting on the synergies between human rights and environmental protection.

In recent years, the Council of Europe Office in Serbia has supported reforms of democratic institutions, especially the judiciary. At the same time, we can still hear assessments that this pillar of power is still not free of the pressures of the executive power, despite the reform process and the amending of the Constitution. In which direction will further cooperation between the Council of Europe and the authorities in Serbia develop regarding the judiciary?

— Over the course of 20 years, the Council of Europe has been a steadfast ally to Serbia in reforming its democratic institutions, particularly the judiciary. Looking ahead, the Council of Europe’s cooperation with Serbian authorities will intensify, focusing on fortifying the judicial system against undue influence and ensuring adherence to European standards. We are conducting programmes that seek to increase the capacities of legal professionals by adopting the democratic standards and procedures that are already being practiced in other members states. The Serbian Ministry of Justice and the High Court of Serbia are our strong allies, and we look forward to cooperating with them in the future. Moreover, the Council’s GRECO (Group of States against Corruption) continues to monitor Serbia’s progress in combating corruption within the judiciary. This oversight is crucial to building public trust and ensuring that judicial decisions are free from external interference.

The Council of Europe will also enhance its engagement with civil society organisations in Serbia, empowering them to act as watchdogs and advocate for judicial independence. This multifaceted approach aims to create a resilient judicial system able to withstand political pressures and deliver justice impartially.

Council of Europe representatives were actively involved in the work of the election observer mission that monitored Serbia’s national elections in December 2023. You witnessed the local elections in early June. From that point of view, what would you say about the state of parliamentary democracy in Serbia?

— Members of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe were part of the international observation mission during Serbia’s national elections in December 2023. This observation provides an evaluation of the entire electoral process in Serbia, thoroughly presented in the PACE election observation report.

The joint observation mission, including the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly, acknowledged that the elections offered voters a choice between political alternatives, and that freedoms of expression and assembly were generally respected. Concerns remain regarding media freedom and equal campaign opportunities, which are vital for a healthy democratic environment. The implementation of the recommendations of the ODIHR and Venice Commission remains on the agenda. Despite these challenges, the Council of Europe remains committed to supporting Serbia’s democratic institutions. Continued collaboration will focus on enhancing electoral integrity, strengthening judicial independence and ensuring that democratic norms are fully upheld.

The beginning of your mandate in Serbia was marked by a discussion about Kosovo’s request to become a member of the Council of Europe, which Belgrade opposes. Since that request was not added to the agenda of the meeting of the Committee of Ministers in May, could you explain the further procedure related to the request of the authorities in Pristina?

— The procedure will involve further deliberations of the 46 member states represented in the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe. We don’t know at this stage when a decision may be taken. It is not in my mandate to discuss accession issues, so I will not comment further.

The post 75 Years of Promoting Human Rights appeared first on CorD Magazine.

Marko Đurić, Serbia’s new head of diplomacy, is convinced that further progress will be achieved in bilateral relations between Serbia and the U.S. On the topic of political divergences with Washington, such as the recent case of the vote in the UN on the Srebrenica genocide resolution, Đurić, who until recently served as Serbian ambassador in Washington, says that Serbia has taken note of the way countries have defined their stance on this issue, but that “it is neither the end of history nor the end our cooperation with those countries”.

You took on the post of foreign minister at a time when there’s lots of talk about Serbia having to choose a side in the geopolitical sense. What will form the essence of Serbia’s foreign policy during your mandate?

— Our side is the Serbian side. Your question is based on the deep-rooted belief that small states and nations have no choice but to be mere pawns in the games of the great powers. With our successes in the process of building Serbia into a modern democracy and an economy with a perspective, the greatest credit for which belongs to President Aleksandar Vučić, we have shown that we’re not so small after all, and that we can build a policy to protect our own state and national interests without endangering anyone, and that we can be an exporter of stability. Serbia will always choose the side of Serbia, and we will continue to lead a multi-vector foreign policy based on libertarian principles, on autonomy and independent decision-making that’s in our own interest. We will nurture our traditional friendships and create new ones, but we will also improve existing partnerships, as well as partnerships with those with whom we haven’t always had complete harmonious relations.

In this approach, full membership in the EU remains the central commitment of our foreign policy strategy, while having the best possible relations with the U.S. will also be one of our priorities.

You arrived in the position of foreign minister directly from Washington, D.C., where you served as Serbia’s ambassador. What would you say about the current level of bilateral relations between Serbia and the U.S.?

