We often touch on initiatives that are aided by diverse donors in our conversations, yet we seldom explore the fundamental philosophies guiding their support. During our discussion with Jakob Granit, Director General of the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA), we delve deep into SIDA’s overarching intervention principles, alongside the Swedish and EU values driving this agency’s sustained backing of reforms. This interview makes it clear that these interventions frequently adopt innovative methodologies and digital tools in an effort to optimise efficacy, precision and outreach.

After many years of discussing the emigration of Serbian citizens, we are now talking about circular migration and your support for talented young Serbs coming home after forging successful careers abroad. What does this project entail and what is the logic behind it?

— The project’s primary objective is to cultivate an environment that nurtures innovation and prosperity by actively involving the Serbian diaspora, facilitating the return of skilled individuals and promoting innovative economic opportunities.

Excessive emigration presents a serious challenge, with potentially significant development consequences for a country. It causes disruptions in labour, healthcare, pension and other large public systems; it exacerbates regional developmental differences, depletes human capital for innovation and development; and changes environmental conditions in specific areas. That’s why circular migration can contribute to Serbia’s sustainable and inclusive development.

The project is being implemented by Returning Point and UNDP, both of which already have some experience of approaching depopulation in this manner. What do you see as a particular Swedish approach that may further enhance the efficacy of this initiative?

The Swedish government sees important synergies between development cooperation and migration, which should strengthen the positive impacts of returning migrants. Development not only encompasses economic growth, but should also ensure that the benefits are shared equitably among all segments of society, including marginalised groups. Leaving no one behind is a purpose in all Swedish development cooperation.

The National Academy for Public Administration (NAPA) receives support from SIDA in offering cutting-edge training to over 77,000 civil servants nationwide

An environment conducive to innovation and prosperity can be created by engaging with the Serbian diaspora, facilitating the return of skilled individuals and promoting innovative economic opportunities. This enabling environment will also encourage members of the diaspora to participate in Serbia’s development efforts.

Could you elaborate on any potential challenges or obstacles that SIDA anticipates encountering during the project’s execution, particularly in relation to depopulation and migration dynamics in Serbia?

— The success of this project depends on actors like the government and the diaspora expressing an interest in participating and engaging. There are then many factors that must be considered. It is important to understand why people migrate from a country in the first place, and then to address these root causes. Additionally, a country needs to deliver on its social contract in order to retain young and talented people. This means investing in the environment, healthcare, education, the level of freedom and social inclusion, as well as socioeconomic equality.

Given the significant Serbian diaspora in Sweden, how does SIDA envisage leveraging their expertise and resources to enhance this project’s effectiveness?

— We certainly hope that the Serbian diaspora in Sweden will be interested in engaging in this project and sharing their insights and possible learnings from living in Sweden. We now need to reach out and inform them about the project.

How does the Circular Migration project align with SIDA’s broader goals and objectives for development cooperation in Serbia?

— All Swedish development cooperation in Serbia aims to support Serbia’s EU accession, focusing on democracy and human rights, peace, environment, and inclusive economic development. We cooperate with different actors in the Serbian society, such as civil society, international organisations, academia and institutions, to implement our development assistance, while we also involve and coordinate with the private sector when suitable. For example, support to EU accession reforms is prioritised and addressed in all projects, including this Circular Migration project. Through its various activities and objectives, the circular migration project will play a role in supporting Serbia’s EU accession process. The project activities address key areas related to governance, economic development, inclusivity and alignment with EU standards and values.

Another fundamental aspect of EU membership is the EU’s free movement principle, which allows citizens of EU member states to move freely within the EU for the purposes of work, study or retirement. This project is a step towards realising this principle.

What major successes have you observed in your support for the three thematic fields of administration training for officials, more effective policing and increased transparency in the justice system?

When it comes to the continued development of officials and our support to the National Academy for Public Administration (NAPA), I think the ability to provide cutting-edge training is worth mentioning. Modern learning techniques like e-learning have been introduced and NAPA’s courses have been designed to meet the specific needs of civil servants, like training in EU-related topics, ethics for civil servants, anti-corruption etc. These have been attended by more than 77,000 public civil servants from across the country.

Turning to justice sector reform, I believe that our support has contributed to Serbia’s steady progress in areas such as the improved independence and efficiency of the courts, including the reduction of backlogs and the introduction of more streamlined judicial procedures. There has also been improvement in the quality of court services, enhanced institutional capacities, increased use of evidence-based strategies and decision-making in the justice sector, and improved access to justice.

I would like to mention in particular the project on improved public procurement implemented by the NALED organisation. This is a project that aims to support competitiveness and private sector led growth in Serbia. One interesting part of the project is the development of the Regulatory Index of Serbia (RIS). This is a tool that provides insight into the predictability and stability of the Serbian regulatory framework. RIS assesses the whole law-making process, from the preparation of a law, through the method of adoption, the speed and cost of implementation, to the final monitoring of its effects, pointing to possible systemic flaws in its various segments. RIS identifies continued challenges in relation to efficacy in the implementation of laws and the administrative burden related to the implementation of the law on companies.

We prioritise Serbia’s green transition by supporting projects aimed at aligning environmental standards with EU requirements, controlling industrial pollution and enhancing biodiversity, water protection and climate resilience

Cooperation between the Serbian and Swedish police started as far back as 2004. The project focuses on core police activities, such as the establishment of a National Forensic Training Centre and a Quality Management System for Crime Scene Investigations. It has also improved the collection of evidence and cross-sectoral cooperation in cases of gender-based violence and introduced Intelligence-Led Policing as a management model in all regional police directorates. This cooperation has grown to become a mutually- rewarding partnership benefitting both the Serbian and Swedish police forces.

I would also like to take this opportunity to mention our support to gender equality. Sweden is among the world’s most gender equal countries and we are proud to have contributed to increased gender equality in Serbia. The Serbian Government adopted the Strategy for Preventing and Combating Gender-based Violence against Women and Domestic Violence for the 2021-2025 period with support from the Swedish funded project Integrated Response to Violence against Women and Girls in Serbia. This project has also contributed to initiating a full legal ban on child marriage and on corporal punishment against children, as well as several other important initiatives.

As the leading supporter of environmental protection in Serbia, where do you primarily focus your efforts and investments?

— Sweden currently provides direct support to the Ministry of Environmental Protection in three projects. Firstly, the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency is providing expert technical support to the Ministry in strengthening its capacities to address Chapter 27 of the accession negotiation process. The aim is to align Serbia’s environmental protection and climate change standards and policies with EU requirements.

Secondly, we support the project Green Transition: Implementing Industrial Emissions Directive, which is being implemented by the Centre for Cleaner Production within the scope of the University of Belgrade in order to improve the prevention and control of industrial pollution. Thirdly, as part of the broader EU for Green Agenda in Serbia initiative, Sweden finances the project EU for Green Agenda in Serbia: Protecting and Investing in Biodiversity and Water for Enhanced Climate Resilience. This Project focuses on biodiversity, watercourses and wetlands, as well as climate resilience in Serbia by improving the legislative and policy framework and by supporting further work on nature- based solutions.

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This year’s celebration of Italy’s national holiday also provides an opportunity to recall that it was precisely 100 years ago that the foundations of the embassy, located at the heart of Belgrade, were laid. Throughout this entire century, this embassy hasn’t only served as a venue for high level talks on politics and the economy, but also as a place to promote Italian culture, fashion, cuisine etc. “Italy, like many countries, embraces globalisation while nurturing its unique cultural heritage and values,” emphasises ambassador Luca Gori in this CorD Magazine interview.

Your Excellency, Italy celebrates its National Day on 2nd June. You have mentioned that this day is very significant because it is linked to the post-WWII renewal of Italy’s national identity. In today’s era of globalisation, where do national and identity issues stand?