— Serbia and the U.S. have been writing a new chapter in their shared history over the past decade, and I’m happy to have been part of the team that contributed to that in various ways. Our relations – political, economic, cultural, educational – are now at a much higher level than they were ten years ago, but I’m hopeful that they’re also at a much lower level than the one we’ll reach at the end of the coming decade. I can say that numerous obstacles to normal diplomatic and political communication were removed over the previous period, which is a consequence of our mutual willingness to abandon some old practices and enter into the process of improving cooperation with more goodwill. Serbia is today a country that has doubled its GDP in the last decade and a country that attracts over 65% of all investment across the entire region. America is today Serbia’s top export market for services in the ICT sector, and ranks fourth among our global foreign trade partners. We are much better able to hear and understand each other today than was the case in the past, both on issues that we manage to find agreement on and on issues around which we don’t agree.

Are influences on changing Serbia’s position regarding Ukraine, or more specifically the introduction of sanctions against Russia, and future distance from China among the core issues of bilateral relations with Washington?

— Over recent years, Serbia has managed – with its credibility and readiness to participate in the world’s political and diplomatic processes in a constructive way – to carve out a kind of special position for itself, because our interests are specific and start from our desire to develop as a free and independent state. We listen to the pulse of international relations very carefully, and are very well aware of what we’re doing. Regardless of the global circumstances, we will always take a principled approach to pursuing the best interests of our country and our people. This is a postulate from which we do not deviate. We certainly won’t be rigid and inflexible, as we were in some difficult moments of our past, and we certainly won’t be a country that creates problems for the environment, but rather one that creates opportunities for development.

In which areas do you think bilateral cooperation between Serbia and the U.S. has achieved the most progress?

— I would say that cooperation with the U.S. is advancing across all fields. It is crucially important to this cooperation that Serbia has positioned itself as a credible partner, with whom it is possible to cooperate in a stable and predictable way.

The threats to the Dayton architecture of Bosnia and Herzegovina don’t come from the U.S., but rather primarily from some European centers of power that are working openly on the untarization of the country

This has resulted in the American side having more willingness to listen to our views, which is a prerequisite for us to identify common or close future positions on some issues that we didn’t agree on in the past. We can learn a lot from the U.S. about how to build a successful society – this refers to a dominant military force and impressive world economy, and Serbia can only benefit from having higher quality relations with America. Our armed forces have been participating for 18 years in the State Partnership Program with the Ohio National Guard, within the scope of which we don’t only have cooperation between our soldiers, but also between civilians: economists, educators and priests. Moreover, last year’s establishing of the American-Serbian Business Council crowned previous efforts towards the forging of even closer economic ties between our countries. That’s why I’m particularly hopeful of the intensification of economic cooperation with the U.S., which is expanding year on year, especially in terms of the exchange of services and when it comes to investments. In short, the development of Serbian-American cooperation has unlimited potential.

How have relations between Serbia and the U.S. been impacted by Washington’s strong support for the recent Resolution on the Srebrenica genocide, which was adopted by the UN General Assembly at the proposal of Germany?

— As can be deduced from your question, the U.S. did support this resolution, but it did not take the lead in advocating for it.

Serbia, as a country that jealously protects its military neutrality and independence in making political decisions, is understandably targeted by those who want a clear positioning and the taking of sides on something that threatens to become more than a conflict between two states in Eastern Europe.

We expect Serbia to be pressured to abandon itsposition, and there is also certain to be more such pressure in the future. This doesn’t mean that we will destroy the bridges of partnership and cooperation built with those who want to entice Serbia to their side in an increasingly perilous geopolitical conflict. However, diplomacy is a process that’s based on a tactical approach and long-term thinking, not on affect and passion. The noted resolution was supported by many countries from our region and many EU member states, including those that are the sources of the largest investments in Serbia. It is to be understood that we made a note of how certain countries determined their stance on the issue of the resolution on Srebrenica, but that is neither the end of history nor the end of our cooperation with those countries.

Considering the reactions of American ambassadors around the region, the U.S. doesn’t look favorably on the national gathering established in June as the All-Serb Assembly, which is seen as a response to the aforementioned Resolution. How did you respond to your American colleagues who evaluated the messages of that gathering as an attack on the Dayton Agreement?

— If you’d listened carefully to U.S. Ambassador Christopher Hill, you would have heard a stance that coincides with Serbia’s political positions, and that is the position that the U.S. and Serbia are jointly committed to respecting the Dayton Agreement. The All-Serb Assembly was a large and important event for us, because it demonstrated the unity of the Serbian people, and we live in times in which all collectives, including ours, are striving to achieve the greatest possible cohesion in order to be able to handle various modern challenges. This has nothing to do with Serbia’s attitude towards the Dayton architecture of Bosnia and Herzegovina, because we support our neighbors’ territorial integrity sincerely and consistently, but also other aspects of the Dayton Agreement that guarantee the existence and jurisdiction of Republika Srpska. It is a view formed logically by Serbia that is favorable to this territory, due to the heritage of our regional identity.

It is tough for me to imagine our citizens supporting the idea of EU membership if is conditioned by our recognition of the unilaterally declared independence of our southern province

This stance is primarily required by Serbia if it is to realize its development plans. And, quite frankly, the threats to the Dayton architecture of Bosnia and Herzegovina don’t come from the U.S., but rather primarily from some European centers of power that are working openly on the unitarization of the country, and thus working against the letter and spirit of the Dayton Agreement. But let’s return to the All-Serb Assembly and its messages. If you objectively and dispassionately read the contents of the declaration adopted, you won’t find a single element that anyone could perceive as a threat to the stability of the region or the integrity of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the fact that messages of Serbian unity are received unfavorably by those who want a weak Serbia and a fragmented Serbian people is also to be expected and logical.

We recently heard two statements of American diplomats related to Kosovo. The U.S. ambassador in Belgrade, Christopher Hill, stated his belief that “recognition of Kosovo’s independence will not be a condition for Serbia’s EU accession,” but rather the normalization of relations. At the same time, the U.S. ambassador in Pristina, Jeff Hovenier, stated that the U.S. expects the normalization process to end with “mutual recognition.” Which of these statements do you think represents a more faithful reflection of the U.S. stance?

— The messages of the U.S. ambassador in Belgrade are certainly more reflective of the stance of American diplomacy. We share with Ambassador Hill a desire for relations between Serbia and the U.S. to improve in the coming period and for them to return to the level of quality that we had prior to the disintegration of the former Yugoslavia. Serbia will not antagonize the U.S., despite us obviously having conflicting views on the Kosovo issue, because there is very wide space to build trust and cooperation between our two countries, and this could perhaps lead to the future convergence of positions on this issue. But the most relevant factor when it comes to Kosovo is what Serbian citizens think about our southern province, because at the end of the process they will have the final say in deciding on our country’s EU accession. It is tough for me to imagine our citizens supporting the idea of EU membership if is conditioned by our recognition of the unilaterally declared independence of our southern province.

The U.S. presidential election will be held this November. Do you think there is a difference between Democratic and Republican administrations when it comes to priority national issues for Serbia?

— It wouldn’t be appropriate for me, as the foreign minister of a small country, to express any desires or forecasts regarding the upcoming U.S. elections, because someone malicious could interpret that as interference in the internal affairs of another country. We’ve previously had both good and bad junctions with both Democratic and Republican administrations in Washington, and we worked with dedication, during the period I spent as Serbian ambassador to the U.S., to establish connections and productive relations with influential people in both parties.

The U.S. has continuity of policy on many issues, regardless of the person heading the administration there, and Serbia will endeavor to also maintain continuity in cooperation with America, regardless of whether a Democrat or Republican president occupies the White House. However, we live in a dynamic international happening, so it is crucial that Washington will always find a more flexible policy in order to find the right answers to the challenges of the moment, and it is there that Serbia should seek its chance.

The post Bilateral Rising appeared first on CorD Magazine.

In this year that will be marked by the U.S. presidential election, America’s ambassador to Serbia assures us that, regardless of the outcome, we shouldn’t expect a change in Washington’s attitude towards Serbia.

Your Excellency, as we are in the year of the American presidential election, one frequent question is whether a change in administration could impact U.S. policy in the region?

— U.S. policy is ultimately rooted in U.S. national interests. Many things change from administration to administration, but our core national interests endure. Among those are a Balkan region that is stable, prosperous and secure, and part of a Europe that is, as President George H. W. Bush put it, “whole, free, and at peace.” Our policies for the region are aimed at that goal, and I don’t expect that to change, no matter the outcome in November.

Speaking in a recent interview, you agreed with the assessment that bilateral relations between the U.S. and Serbia are on an upward trajectory. In which areas is this progress most evident?

— Everywhere I look in our bilateral relationship, I see progress. Our security cooperation continues to improve, and U.S. and Serbian forces now serve alongside one another in peacekeeping missions around the world. We’ve done a lot with Serbia, as with our other European partners, to help Ukraine cope with Russian aggression, and we’ve seen Serbia commit to continue that support even after this horrible war ends and Ukraine finally begins to rebuild.

Serbia’s youth are extremely talented and very savvy. They know that Serbia’s future is in the West, and that the United States is a partner for Serbia’s continued development

More and more U.S. companies are expressing an interest in investing in Serbia, in areas like IT services and green energy. Serbia is taking a leading role in promoting regional economic integration as well, as the region makes its case for EU membership, which is a priority for the United States. We’d all like to see more progress on the normalization of relations with Kosovo, but the lack of progress in the Dialogue is not due to the lack of a constructive approach on Serbia’s part.