— It is on 2nd June that we celebrate the date when Italians chose the Republic. This was a critical moment for our national identity. Over the past 20 years, globalisation has brought increased interconnectedness and cultural exchange, blurring traditional boundaries. However, rather than eroding national identities, globalisation has highlighted the importance of preserving and celebrating different cultures within a global framework. Italy, like many countries, embraces globalisation while nurturing its unique cultural heritage and values. Italy also promotes an inclusive identity that is part of European civilisation. The EU does not obliterate national identities, but rather welcomes and cherishes differences.

This year is marked by the “strengthening of the Italian system in Serbia,” which includes the opening of the office of the Italian financial institution for development cooperation, CDP. The Belgrade office, as mentioned during its opening in February, is the first of its kind to be opened in a non-EU country. Could you outline the CDP’s priorities?

— Following the commitment made during the bilateral Business and Science Forum of March 2023, we opened the representative offices of SIMEST, SACE and CDP in Belgrade. Serbia is thus now one of the few non-EU Countries to boast such a strong presence of the ‘Italian System’, underscoring this market’s strategic importance to us. The strengthening of Italy’s institutional presence in Belgrade has been accompanied by the launch of significant financial instruments to support investments by our companies and Serbia’s green and energy transition processes.

Italian financial institutions also participated in the second edition of the Business Forum held in Trieste last 24th May, which was opened by Italian Vice President Tajani and Serbian Prime Minister Vučević and attended by almost 200 Italian companies and 80 Serbian companies, with a focus on agri-tech, infrastructure and green and energy transitions. On that occasion, CDP – along with SACE and SIMEST – signed substantial new agreements with its Serbian counterparts, confirming our steady and solid commitment to Serbia.

Speaking in a previous interview with CorD Magazine, you stated that “economic relations between Italy and Serbia are not dependent on Serbia’s European Integration status”, but that Serbia’s approximation to the EU common market certainly “boosts the trade exchange”. In this regard, are you concerned about Serbia’s slow progress in its EU accession negotiations?

— The enlargement process is slow and I understand the Serbian people’s frustration. But there is a new scenario around enlargement today. The prioritising of this issue has returned, especially in light of changes in the European geopolitical landscape caused by the war in Ukraine. It is therefore time for a deep acceleration of the process of integrating Serbia and the Western Balkans into the European Union. Serbia must seize the restored momentum, utilising all tools made available by the EU, starting with the Growth Plan.

The inclusion of obligations arising from the agreements reached in Brussels and Ohrid in 2023 in Chapter 35 should be considered as an attempt to give new impulse to the process

Belgrade must take advantage of this new package because it aims to gradually integrate the region into the Single Market and can provide funding of up to six billion euros to the countries of the Western Balkans. Italy is confident that Serbia will be able to fulfil what is required of it by the EU to make substantial progress on its accession process, and we will continue to strongly support the process of integrating Serbia and the Western Balkans into the European Union.

What can be expected in Italy during June’s elections for EU institutions? Which parties will Italians support and will there be significant interest in participating in these elections?

— The European elections are among the largest democratic exercises in the world, involving over 370 million citizens across 27 member states. First and foremost, it is important that all EU citizens participate in this process. Democracy is indeed an achievement, but also a collective responsibility in which we all have a role to play. Europe is a vast system of values through which we have, over the years, built a context of security, prosperity and growth for all European citizens.

Whatever the outcome of the elections, we can be certain that the new European Parliament will continue to promote and operate guided by the founding values of the EU: peace, freedom, democracy, justice and respect for human rights.

How would you interpret the EU’s decision to supplement Accession Negotiation Chapter 35 with obligations to implement the Brussels and Ohrid agreements? Do you see this as further indication that non-recognition of Kosovo’s independence stands in the way of Serbia’s EU membership?

— Through the facilitation of Special Representative Miroslav Lajčak, the EU supported the conclusion of the “Agreement on the path to normalisation between Kosovo and Serbia” and its Implementation Annex.

With this move, following a period conditioned by increasing tension on the ground between Belgrade and Pristina, the EU tried to create new momentum for both parts to achieve progress in the normalisation of relations, the fulfilment of which represents a prerequisite for both parties’ future membership in the EU. It is up to the parties to define the content of this normalisation. Therefore, the inclusion of obligations arising from the agreements reached in Brussels and Ohrid in 2023 in Chapter 35 should be considered as an attempt to give new impulse to the process.

An Italian MP in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe voted against Kosovo’s membership in the organisation. Do you believe that Pristina has met the conditions for membership?

— Kosovo’s application for membership in the Council of Europe was not included on the agenda of the last meeting of the Committee of Ministers of this organisation. Italy, like other EU member states, believes that decisive progress on the establishment of the Community of Serb Majority Municipalities is necessary in order for Pristina’s request to be considered. By pursuing such a goal, the Kosovo Authorities can demonstrate their commitment to minority rights, thus strengthening Kosovo’s position and re-energizing the EU-facilitated Dialogue. We believe that this is the best way for Kosovo to pursue the success of its application.

Numerous cultural events organised by the Italian Embassy this year are tied to an interesting initiative. Could you explain what is behind the name “Birčaninova@100”?

— Behind the name “Birčaninova@100” stands an initiative aimed at celebrating the centenary of the laying of the foundation stone of Birčaninova Palace, built at the behest of Queen Elena of Montenegro to house the Italian Embassy in Serbia. The Palace is the house of the friendship between Italy and Serbia. It symbolises the excellence of our relationship. This year also marks two other anniversaries: 145 years of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Rome and Belgrade; and 15 years since the signing of the bilateral strategic partnership.

Moving from this important commemoration, we launched “Bircaninova@ 100” with a rich calendar of events dedicated to fashion, art, solidarity, design, music, cinema, language and so on. The initiative, created with the support of Unicredit Serbia and Banca Intesa Serbia, will unfold over the course of a two-year period.

The post More Italy in Serbia appeared first on CorD Magazine.

Despite serious differences of opinion regarding events in the wider region and around the world, which became evident with the opposing views expressed by Slovenia and Serbia during the vote on Kosovo’s membership in the Council of Europe and on the subsequent UN General Assembly Resolution declaring the Srebrenica massacre a genocide, Ambassador Damjan Bergant remains convinced that recent tension between Belgrade and Ljubljana shouldn’t threaten “joint action and cooperation”.

“I consider Slovenia and Serbia as countries that are bound by friendship and that both sides strive to deepen their bilateral relations,” says Ambassador Bergant. Speaking in this interview for CorD Magazine, he confirms that Slovenia will support the candidacy of its former president, Borut Pahor, to succeed Miroslav Lajčak as the EU’s mediator in the dialogue on the normalisation of relations between Belgrade and Pristina.

Your Excellency, Slovenia is this year commemorating the 20th anniversary of its EU accession. Have citizens’ expectations been met when it comes to membership in the Union?

— I consider the decision of Slovenia and Slovenes to join the EU as being one of the best and most important decisions for Slovenia since the establishing of the Slovenian state. After Slovenia’s EU accession, the country and its citizens gained much more than they would have done if they hadn’t become part of the Union. The free movement of people and goods is just one segment that’s important for the country’s development. Other opportunities that were created with our inclusion in the EU family are particularly important. Joining the single currency and the Schengen area undoubtedly marked the upgrading of everything. Opportunities opened up for us to utilise various EU funds that have contributed to the development of the country and to a better and higher quality of life for Slovenia’s citizens. Young people have more opportunities to study and acquire knowledge at a large number of European universities, especially through Erasmus programmes. They then return to Slovenia with that knowledge and thus strengthen the society and contribute to the country’s further development. The advantages of an open labour market have also been demonstrated in this context. EU accession also relaxed any tension formerly felt at borders with neighbouring countries.