Are you concerned by the results of surveys on the attitudes of Serbian citizens, especially the youth, which suggest that 40% do not consider the U.S. a friendly country (ref. Annual Survey conducted by the Institute for European Affairs)?

— Survey responses are one thing, but I think young people’s actions speak louder than words. When they want to study abroad, young people in Serbia think of American universities first. When they apply for a job, they’re excited to work for American companies. When they watch movies or listen to music, it’s American pop culture that they’re drawn to. Serbia’s youth are extremely talented and very savvy. They know that Serbia’s future is in the West, and that the United States is a partner for Serbia’s continued development.

You recently spoke about the aligning of the positions of Belgrade and Washington with regard to the war in Ukraine. The Serbian government maintains that imposing sanctions on Russia is not in the national interest. On what grounds do the U.S. and Serbian policies converge?

— Sanctions are one part of the unified Euro-Atlantic response to Russia’s horrific aggression against Ukraine. They are an important part, but there is so much more to it. Serbia has shown tremendous support to the Ukrainian people, including through its votes in the UN and the provision of humanitarian assistance, as they fight back against Russian aggression and stand up for democratic values and the right to determine their own future.

We’ve recently seen Serbia and Ukraine deepening their diplomatic relationship as well, and I know President Vučić and President Zelensky have a relationship built on mutual respect. It’s important to remember that Serbia has consistently said that it will harmonize its foreign policies with the common policy of the EU, which includes sanctions. To focus narrowly on the sanctions question, however, is to miss the forest for the trees. When it comes to Ukraine, Serbia is unquestionably on the right side.

You recently puzzled the public in Serbia by stating that you believe recognition of Kosovo’s independence will not be a condition for Serbia’s EU accession, but rather the normalization of relations will be sought. At the same time, your colleague in Pristina, Ambassador Hovenier, stated that mutual recognition is expected at the end of the normalization process. Whom should we believe?

— I think if you look closely at our statements, you’ll see that there is no contradiction between them. Our immediate focus is on support for the EU-facilitated Dialogue, which aims at normalization. It’s long been the policy of the United States that we want to see a future where all the countries of the Western Balkans recognize each other and live side by side in peace and prosperity, and as members of the European Union. None of this is new, but the media like to look for controversy. If you look closely at U.S. policy, however, you’ll find it’s been consistent on these questions for years.

It has been noted that your assessment of the recent All-Serb Assembly was milder than that of your colleague from Sarajevo, who dubbed the event, organized by the President and Government of Serbia, “an attack on the Dayton Agreement”. Do you differ in your assessments or are you more diplomatic in your expressions?

— Again, I think if you look carefully at all our public statements, there are no contradictions. No one has criticized the event itself as an attack on Dayton.

In an interview with weekly news magazine NIN, you said that you would never ask people in Serbia to forget the NATO bombing, but that “for the sake of our children and our children’s children, we really need to try to spend more time looking forward than looking back.” Could this principle have been applied when deciding that the U.S. “proudly sponsors the Resolution on the Genocide in Srebrenica”?

— As I’ve said in many different contexts, as a diplomat, I look to the future and what we can do to solve the problems and challenges still ahead of us. Looking to the past is something I try to leave to lawyers and historians. Your question is a hypothetical one—could things have been different?

We’d all like to see more progress on the normalization of relations with Kosovo, but the lack of progress in the Dialogue is not due to the lack of a constructive approach on Serbia’s part

Here too I’ll stick to the diplomat’s perspective and leave alternative history to the novelists. I’ll continue to focus on what’s ahead.

The flagship of American-Serbian economic relations is the IT sector. You have also spoken on several occasions about the U.S. interest in participating in the reforms of the energy sector. What does this exactly mean? Which projects are particularly attractive?

— The need to create alternatives to an energy system built on burning dirty fossil fuels is the critical challenge of our time. Given its history of technical innovation and the talent of its people, Serbia is poised to ensure that the world’s green energy transformation benefits Serbian citizens not just through cleaner air and a healthier environment, but also through the provision of dependable, high-paying jobs that stay in Serbia and build wealth here, not somewhere else. If doing all that also helps free Serbia from its dependence on Russian oil and gas, that’s an added benefit. It is for all those reasons that we’re always open to expanding our cooperation with Serbia, as the country continues to grow and develop its green tech and renewable energy sectors.

The post Progress Everywhere appeared first on CorD Magazine.

AmCham President Stefan Lazarević considers cooperation between the business sector and the government as being crucial to the creation of an attractive business environment. The American Chamber of Commerce in Serbia gains clear insights into what’s important to the business sector for it to be able to operate successfully through research that AmCham regularly conducts, but also through its daily contact with member companies. This interview touches on many of these topics, such as the green agenda, availability of labor, and the strengthening of regional integration. We also discussed the importance of Serbia continuing the European integration process and further strengthening its commercial cooperation with the U.S.

How satisfied are your members with Serbia’s business environment today and how do they rate their own operations in 2024?

— The latest Lap Time Survey, which AmCham traditionally conducts annually – and on the very topic of satisfaction with the business climate and the business sector’s expectations for the period ahead – showed that companies were more optimistic at the end of last year than during the previous crisis years of the Covid-19 epidemic and the war in Ukraine.

This rising optimism points to the economy’s partial recovery and a strengthening of investor confidence. However, it is very important that we work long-term, together with the new Government of Serbia, to continue comprehensive reforms, firstly structural and institutional reforms.

Business forecasts for this year show that around two-thirds of AmCham members expect business growth and new investments, while half believe their number of employees will also increase. Something that’s very important, and that we emphasize as a business association, is that all our member companies have long-term strategies for investment in Serbia and, according to our findings, will continue in that direction in the future.

What do the results of the Lap Time Survey, and the views of your committees presented in the ‘Reforms for Economic Growth and Business Resilience’ document, suggest to Serbia’s new government?

— On the basis of the Lap Time Surveys, and our daily contacts with businesses regarding various topics of interest to business success, as well as the work of our 10 professional committees, AmCham has clear insights into what’s important for the business sector to be able to do business successfully.

It was precisely with all this in mind that the AmCham Board of Directors defined the priority areas that we believe must top the agenda of the newly formed government. They are, first and foremost: continuing the digital transformation of public administration; consistently implementing the Green Agenda, for a clean and energy-diversified Serbia; improving the healthcare system; ensuring a predictable and stable fiscal environment, alongside international economic links with a focus on advancing integration into the regional market and the European single market.

We firmly believe that reforms are the only way we can together ensure new investments in Serbia, higher employment, and an improved standard of living for us all

A large part of this AmCham document is dedicated to recommendations enabling a green transition or the diversification of energy sources. How, at a practical level, do your members meet the standards in this field?

— AmCham members believe the consistent implementation of the Green Agenda is increasingly important to the improvement of the business environment – in our annual survey conducted five years ago, the Green Agenda ranked 11th in terms of priorities, while it last year ranked 2nd, which is the biggest leap we’ve recorded since we started these surveys.

Given that Serbia generates 70% of its electricity from non-renewable resources, it is vital to increase the availability of energy from green sources. Since more than half of our member companies already address sustainability in a systemic way, and many of them have already pledged to achieve zero emissions at the global level, the number one priority is to reduce the carbon footprint of products. This is also achieved through systemic measures at the level of the state, and by incentivizing companies to invest their own funds in the greening of their own sources of energy. At the state level, investing in power system capacity building is essential, with the aim of diversifying sources of electricity and increasing the share of renewables, but also developing capacities for storing and delivering the energy produced to consumers, which will enable improved energy system stability, as well as increasing the availability of energy and energy products.

We firmly believe that reforms are the only way we can together ensure new investments in Serbia, higher employment, and an improved standard of living for us all

Considering that these are all long-term projects, in the short term, it is equally important to remove all regulatory and administrative barriers preventing companies from independently reducing the carbon footprint of their products – through the unrestricted installing of solar panels on roofs, enabling producers of renewables to supply consumers directly, waste-to-energy projects, and the like. In order to achieve that, it is necessary to improve infrastructure – from strengthening the power distribution network to developing waste separation infrastructure.

Our member companies have been addressing their own circularity and reducing the waste they generate for many years already, but it is impossible to achieve better results at the national level without a systemic approach. AmCham has for many years advocated the responsible introduction of a deposit system for the efficient management of packaging and packaging waste, which would contribute to that circularity.

Finally, although AmCham members and companies that export to the EU are largely familiar with the extensive regulatory requirements of the Green Agenda imposed by EU legislation, that is not the case among most SMEs in Serbia. In our survey conducted last year, only 6% of them reported that they address sustainability. AmCham members, through their value chains and connections with others, are also willing to invest their knowledge in engaging SMEs, but I believe the state should intensify its efforts in the advancement of this field and that we need to work on it.

AmCham pays great attention to educating young leaders and training in the field of HR. How much of a challenge is it for your member companies to find qualified workers today, and what do you do, as a Chamber, to facilitate their job?