We will see which countries will be more successful in the future, whether those in Eastern or Southeast Europe. Serbia has every chance to become a member of the EU, and that depends solely on Serbia

I can say that the areas along the border with Italy, particularly Trieste and the countryside around Trieste and Goriška, have been reinvigorated. The side of the border that you live on is no longer important, rather what matters is quality of life, progress and mutual coexistence. The life of Slovenia and Slovenians has simply become more beautiful, more affordable and more advanced. And this is precisely why Slovenia will strive to preserve the EU, regardless of the critical situation around the world and the internal and external attempts to portray the European integration project as something negative that forces countries to partially sacrifice their own independence. On the contrary, EU integration represents one of the most tangible and positive integration processes in the history of humanity, which should also be nurtured in the future. Europe has been confronted by various crises throughout history, but these have primarily been threats to peace. It endured two world wars that left great scars on the lives of people and countries, but nonetheless succeeded in constructing an integration model that represents the shared values of democracy, the rule of law and the guarantee of human rights. In this regard, both EU citizens and member states have progressed, while the culture and identity of each individual country has been incorporated into the principles of European citizenship, the wide range of so-called official EU languages and the rich cultural heritage of Europe.

After the accessions of Slovenia and Croatia, a question remains as to whether and when EU enlargement will continue. The EU has recently also been focusing on Ukraine and Moldova as candidate countries. Viewed from the perspective of Slovenia – as a country that advocates strongly in favour of enlargement – should the priority be enlargement to include one of these former Soviet republics or the Western Balkans?

— Enlargement is in the interest of the EU and its member states. It should also be in the interest of candidate countries, and their citizens in particular. It isn’t important whether that means expansion to include the countries of the so-called former Eastern Bloc or the countries of the Western Balkans. Countries that want to become part of the EU will be able to join, though on condition that they are ready to accept EU rules. This is the foundation and expansion and membership won’t be possible without it. What is meant by rules? In particular, it means strengthening and implementing the system of democracy, the rule of law and human rights. In other words, it is about adapting national legislation to the EU acquis, and especially – and even more importantly – applying the rules and laws adopted.

This is even more difficult than making rules. Likewise, there must also be a desire and inclination to really want EU membership among political structures, both those in government and the opposition, and especially among the citizenry indirectly. That desire must be expressed by public opinion. Convincing citizens that the EU doesn’t want enlargement and is to blame for nothing having been done on the part of the Union isn’t helpful for future membership. Any undue criticism of the EU by the political leaders of individual countries is unwarranted. Of course, the context of the European story changes and depends on the development of events, challenges and needs. The context of the process changes as a consequence, along with the recommendations and criteria. But if a country wants to become part of the EU family, it must conduct itself and live in accordance with EU values and rules. And those values and rules are primarily determined within the framework of the EU. No one should be forced to do something against their will.

In short, it is necessary to play with cards face up and to have a clear vision that must be clearly defended and presented. This is the only possible pathway to the goal. We will see which countries will be more successful in the future, whether those in Eastern or Southeast Europe. Serbia has every chance to become a member of the EU, and that depends solely on Serbia.

Relations between Slovenia and Serbia have been plagued by tension in the previous period. Serbian President Vučić dubbed the conduct of Slovenia’s UN representative towards Serbia as “abhorrent”. How would you comment on our bilateral relations?

— I believe that the words you mentioned cannot contribute anything positive to the development of good relations between our two countries. President Vučić realised that and apologised immediately, especially given that Slovenia – as a member of the UN Security Council – had nothing to do with the composition of the delegations attending the session and that it related to the UNMIK annual report. It also gave a balanced statement at the meeting. Slovenia performed its task correctly, which is why it is all the more surprising that the president said what he did.

Slovenia desires good relations with Serbia and I think our relations are good regardless of everything. We have some differing views on what’s happening in the wider region or what’s happening around the world globally, but that shouldn’t and doesn’t jeopardise our joint activities and cooperation. I consider Slovenia and Serbia as countries that are bound by friendship and that are both striving to deepen their bilateral relations.

At the time when the new Government of Serbia was just being constituted, I already received a request from the Cabinet of the Prime Minister of Slovenia to convey to Prime Minister Vučević an invitation to visit Slovenia as soon as the Government of Serbia is formed and to express Slovenia’s readiness to organise the next joint session of our two governments to be held in Slovenia by the end of this year. I forwarded this message to the prime minister informally when I had an opportunity to speak with him at the recent opening of the Krivača Wind Farm. We agreed on a formal meeting at which we will finalise the details. I presume that we will soon hold a formal conversation on this topic. In our informal conversation, Prime Minister Vučević emphasised that he would be happy to come to Slovenia and that the Government strongly welcomes the proposal for a joint session. He reminded me that the last meeting of this kind was organised in Novi Sad in 2019, when he was still the mayor of Novi Sad. In short, I want good relations and am convinced that we can do a lot on both sides by the end of this year to ensure the continuation of existing good relations between our two countries.

As ambassador of a country that is the sponsor of the UN General Assembly resolution on genocide in Srebrenica while at the same time being a great advocate for dialogue in the region, how do you view the fact that the text of the resolution was agreed upon without regional consultation and without the knowledge of both Belgrade and Banja Luka?

— It is difficult for me to comment on an issue about which I’m not specifically aware, or that I’m only aware of via the media. I believe that coordination in New York is necessary for the adoption of documents like UN General Assembly resolutions. Serbia is a UN member and had an opportunity to participate in the process of creating the resolution from the beginning, and later in the stage of revising the text. This is also indicated to a considerable extent by Serbia’s activities in New York, which were covered in detail by the Serbian media. Republika Srpska is part of Bosnia and Herzegovina and, as such, was included in the process of creating and adopting this resolution.

EU integration represents one of the most tangible and positive integration processes in the history of humanity, which should also be nurtured in the future

When it comes to the contents of the resolution on genocide that was adopted by the UN General Assembly, Slovenia considers the purpose of this resolution as facilitating reconciliation and empathy and building trust within Bosnia and Herzegovina. This is the point at which our views differ from those of Serbia. The genocide in Srebrenica has been acknowledged by two international courts, and they are the International Criminal Court and the International Tribunal for War Crimes in the former Yugoslavia. The purpose of this resolution was not – as has been highlighted in Serbia in particular – to accuse any nation of having committed genocide in any way, rather the precise opposite. Of course, I would have been happier personally if the resolution had been adopted by consensus and if Serbia had participated in the process of adopting it in a different way. Whatever the case, efforts must be exerted to ensure that this resolution really contributes to its goal and isn’t used for negative purposes that would lead to aggravating the situation in this region. Serbia in particular can contribute a lot to that.

How important for Slovenia is former President Borut Pahor’s candidacy to become the EU’s new mediator in the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina, thus replacing Miroslav Lajčak?

— President Pahor is a great aficionado when it comes to events in the Western Balkans. It was un der his leadership that the so-called Brdo-Brijuni Process bore fruit and contributed a lot of useful elements to the region. This is among the rare forums that has included, and still includes, all the leaders of Southeast European countries. Given the extent to which Borut Pahor would be an acceptable candidate to all – both the parties in the dialogue, and especially the EU – he could probably contribute to the resolving of open issues in the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina.

It therefore doesn’t matter whether Pahor comes from Slovenia or elsewhere, rather what’s important is what he can do to improve life in these lands. That’s why Slovenia intends to support the candidacy of President Pahor to succeed Miroslav Lajčak. If his candidacy proves successful, we will be happy and will give him our full support, just as we would support anyone else appointed to this position.

Slovenia and Slovenian companies invested significantly in the Serbian economy in the previous period and topped the list of foreign investors. If our impression isn’t mistaken and that position has now been occupied by others, which areas would you highlight as the best example of our economic cooperation?