— This is a very important question. Alongside inflation and the efficiency of the state administration, it is precisely the availability of labor that our members recognize as one of the key challenges to doing business. The lack of available labor represents an obstacle for almost two-thirds of AmCham members and has consistently ranked among the top two challenges in surveys conducted over the past six years. And we can agree that this factor is key to overcoming this challenge.

On the other hand, AmCham actively contributes to this important topic through the organizing and conducting of education in various forms. I would single out AmChamps, our annual educational and mentoring program intended for young managers from member companies and students of state universities across Serbia. We launched this program in 2014, with the idea of successfully connecting the academic sector to the labor market and preparing students – leaders who will one day lead Serbia’s business community.

After 10 years, we are proud of the success achieved. Through this program, many young people have had the opportunity to make acquaintances and gain practical knowledge and skills that have enabled them to grow professionally and personally. There are numerous examples of managers advancing extremely rapidly both during and after this program. There is a similar situation with the students who receive internships and numerous employment opportunities at our member companies. I would emphasize the fact that three young managers who completed our program are now heading leading multinational companies in our country. In this way, AmCham Serbia not only supports its members in identifying and developing a high-quality workforce, but also contributes to creating a more favorable environment for the development of leaders who are truly leaders of positive changes in our society and country.

Serbia’s IT sector has made significant advances, while the crisis years have seen it change and turn to creating its own products, as opposed to just outsourcing its services. How significant is this sector to U.S. companies today, considering the big changes to the global market?

— The American companies already doing business in Serbia are very satisfied with their investments. These companies have invested more than four billion dollars in Serbia over the previous two decades, and they today employ more than 30,000 people. The level of the bilateral exchange of services has increased so much that the U.S. is now ranked 4th as our partner when it comes to this type of exchange, primarily in the IT services sector. Over the past 15 or so years, Serbia’s IT sector has recorded dizzying development and growth. There’s no doubt that Serbia and the region hold characteristics that make them attractive for IT development, not just for the local market, but also for the global market.

And that’s not all. Major American companies are even more interested in investing here in Serbia. This primarily pertains to technology companies, followed by those from the infrastructure and energy sectors.

AmCham members, through their value chains, suppliers and customers, strive to raise awareness of the regulatory requirements of the Green Agenda among SMEs, but I believe we still have a lot more work to do on that

In its daily efforts, AmCham will continue endeavoring to be the best possible ambassador for Serbia, as an open, stable and competitive investment destination. In order for the planned investments to be realized, it is very important that we continue regional integration and aligning our regulations with those of the European Union, as well as excellent commercial relations with the U.S. And AmCham will always be a reliable partner in these processes.

AmCham gained dozens of new members in 2023 alone. What do you think makes joining your Chamber a good choice and what will you offer your members in the future?

The American Chamber of Commerce in Serbia ended last year with its highest membership numbers since its establishment. AmCham today brings together more than 260 international and domestic companies employing over 112,000 Serbian citizens. I believe that the AmCham Board of Directors, together with the Executive Office, has brought a new dynamic and approach to supporting the creation of a predictable and stable business environment over the previous two and a half years. We have worked systematically to improve economic relations between the U.S. and Serbia, and tried to encourage the region to work together on projects that focus on further integration into the regional market and the European single market. The most important fact is that the strength of AmCham lies precisely in its members, and everything we’ve achieved in the previous period has been thanks to our members.

We will remain focused on what’s essential for us to do, as a society and state, for Serbia to become a more attractive place for existing and new investors, and on the areas where reforms are essential and how to implement them.

How much has the rising digital solutions trend changed the way AmCham communicates with members, and the way it operates?

— AmCham supports the digital agenda strongly in all areas – from public administration, via the optimizing and digitalizing of regulations, to business and everyday communications, etc. And as a business association, we utilize all the advantages of digital solutions to exchange information, insights, recommendations, best practices and recommendations with our members in real time, which we subsequently share with the Government of Serbia, as a form of support. And we also work together on these issues to create a comprehensive business environment for new investments.

When it comes to digital solutions and their impact on operations generally, I believe the next significant step towards Serbia’s attractiveness as a work environment is the complete digitalization of the law documentation.

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The previous year has been marked by intensive communication between the U.S. and Serbian governments in working on important documents aimed at improving cooperation and strengthening the interests of American companies in the Serbian market. “For us, it is crucial that the current U.S. administration provides a strong impetus to the development of economic cooperation with our country,” says AmCham Executive Director Vera Nikolić Dimić.

According to our interlocutor, the American companies already operating in Serbia are very satisfied with their investments, especially those operating in the technology sector, infrastructure and energy, and they are increasingly interested in investing in Serbia. They have invested more than four billion dollars over the last two decades and currently employ more than 30,000 people, while the exchange of services has grown to such a level that the U.S. is now Serbia’s number one partner when it comes to this type of exchange, primarily in the sector of IT services.