— Slovenia remains among the countries whose companies invest in Serbia. Slovenian businesses invested approximately 161 million euros in Serbia over the previous year, according to which Slovenia ranks 7th among all foreign investors and 3rd among investors from EU countries. Of course, as a country of just two million inhabitants, it is difficult to compare us with large countries. However, if we view investments in relation to the investor countries’ GDP, Slovenia still ranks top. There is actually a large investment of Slovenian capital or a Slovenian company in Serbia almost every year. We ranked top in terms of investments in 2020, with NLB’s acquisition of Komercijalna Banka.

Then, two years ago, the Hrastnik glass factory bought the Paračin glass factory, again marking an investment of several hundred million euros. We saw the opening of the wind farm in Krivača this month, which is half owned – alongside the MK Group – by Slovenia’s Alfi Renewables investment fund. And this once again marks an investment of almost one hundred million euros of Slovenian capital. In short, Slovenia is and will remain an important investor in Serbia. When it comes to future bilateral economic cooperation, we can expect intensive cooperation, but also new investments in the fields of renewables and energy efficiency, ecology, tourism, biotechnology and industry.

The end of your term in Serbia is fast approaching. What do you consider as your successes and which objectives haven’t you managed to fulfil?

My term isn’t over yet. I still remain in Serbia. It is correct that 1^st June marks the completion of my four-year mandate in Serbia, but I’m staying in Belgrade for now.

We’ve succeeded in implementing plenty of concrete projects over the course of my term. We had three visits at the level of national president, while our minister of foreign affairs also visited Serbia. We realised ample ministerial visits in various fields. We’ve taken some concrete steps in the area of ​​succession. The most important thing is that we managed to reach an agreement on the return to Slovenia of the original film Kekec, as well as 12 other feature films that are on permanent nitrate film. We unveiled two monuments in Belgrade to two deserving Slovenes: Edvard Rusjan and Jernej Kopitar. We organised a large number of cultural events featuring various Slovenian artists. I personally established excellent contacts with interlocutors at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Serbia, but also at other ministries and the National Assembly. Whatever we want to do is always possible and feasible. In short, I think there have been so many successes that it’s difficult to list them all.

I’m personally pretty disappointed by the fact that, during my term, Serbia has practically remained at a standstill when it comes to the issue of EU accession. When I arrived in 2020, I was quite enthusiastic that Serbia’s progress towards the EU would be visible after four years, and I had hoped that it would only be a matter of time, after my departure from Belgrade, before Serbia actually became a full member of the EU. I see things differently today. There have been many promises and wishes, but little action that would propel Serbia towards the EU. The EU has been active in this area – at least at the level of the EU delegation and member states in Belgrade – but that wasn’t enough to convince Serbian citizens that the EU is the right alternative for the country. The whole story became even worse when the Russian Federation invaded Ukraine, because Serbia didn’t impose sanctions like all of the EU. Some progress has been made in the area of ​​judicial reform, but unfortunately not enough to be able to talk about Serbia’s serious intention to join the EU. The greatest progress has been achieved in the area of the economy, with an emphasis on competitiveness and growth. The economy itself is the social area in which citizens feel the strongest positive influence of the EU, which is why I look forward optimistically to the implementation of projects within the Growth Plan, which plans to allocate almost three billion euros of European funds for Serbia. Serbia still has a lot of work ahead of it and I really hope it will do that work, for the sake of its citizens in particular, who deserve to be in the EU and to have the opportunity to live in a society and country that’s developing faster. It’s always better to be a part of something than to fight alone. Demagoguery, populism and nationalism are enemies of development, and one needs to be aware of that.

The post Good Relations Despite Differences appeared first on CorD Magazine.

An entire generation of businesspeople has grown up since the founding of the Slovenian Business Club two decades ago. “Our membership today includes companies whose directors are the children of those directors who were at the peak of their power at the time of the SBC’s inception. That’s why this jubilee represents an impressive achievement,” says Slovenian Business Club President Danijela Fišakov in this interview.

Numerous parameters have contributed to the SBC’s durability and to its vitality, as well as the fact that it is constantly current. “Among these parameters, I would highlight dedication and maintaining operational continuity, as well as the constant engagement and support of members. In order to retain their support throughout this entire time, and to ensure their participation in the association’s work, the SBC set itself the imperative of constantly delivering new values to its members,” explains Fišakov.

Speaking in another interview 10 years ago, you criticised the lack of a financial culture in Serbia. What has changed for the better over these 10 years and what still concerns you?

— Improving the business climate in Serbia depends, firstly and undoubtedly, on the state’s attitude towards this issue and its focus on creating a favourable environment for doing business. Serbia has done a lot over the last ten years to position itself as one of the most important investment destinations in Central and Eastern Europe. The advantages of doing business in Serbia are reflected in competitive tax rates that are among the lowest in Europe, a restructured and stable financial system, simple procedures to establish and register a company, simple procedures for conducting foreign trade operations and implementing investments, free access to a market numbering billions of consumers, a high-quality business environment with a system of incentive measures that are provided by the state, and an educated workforce, particularly in the fields of IT, engineering and languages. The development of innovative technologies also attracts foreign investors and increases Serbia’s attractiveness as a business destination. Coupled with other factors, these advantages make Serbia an attractive destination for foreign investments in certain industries.

It is nonetheless essential to continue strengthening the rule of law constantly and more intensively, i.e. advancing the independence of the judicial system, while intensifying the fight against corruption and organised crime, which would ensure personal and business legal security.

How interesting to your members are the projects being encouraged by the EU in Serbia under the scope of green transition and the Growth Plan for the Western Balkans?

— The development of industry has brought humankind, apart from progress, the essential need to protect the environment. The implementation of the Green Deal and adaptation to new business circumstances represent major challenges for all economies around the world, including Serbia’s. As with all challenges, these ones are overcome more easily and successfully by working together. Given that Slovenia is an EU member state and that Serbia is on the right track to attaining EU standards, endless opportunities for cooperation exist when it comes to developing policies and strategies, and to implementing regulations on environmental protection and sustainable development.

The projects being encouraged by the EU in Serbia under the scope of green transition are attractive primarily to companies that operate in the fields of producing and using sustainable materials, green energy production and other areas that contribute to preserving the environment. These companies find it very useful to exchange experiences and knowhow, and to work on the development of new products and services together with other companies outside of Serbia. Our members operating in the research and development field have the capacity to develop new technologies and innovations that will contribute to preserving the environment and implementing the Green Deal.

Expo 2027 is viewed in Serbia as an opportunity for both the economy and tourism. Considering Slovenia’s experience in developing tourism and the hotel industry, what would you advise our businesspeople?

— Despite Slovenia having not yet organised events of this scale, the Slovenian experience of developing tourism and the hotel industry could prove very valuable for Serbia in the context of preparations for Expo 2027. Slovenians are known for their sustainable approach to tourism, for promoting green tourism, local gastronomy and wine, for developing specific forms of tourism and for the constant educating of tourism personnel. Slovenian experiences and good practices are highly applicable in Serbia. Investing in environmentally friendly hotels, reducing waste materials and promoting local products will attract environmentally conscious tourists to Serbia. Serbian tourism workers can take advantage of Serbia’s authentic cuisine and develop an offer that includes local gastronomic specialities and wine tours. There is huge potential to develop historical, spa, health and adventure tourism.

The Slovenian experience of developing tourism and the hotel industry could prove very valuable for Serbia in the context of preparations for Expo 2027

In order for Serbia to realise its full potential, it is essential to continue investing in transport infrastructure. Modernisation of the road and rail network eases access for tourists, but also other participants in the economy. We also have very positive experiences with the use of digital tools to promote tourism. Tourists like to know where they are going and what they can expect in advance, and they are helped and attracted a lot in this sense by high-quality websites, mobile apps, social media presentations and online booking systems. Last, but by no means least, it is necessary to point out the extremely positive experiences and good practices resulting from cooperation between the private and state sectors, which is key to the development of tourism.

What are the main goals and expected impacts of the newly established Council of European Business Associations and Chambers in Serbia; and how, in this light, do you envisage the improvement of the business climate in Serbia?

— European business associations and bilateral chambers representing the interests of companies operating with European capital in Serbia joined forced with the establishing of the Council of European Business Associations and Chambers in Serbia. The memorandum of association has been signed, thus marking the start of a new era of cooperation and synergy within the European business sector in Serbia. In its future work, this newly established body will provide a more detailed definition of common interests and serve as a platform for all future initiatives and activities.

The main goal of the CEBAC – Council of European Business Associations and Chambers is to further develop and support the improvement of the legal, institutional and competitive business framework for the successful performance of all companies operating in Serbia, both those with international capital only and those that also have local capital.

The post We Will Outdo Ourselves appeared first on CorD Magazine.

According to Nicolas Schmit, European Commissioner for Jobs and Social Rights, the Platform Work Directive represents a significant step in addressing bogus self-employment in the platform economy and establishing pioneering regulations on algorithm use in the workplace. Speaking in this interview for CorD, Schmit discusses the recent milestones reached in regulating working conditions for platform workers in the EU, AI at work and the benefits of Serbia’s faster alignment with the European Pillar of Social Rights.

The Commission’s proposal, which was negotiated between the European Parliament and Council, culminated in a new directive being confirmed by the employment and social affairs ministers of EU member states on 11th March 2024. With over 28 million EU citizens currently working through digital platforms and that total expected to increase to 43 million by 2025, these regulations have a significant and timely impact.

The Directive targets the regulating of work conducted via online digital labour platforms like Upwork, as well as on-location platforms like Glovo or Wolt. Serbia and the wider region, as significant global suppliers of labour for digital platforms, face challenges with ambiguities of employment status, particularly among freelancers and couriers, making it an imperative to swiftly implement this Directive in domestic legislation.

News of the reaching of a consensus on the EU Platform Work Directive was received with either great enthusiasm and accolades or with a sense of half-hearted relief. Ultimately, does the final text meet your initial expectations?

— I am satisfied with the final result. The Directive will be a game-changer in tackling bogus self-employment in the platform economy. And it is a world first in the sense that it establishes the first-ever set of comprehensive rules to deal with the role of algorithms in the workplace.

The presumption of employment will help misclassified platform workers access the labour rights to which they are entitled, such as minimum wage or paid annual leave. This Directive is an important advance in improve working conditions and data rights for people working on digital labour platforms.

More cautious people are noting that many important issues related to the quality of work for platform workers that were not addressed in the Directive – such as working times, privacy at work, and information and consultation of workers and their representatives – are central to the rights and livelihoods of workers. Did you deliberately leave those issues to be regulated by the expected ILO Convention?

— The EU already has solid minimum standards on aspects like working time or collective rights. The issue we set out to tackle was ensuring that people who work through digital labour platforms and are really workers, and not self-employed associates, could enjoy those standards and rights.

More EU action is needed to address AI and algorithmic management at work, benefiting the Single Market. Decisions will involve the next Commission, European Parliament, and Member States

I do, however, recognise that problems might differ in other jurisdictions, including in the Global South, where minimum rights still need to be established. I am therefore looking forward to the efforts of the ILO to engage in standard setting for the platform economy.

The new approach embraced by the EU Platform Work Directive is arguably part of a broader, long-advocated trend towards expanding labour rights to all those who perform work in a predominantly personal capacity. Is this sufficient to address the changing nature of work resulting from technological advances and to provide adequate protection to isolated workers?

— We have to ensure that nobody in today’s world of work is left out. All people who work should be entitled to basic rights and protections, whether they are an employee or are self-employed. Labour rights are mainly for workers, but self-employed solo workers can also be in a vulnerable position. We are therefore working with member states to ensure that self-employed persons also enjoy adequate social protection coverage. Similarly, we have clarified that solo self-employed people engaging in collective bargaining to improve their working conditions does not violate the rules of EU competition law.

The current text of the Directive essentially delegates to national authorities the task of designing their own—possibly ‘less stringent’—rebuttable presumption of employment status. Considering that France was a harsh opponent of the Directive and Germany was undecided, while many other member states gave only lukewarm support to the Directive, is there a risk that the essential idea of the Directive to protect gig workers could be watered down in national legislations? If the EU shifts further towards the right side of the political spectrum, how will this impact the current success of the Directive?

— Don’t forget that 25 of the 27 member states ultimately supported this Directive. This sends an important signal. Of course, our initial proposal was more ambitious, as it included a set of harmonised criteria to trigger the presumption.

Member states now have more freedom to design the presumption in line with their national legislation, but the common triggering point remains the same: facts indicating that the platform directs and controls the platform worker. When transposing the Directive, member states must ensure that the presumption is effective and constitutes a real procedural facilitation on the ground.

According to the latest research conducted by Eurofound, the proportion of self-employed workers in the EU has not increased since the start of the 21st century, while it fell from 15.4% to 13.7% between 2010 and 2022, which could be interpreted as a positive sign. However, many EU member states lack formal (compulsory) coverage for unemployment or sick leave and accidents at work for self-employed people. Why is that; and where is more future effort needed at the EU level?

— Our social protection systems were designed for workers in full-time, open-ended jobs and have only recently started to adapt to the increasingly diverse, fast-changing world of work. In 2022, almost 40% of the population in employment were in non-standard forms of work, including self-employment, and many of them face significant gaps in social protection coverage. The self-employed are not covered by at least one branch of social protection in 19 Member States, most often unemployment, sickness and accidents at work.

With the 2019 Council Recommendation on access to social protection, we made a clear case for member states to take action to ensure formal coverage and effective access to adequate benefits for all workers and the self-employed. Several steps have been taken since then, but much still remains to be done. Effective monitoring, mutual learning and reform guidance and support are key tools in our hands, and we are pursuing them resolutely. In the end, adapting social protection systems is a long-term process.

The boundaries between self-employment and employment are blurring, prompting many experts to suggest that the criteria for determining employment status need to be clarified. Are we on the cusp of establishing new definitions of employees and employers in labour laws across Europe?

— The Directive doesn’t aim to establish a new definition of who qualifies as a worker. We have national definitions of the employment relationship – which, by the way, don’t differ so much from one another – and we also have the case-law of the Court of Justice.

The main benefit of the employment chapter of the Directive is in shifting the burden of proof: if there are facts indicating control and direction, it is up to the platforms to prove that the person is self-employed and not a worker

Many courts have used the established national definitions and case law to reach the conclusion that it is the platforms’ algorithms that are directing and controlling workers. As such, the main benefit of the employment chapter of the Directive is in shifting the burden of proof: if there are facts indicating control and direction, it is up to the platforms to prove that the person is self-employed and not a worker.

One major success of the Platform Work Directive is its provisions related to algorithmic management. How widespread is algorithmic management becoming in traditional sectors of work and is there a need for a new directive addressing the application of AI at work?

— The use of algorithmic management has been reported most often in logistics (transportation, storage and delivery services) and manufacturing. Up to a quarter of EU companies might already be using algorithmic management in their workplace.

As of 2022, up to 28% of European companies may have been using technology solutions and/or AI tools to support recruiting and hiring efforts. However, there is scope for further EU policy action to tackle the use of AI and algorithmic management at work, with straightforward benefits across the Single Market. Of course, this will be for the next Commission and the new European Parliament to decide, together with the member states.