“To conclude, good economic relations with the U.S., alongside regional and European integration, are crucial to attracting new investments and maintaining existing ones, and it is this direction that we want to maintain,” explains Nikolić Dimić.

One of the areas of focus at AmCham Serbia is strengthening regional initiatives for the creation of a Balkan single market. What has been achieved on this front and which institutional and logistical shifts are the most important to you in the period ahead?

— Connection through the opening of the region’s borders represents an immeasurable advantage for investment and business development, which enables current and potential investors to access a larger market.

We consider regional integration as being the key driver of economic change and the right path to the European Union. It is for this reason that AmCham is committed to supporting all initiatives to connect the countries of the region in an economic sense, including the Open Balkan initiative, CEFTA and the Berlin Process, with the end goal of the entire region integrating into the European Union. When we add good economic relations with the U.S. to this, we get the real potential to attract new investments and maintain existing ones.

We will focus in the coming period on the reducing of regional trade barriers, alignment with the rules of the EU, the mutual recognition of certificates and the introduction of a “one-stop-shop system” and electronic customs clearances, all of which will facilitate access to the single market and further improve economic cooperation around the region.

You launched the ESG Champions Initiative during the course of last year. What does it mean for your members, and especially for the establishing of these standards in Serbia?

— That’s right, AmCham conducted research among its members on the application of ESG principles, in cooperation with consulting firm Kearney. Our aim was to identify the best results and practices of companies and to also point out discussions of mistakes made in the implementation of ESG strategies.

This is a very important topic for our members, 70% of which are multinationals, while 30% are local companies, with 60% comprising large companies and 40% representing SMEs. The results showed that 85% of survey respondents consider ESG as being key to attracting investments, while 84% have developed their own ESG strategies.

We will focus in the coming period on the reducing of regional trade barriers, which will further improve economic cooperation around the region

Larger companies set stricter requirements for implementing and monitoring of ESG strategies. All regional companies have developed ESG strategies, while the highest number of developed strategies was recorded among mid-sized enterprises (45%). This points to a need to raise awareness of the importance of alignment with EU regulations among SMEs.

One important part of your work relates to gender equality and the empowering of women to enter the IT sector. What would you single out as the greatest successes on this front?

— AmCham has for years been working with dedication to implement the “Women in Technology” mentoring program, primarily in technology companies, which has produced excellent results. However, it is not enough. Education must start much earlier, as early as elementary school, with the aim of overcoming prejudices according to which women can only be teachers, hairdressers or caregivers. They should be encouraged to become entrepreneurs, engineers and leaders.

The current focus is on initiatives to empower women in the business environment. One of the main ways we are launching the “SHE knows” [ONA zna] project, in cooperation with partners such as Impact Hub, ERSTE Bank and the Development Center of the Jablanica and Pčinj Districts. After conducting research among member companies, as well as across Serbia generally, we decided to use a media campaign to additionally direct the attention of the public towards this topic.

There is a visible need for systemic support from companies, society and family, because the careers of women often suffer after they become mothers. It is necessary to raise awareness of this fact and provide full support to working mothers, especially those with young children, in order for them to be supported in the workplace and encouraged to accept important roles without feeling guilty.

Chambers and business associations play an increasingly important role in providing initiatives and in working with the Government of Serbia when it comes to economic growth and digital transition. What are your priorities in these areas?

— AmCham Serbia has, for 22 years already, been cooperating consistently with the Government on the creating of a Serbia that is an attractive investment destination and on the harmonizing of regulations with the EU. Taking into consideration the global crisis, the Serbian economy faces numerous challenges. That’s why it’s important for us to work on improving institutional capacities, such as digitalization and the transformations of public administration, the implementing of the Green Agenda, the improving of the healthcare system, the establishing of a stable fiscal environment and economic connection with a focus on integration into the EU market. These are also defined priorities, and AmCham will continue supporting members in these areas of interest, as it has to date.

AmCham Serbia currently has a record number of member companies, with over 260 American, international and domestic companies that collectively generate a turnover of over 20.2 billion euros and employ 112,000 people. AmCham’s mission is to improve the business climate in partnership with the Government, promote the best business practices and values, and provide a platform for the professional development of members and the improvement of education in accordance with the needs of the business community.

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Numerous opportunities are in front of us that should be utilised – to summarise the key message of CCIFS President Dragan Stokić in this interview. And by opportunities he is referring to both the possibilities offered by the initiating of the EU’s Growth Plan for the Western Balkans and to the further strengthening of bilateral cooperation between France and Serbia. It is in this domain that the Chamber sees its key role, says Stokić. The appointing of the new government of the Republic of Serbia, which is expected to have a full mandate to devote to the further encouraging of economic growth, foreign investments and European integration, undoubtedly represents an opportunity to establish strong foundations for further progress. And Serbia’s commitment to digital transformation and developing new technologies also undoubtedly represents a particularly important aspect of this development.