For the first time in recent history, the European Commission has made significant comments regarding Serbia’s accession process in Chapter 2 (Free Movement of Workers) and Chapter 19 (Social Policy and Employment). As we are at the beginning of the opening of the labour market across the region; what would you suggest to Serbia and the countries of the region regarding workers’ wellbeing?

— To ensure workers wellbeing – not only in Serbia, but across the whole region – I invite Serbia to revisit the 20 principles of the European Pillar of Social Rights and the three targets of its Action Plan, which are milestones of the EU agenda for social justice and workers’ protection. Serbia should also already start planning what actions the state can take on its path of upward social convergence. Support for a decent minimum wage system and collective bargaining in private and public sectors, to ensure good working conditions and equal treatment, should be at the centre of this process.

I welcome the fact that Serbia and other Western Balkan countries are actively participating in the European Year of Skills

No free movement can be successful without adequate social protection and active labour market measures for the participation of all. The important aspect running through the report on Serbia’s accession is strengthening labour market and social institutions, and preparing for working with the ELA and EURES. Bringing women and youth into the labour market needs special attention. Within the free movement, negotiating bilateral agreements with EU member states and neighbouring countries to ensure social security and pension rights, and to avoid double taxation for mobile workers, should be addressed. And, last but not least, I would recommend delivering on all these policies through effective social dialogue and the full involvement of social partners.

The EU proclaimed last year as the European Year of Skills. The European Training Foundation, representing the EU, is implementing numerous projects across the region that are aimed at improving the skills and competences of the workforce. How will the Year of Skills be extended in the EU and the Western Balkans, and how will it address the lack of labour in the region and the inadequate digital and other skills of the workforce for the future?

— I welcome the fact that Serbia and other Western Balkan countries are actively participating in the European Year of Skills. They have nominated National Coordinators and are promoting many activities to address skills gaps and promote a culture of lifelong learning and up/reskilling. The Year will come to a close on 8th May, with a closing conference taking place shortly before that [30th April]. However, this doesn’t mean that our work on skills will end then. Skills will remain a key policy priority for the EU, including through our European Pillar of Social Rights and EU Skills Agenda. Indeed, the European Training Foundation is an active partner in the Western Balkans region, and you can be sure that it will continue to provide support for the development of strategies and tools for a skilled workforce. The ETF has been supporting the modernisation of Serbia’s VET (Vocational Education and Training) and education system, developing dual-VET and assisting with mapping the needs of teacher training to increase the quality of education and training in Serbia.

The post Serbia Must do More for Workers appeared first on CorD Magazine.

The highest level of political understanding and the strengthening of economic cooperation characterise bilateral relations between Serbia and China over recent years, which should also be confirmed by Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to Belgrade. H.E. Li Ming, the new Chinese ambassador to Serbia, believes that it is now time for the economic cooperation that has elevated China to the very top of the list of investor countries in Serbia to be raised to a new level.

“Chinese- Serbian cooperation is entering a new era of high-quality growth in fields like biomedicine, high-tech innovation, green energy, IT etc. At the same time, Chinese companies operating in traditional industries in Serbia spare no effort in increasing investments in mining, green steel manufacturing, energy savings, and environmentally friendly and efficiency purposes,” says Ambassador Li Ming in this interview for CorD Magazine.

Your Excellency, you arrived in Serbia at the end of last year. What were your first impressions?

— Since arriving in Serbia six months ago, I have been overwhelmed by this beautiful and friendly country with three deepest impressions.

Firstly, the Serbian people are warm and hospitable. Serbia is an ancient country with a diverse culture, unique tradition and an abundance of world heritage sites, natural parks and various landscapes. Many elderly and middle- aged Chinese tourists come here with fond memories of the films and literature of the former Yugoslavia, while younger Chinese visitors fall in love with the modern and vibrant life of Serbia. The Serbian people are also interested in China’s language and splendid culture. The Chinese-Serbian “Steel” friendship has a long history and solid foundations.

We support the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Bosnia and Herzegovina, respect the will of its people for independence and its own development path

Secondly, there is great potential in Chinese-Serbian economic cooperation. I have visited numerous China- Serbia cooperation projects. From HBIS Smederevo to Zijin Copper in Bor, from Linglong Tires in Zrenjanin to Minth Group in Loznica, from the Hungarian-Serbian Railway to Miloš the Great Highway, these projects have improved Serbia’s infrastructure substantially, created jobs, improved the professional skills of local people and achieved win-win outcomes for all. These projects are warmly welcomed by the people of Serbia and serve as examples for the “Belt and Road” Initiative.

Thirdly, the political trust between China and Serbia is iron-clad and unbreakable. Both countries share the same or similar historical experiences, cherish and safeguard their sovereignty and territorial integrity, and firmly support each other on issues of core interests and major concerns.

I look forward to working with Chinese and Serbian friends, and friends from all other countries, to promote understanding, deepen friendships, expand cooperation and contribute to the building of a community with a shared future for humankind.

You have stated that cooperation between China and Serbia should be elevated to an even higher level. What priorities have you set in that regard?

— Since China and Serbia enhanced their bilateral cooperation under the Belt and Road framework more than ten years ago, there have already been tangible and fruitful outcomes, while there is more potential to be developed in the future. Chinese- Serbian cooperation is entering a new era of high-quality growth in fields like biomedicine, high-tech innovation, green energy IT etc. At the same time, Chinese companies operating in traditional industries in Serbia spare no effort in increasing investments in mining, green steel manufacturing, energy-savings and environmentally friendly and efficiency purposes.

China is ready to participate further in Serbia’s national development and many Chinese companies have expressed a strong interest in participating in preparations for the 2027 Belgrade Expo. It is believed that future cooperation between China and Serbia will create more opportunities and even brighter prospects.

Serbian President Vučić recently hinted at the possibility of a visit to Serbia by Chinese President Xi. Is there any progress on this and when could such a visit be expected?

— The leaderships of China and Serbia have always attached great importance to bilateral relations and outlined the blueprint for future development. In recent years, China and Serbia have maintained frequent high-level exchanges. President Xi Jinping and President Aleksandar Vučić have held in-person meetings and exchanged correspondences on various occasions, charting a course for the relationship from a strategic level. In 2023, President Vučić attended the Third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in Beijing, injecting strong energy into the development of our bilateral relations. It is believed that China and Serbia will continue to maintain the momentum of high-level exchanges to further guide relations.

The construction of a highway traversing Vojvodina by a Chinese company began at the end of last year. Are you satisfied with the pace of the work?

— It was in 2019 that President Vučić announced an ambitious plan to build an expressway in northern Vojvodina. Chinese enterprises responded promptly and signed a framework agreement with their Serbian counterparts on the fringes of last year’s Third Belt and Road Forum.

After 25 years, a building of the Chinese Culture Centre was established on the ashes of the bombed old Chinese embassy. This centre provides diverse programmes of Chinese culture, the Chinese language, Chinese Tai Chi and Chinese traditional music

That project is now in the initial stage of construction and relevant commercial framework contracts are expected to be signed. The Chinese companies involved are well known for their rich experience in infrastructure and we look forward to the expressway that could be completed according to plan and with high quality.

According to data from last year, China is becoming the largest individual investor in Serbia. Chinese companies have to date been most heavily involved in Serbian construction, particularly in infrastructure projects. Do you see other areas where economic cooperation could develop?

— Chinese investors are attracted to Serbia by its reputation as the transport hub of the Balkan region, its labour and resource advantages, and the preferential policies provided by the Serbian government. In recent years, Chinese companies have invested and established factories in Serbia in the areas of auto parts and steel manufacturing, mining and infrastructure. Chinese investments help promote the country’s economic and social development and improve people’s living standards.