We are witnesses to the fact that the arrival of major French companies has contributed significantly to progress in Serbia in the fields of renewables and smart infrastructure and transport networks, in areas of agriculture, the food industry and information technology, which are recognised as the backbone of future economic growth.

A new Serbian government was recently appointed and is expected, according to all forecasts, to have a full mandate. What do you think should be the government’s key moves if it wants to economic and FDI growth to continue?

— As president of the French-Serbian Chamber of Commerce, I consider it essential for the new Serbian government to work continuously on a few key issues in order to support the growth of foreign direct investments and the county’s economic development. Firstly, the continuation of reforms is crucial. This includes the further improvement of the business environment through the reducing of bureaucracy, the advancement of legal certainty and transparency, as well as support for the development of the private sector. These reforms would serve to further improve the investment and business environment, which is crucial to attracting FDI. Secondly, accelerating the European integration process is essential to creating a stable regulatory framework harmonised with European standards. This would not only ease business operations, but also further boost investor confidence in the Serbian market.

French companies contribute significantly to Serbia’s technological advancement and the strengthening of economic ties between France and Serbia

Thirdly, the existence of the Growth Plan for the Western Balkans is an opportunity that should be utilised to the max, as it includes our country in the European single market even before we gain EU membership. This plan provides financial support and technology transfers that can contribute significantly to the development of infrastructure, energy, education and other key sectors. The government should cooperate actively with international partners in order to ensure the optimal use of these resources for the purposes of economic growth.

As the French-Serbian Chamber of Commerce & Industry, we are prepared to support all initiatives that will advance Serbia’s business climate and economic development. Our focus remains on strengthening bilateral economic cooperation and attracting new investments that will contribute to both countries’ long-term prosperity.

The period of Prime Minister Ana Brnabić was marked by serious breakthroughs in digitalisation and the strengthening of the IT sector. How important is this area today as the foundation for building a knowledge-based society in Serbia?

— The digitalisation process isn’t just a priority for the Serbian economy’s development, but also represents a great challenge. The Serbian economy is nonetheless successfully taking advantage of the positive aspects of this process, having launched many projects, with a special emphasis on artificial intelligence, and in the next three years, for example, Serbia will have the opportunity to chair the Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence.

The applying of digital technologies is now an imperative for the sustainable and successful operations of all businesses, both today and in the future. Together with the initiatives that are supported by the Government of the Republic of Serbia, we will continue strengthening the activities of the CCIFS and its member companies in this direction, thus further advancing the digital economy and the building of a society that relies on knowledge and innovation.

French companies are today increasingly present in Serbia and represent champions of the transfer of technological knowledge. In which sectors in Serbia is their influence most evident?

— The influence of French companies is most clearly seen in the energy and sustainable energy sectors (Schneider Electric, Veolia), where French companies are contributing to the development of renewables and smart grids; infrastructure and transport (Alstom, Vinci airports, RATP Dev), where our member companies once again excel in improving transport infrastructure.

It is great news that Serbia will chair the Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence in the next three years

Likewise in the fields of agriculture and the food industry (Lactalis, Savencia), and information technology (Eviden, Axians, Exclusive networks). Through these sectors, French companies contribute significantly to Serbia’s technological advancement and the strengthening of economic ties between France and Serbia.

In the period since our last interview, the world seems to have become even more complex in both economic and political terms. How does this influence the will of French companies when it comes to investing beyond the borders of France and how do they position this part of the world on their risk map?

— I would evaluate the current climate of economic relations between France and Serbia as being good. However, when it comes to improving these relations, an unavoidable segment is the promoting of the potential of the Serbian market among French companies, which is the CCIFS’s main objective. French companies are now more cautious in making such decisions, considering all possible scenarios and not taking the decision to enter any market lightly, precisely due to the global situation being more complex. On the other hand, it should be noted that the companies that already operate in Serbia are continuing to carry out their activities unhindered and haven’t been greatly impacted by changes on the world stage and geopolitical challenges, which is a convincing indicator of a positive business environment.

15 Years of Friendship in Action

We are proud of all we have achieved over the past 15 years, strengthening the ties between the French and Serbian business communities, fostering economic cooperation, and supporting French companies in Serbia. However, our mission is not only about bolstering economic relations between France and Serbia, but also about creating long-term friendships and partnerships. With optimism and determination, we look to the future, ready to continue contributing to the community and achieving new successes.

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