I believe that there will be more Chinese enterprises seeking investment opportunities in Serbia following the enacting of the China-Serbia Free Trade Agreement. Possible new areas of cooperation include wind and solar energy, the photovoltaic industry, biotech, the digital economy, science and innovation etc. The Chinese government will continue encouraging cooperation between the two countries on the basis of respect and mutual benefit.

This year marks the 25th anniversary of the NATO aggression against Serbia. How would you comment on the fact that only China, Russia and Algeria supported the UN Security Council proposal to discuss that event?

— Twenty-five years ago, without the approval of the UN Security Council, NATO unashamedly launched a 78- day bombing campaign against a sovereign state, the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. The bombing caused serious humanitarian disasters in the country and the region beyond. Thousands of innocent civilians lost their lives, including children and women, and millions of households were forcibly displaced. The serious negative impact of that war can be felt even today, when the situation in Kosovo is still intense and the trauma lingers on.

Today, 25 years on, the world has entered a new period of turmoil and transformation. China supports the UN Security Council in convening meetings to reflect on history with the spirit of remembrance and safeguarding peace. Its purpose is to uphold the principles of the UN Charter, advocate genuine multilateralism and maintain global peace and security, as well as preventing tragedy from reoccurring.

On the other hand, there is the possibility to adopt a resolution on the genocide in Srebrenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina, through the UN General Assembly. What is China’s stance on this initiative, which Belgrade says could lead to demands for the abolition of Republika Srpska and new tensions in the region?

— The issue of Bosnia and Herzegovina is highly sensitive and complex, and serious disputes remain among the parties concerned to this day.

Many elderly and middle-aged Chinese tourists come here with fond memories of the films and literature of the former Yugoslavia, while younger Chinese visitors fall in love with the modern and vibrant life of Serbia

China’s position on relevant issues has been clear and consistent. We support the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Bosnia and Herzegovina, respect the will of its people for independence and its own development path. When dealing with related issues, the international community should always prioritise the peace and stability of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the region, and should genuinely promote dialogue, reconciliation and the peaceful coexistence of all ethnic groups. It is hoped that parties within Bosnia and Herzegovina could address disputes through discreet and friendly consultations, for the purpose of maintaining unity and avoiding any escalation of tension.

The Chinese Embassy was targeted during the 1999 bombing of Serbia, which was unprecedented in international relations at the time. How does the Chinese Culture Centre that was built on the site of the destroyed embassy function today?

— Twenty-five years ago, the Chinese and Serbian people stood firmly together to defend international justice with their own blood and even lives. As an old Chinese saying goes, taking history as a mirror can help learn about the future. Only by not forgetting history can we move forward in the right direction. We will never forget the three Chinese journalists who sacrificed their lives for peace and justice. We will continue to uphold the principles of the UN charter and international laws. The “steel” friendship between China and Serbia has withstood the test of blood and fire over previous years and will continue growing from strength to strength in the future.

Martyrs are immortal because of their nobility and their spirit shines from generation to generation. After 25 years, a building of the Chinese Culture Centre was established on the ashes of the bombed old Chinese embassy. This centre provides diverse programmes of Chinese culture, the Chinese language, Chinese Tai Chi and Chinese traditional music, and has become a new landmark of the Chinese-Serbian steel friendship. By standing in front of the Chinese Culture Centre and paying tribute to the three martyrs, the people of China and Serbia will continue to honour their heroic tradition and unite as one for a shared future.

The post Unbreakable Friendship appeared first on CorD Magazine.

Remaining optimistic can be challenging in the face of grim global forecasts, such as those outlined in reports like the World Economic Forum’s Global Risks Report 2024. However, in this interview with World Economic Forum President Børge Brende we uncover both significant challenges and encouraging signals. This reveals that global leaders are still mustering the strength to negotiate international agreements that will empower us to confront the multitude of threats on the horizon.

In light of your recent report, in which a majority of respondents anticipate a negative outlook for the world over the coming two years, with expectations of further deterioration over the next decade, what factors contribute to your optimistic perspective amid this prevailing sentiment?

— The World Economic Forum’s Global Risks Report 2024 warns of a landscape in which progress on issues like the environment and global economy is threatened by growing polarisation. Two-thirds of the global experts surveyed by the Forum anticipate a multipolar or fragmented world taking shape over the coming decade.

Indeed, we are already seeing signs of growing division. Almost 3,000 trade restrictions were imposed last year—nearly three times the number imposed in 2019. The International Monetary Fund has warned of the consequences of fragmentation to the global economy—a cost of as much as 7%.

Despite this sobering picture, I am optimistic that countries can come together on critical issues because we have seen it happen over the past year.

Notably, for instance, leaders agreed at the G20 Summit in India on a joint declaration addressing commitments on climate financing, global debt, the reform of institutions like the World Bank and a new “green development pact”.

Leaders from over 190 countries also made a historic commitment at the UN Climate Conference (COP28) to transitioning away from fossil fuels. These are all positive indicators.

In this pivotal global election year, the spotlight is on misinformation and disinformation as significant short-term risks. Yet, reflecting on the past five to six years, what are the discernible risks associated with the political decisions that have been made, and how might they shape our trajectory in this year of widespread elections worldwide?

— The number one concern over the coming two years, according to participants in the World Economic Forum’s Global Risks Perception Survey, is misinformation and disinformation.

The rise of misinformation and disinformation is all the more concerning because three billion people in approximately 40 countries are expected to head to the polls to vote this year.

New technologies, such as AI, can add to the challenge by creating and spreading false information. But these same digital tools can help leaders and civil society organisations identify and prevent corrupt and disruptive behaviour.

Here, the World Economic Forum’s Global Coalition for Digital Safety is serving as a public-private platform for multi stakeholder cooperation. The coalition is bringing together stakeholders to address harmful digital content and conduct, and last year, as a first step, it released a toolkit for identifying online threats.

In the eyes of many experts, the upcoming U.S. elections are perceived as harbouring significant risks for our global landscape. Traditionally, concerns have centred around the preservation of democracy, but attention is now pivoting towards the potential repercussions of the elections in the United States. How did this shift come about and, from your perspective, what are the best and worst conceivable outcomes of these elections in terms of the economy?

— What has been concerning, broadly, has been growing polarisation within countries around the world, including the United States. The only way to address complex challenges facing our economies and societies is for leaders to work together in forging solutions.

When it comes to the U.S. economy, leaders in the United States will need to cooperate on navigating a very promising, but also very fragile, outlook.

The economy has shown signs of strength in recent years, but there are some challenges ahead as monetary and fiscal policies are tightened. The labour market added 353,000 jobs in January—better than most people had expected. But the forecast is for 2.1% growth this year, down from 2.5% last year. And inflation remains stubbornly high at 3.1%.

This is an enormously complex situation for leaders to navigate. So far, the Federal Reserve has been effectively walking a fine line, raising the federal funds rate 11 times between March 2022 and July 2023, but managing to do so—so far—without triggering a recession.

The best hope of achieving a soft landing and delivering growth ahead is having leaders from both parties, and from the public and private sectors, work together.

Another significant challenge lies in envisaging a world without clear leadership, contrasting with the perceived advantages of a multipolar world. In the context of global economic prospects, how do you anticipate the varying political outcomes of the noted election processes might shape the landscape?

— One key conclusion from the Forum’s Annual Meeting in Davos this year was that leaders need to practice “coopetition”—namely cooperating with one another even if they are competing.

What this means in practical terms is that leaders will need to find ways to cooperate on issues like climate action, strengthening the global economy and effectively regulating frontier technologies even if they don’t see eye to eye on everything else.

Thankfully, we know this is possible.

I remain optimistic about global collaboration, following achievements like the G20 Summit’s joint declaration and COP28’s historic commitment to transition away from fossil fuels

Firstly, we have seen it in the private sector, where companies battle for market share on the one hand, but work together to address shared challenges like climate change on the other. For example, the WEF’s First Movers Coalition brings together over 90 stakeholders—including competitors like Coca-Cola and PepsiCo, and Boeing and Airbus—to build market demand for green technologies.

Secondly, we have seen it happen between governments. Last November at COP28 in Dubai, the U.S. and China released a statement reaffirming their “commitment to work jointly and together with other countries to address the climate crisis”. The two countries, despite growing competition, said that they would also stepup coordination on curbing methane emissions and work together to speed up the transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources.

One of the key messages of your current report highlights the notion that people are crafting their own narratives, with a range of possible outcomes, some of which are more favourable. Reflecting on the past, which specific moments would you identify as exemplifying the transformative power of individuals overcoming significant challenges?

— Ahead of the G20 summit in New Delhi in November, there was a widespread assumption that geopolitical divides would prevent parties from coming together on issuing a joint declaration. Yet, thankfully, diplomatic efforts managed to bring countries together to reach consensus on a declaration.

The United Nations noted that the achievement was particularly important, given the declaration’s commitment to accelerating progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at a time when urgent progress is needed.

On a contrasting note, the most recent World Economic Outlook offers a glimmer of more positive news. How closely do these findings align with some of the conclusions drawn in your own research?

— The latest World Economic Outlook from the International Monetary Fund projects 3.1% growth in 2024— 0.2 percentage points higher than previous projections in October 2023. At the same time, inflation is falling faster than expected in many economies—global headline inflation is expected to fall from 6.8% last year to 5.8% this year.

This is a very welcome, but fragile, picture. One of the top concerns many people have is that geoeconomic fragmentation, including rising levels of trade restrictions, are weighing heavily on growth.

Indeed, the Forum’s January 2024 Chief Economists Outlook—a survey of 30 chief economists—shows concern over the impact of fragmentation. Almost 70 per cent of chief economists expect the pace of geoeconomic fragmentation to accelerate this year. The majority of respondents expect it to stoke volatility in the global economy (87%) and in stock markets (80%).

A pivotal question that emerged at Davos was how to rebuild trust. To what degree is trust interconnected with GDP growth, and what would you identify as the primary crucial component, beyond economic considerations, for rebuilding trust?

— Today’s most urgent challenges—a warming planet, a weakening economy, deteriorating global security—are not bound by borders. They can only be solved through global cooperation. Rebuilding trust is a vital ingredient in strengthening that cooperation.

But trust has been in decline because many people do not see the benefit of global collaboration.

To take one example: the BioNTech/ Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine was a marvel of cooperation and trade—it is made up of 280 components from 19 different countries. Yet, within the first year of distribution of Covid-19 vaccines, competition over supply meant that high-income countries were able to achieve vaccination rates of 75 to 80%, whereas low-income countries vaccinated less than 10% of their populations.

In order to rebuild trust in global cooperation, we need to ensure that results deliver equitable gains.

This is why expanding dialogue between the Global South and Global North is vital. Having the African Union admitted last year as a member of the G20 was such an important achievement in this regard.

The post We Can Still Create Miracles appeared first on CorD Magazine.

Cecilia Bartoli’s exceptional career in the world of classical music has brought her numerous prestigious awards and honours, such as several Grammy Awards, multiple ECHO Klassik Awards and the Polar Music Prize, but also the high distinction that is the Order of Cultural Merit of the Principality of Monaco.

Speaking in this exclusive interview for CorD Magazine, the Europa Nostra president stresses that the Venice Manifesto, which was presented in the stunning setting of the Scuola Grande di San Giovanni Evangelista in Venice, will inspire and guide Europa Nostra’s action over the course of the next decade and beyond. “Today, more than ever, we need to recognise and celebrate what can bring Europe’s citizens and communities closer together. Culture – arts and heritage – are prime vectors for promoting stronger cohesion and social inclusion within our societies. We need to combat fragmentation and even hostility through solidarity and mutual support. It is for this reason that our Venice Manifesto insists that the concept of “European citizenship”, which constitutes the very foundation of the European project, cannot be reduced to its political or economic dimensions.”

Madam Bartoli, it was in May 2022 that you became the new President of Europa Nostra, the European Voice of Civil Society that’s committed to Cultural Heritage. What does this role mean to you?

— As a European citizen and someone who has dedicated most of my life to art and cultural heritage, I feel extremely privileged to have been appointed President of Europa Nostra. I accepted this honour with the greatest pride. I am also delighted to continue pursuing the work of the previous president, Plácido Domingo, for whom I have great respect, and to work hand in hand with our Executive President, Hermann Parzinger, who is an eminent heritage scholar and practitioner from Germany.

Europa Nostra is an organisation that inspires me and enriches my own work. In return, with my multifaceted experience as a performer, producer, facilitator and cultural manager, I hope to contribute to further focusing and amplifying Europa Nostra’s vision and action for the future.

What does “being European” mean to you?

— I was born in Italy, the birthplace of opera, and surrounded by music throughout my youth. Growing up in Rome allowed me to inhale the magical beauty of cultural heritage in its various forms, from architecture and sculpture to music and poetry, on a daily basis. Italy’s magnificent landscapes – its islands, mountains and plains, villages and towns, fearsome volcanoes, rugged coastlines and shiny white beaches, ancient vineyards, olive groves and canals, endless shades of blue in its lakes and surrounding seas – form part of my own cultural inheritance, to which I am intimately attached.

I am delighted to continue pursuing the work of the previous president, Plácido Domingo, for whom I have great respect, and to work hand in hand with our Executive President, Hermann Parzinger, who is an eminent heritage scholar and practitioner

This is also the case to the same extent with my country’s handicrafts, folklore or our exquisite gastronomic heritage, as well as with our more recent achievements, such as high-speed railways, elegant fashion or legendary films. This heritage profoundly marked my thinking, my feelings and my personality. Over the years, I have been fortunate to add additional cultural layers, mostly European ones, to my native one: Spanish, French, Swiss, Austrian, Monegasque and many more. They made me love and value Europe’s shared heritage, which is so utterly diverse, while at the same time so profoundly interwoven. I love Vivaldi and Handel as much as Mozart and Bizet. All this make me feel European and proud to be so. And I strongly believe that many people in Europe feel the same way.

Together with Europa Nostra, you promote the multiple values of cultural heritage as a vital resource for bridging Europe’s past, present and future, and for shaping a better quality of life for Europe’s citizens and their communities. At this time that sees Europa Nostra commemorate its diamond jubilee, what do you see as being the key priorities of the federation’s future action?

— I was so pleased last September to join Europa Nostra’s large pan-European family of members and partners in Venice for our European Cultural Heritage Summit. This was the perfect occasion to celebrate our 60th anniversary and to also reflect on present and future challenges to our action.

The choice of Venice was a deliberate one: this uniquely historic city is, in many ways, so emblematic of the mission of Europa Nostra. Historically, Venetian culture, in all its aspects, spread across Europe and the world. The city itself epitomises both the uniqueness and amazing beauty of Europe’s heritage, but also reflects its fragility and vulnerability, due to the many challenges it faces today.

Europa Nostra, as the largest European network of civil society organisations active in the field of cultural heritage, celebrates and champions cultural heritage as a strategic resource for a better future for our Europe. Cultural heritage is the foundation of the entire European project; it is the essence of what it means to be European. If we want to achieve a more sustainable, more inclusive and more beautiful Europe, we must place culture and cultural heritage at the very heart of our strategies and priorities. Europa Nostra’s task is to become an even more forceful advocate of this key message, together with our many partners gathered around the European Heritage Hub project that is being funded by the European Union. This project includes the creation and empowerment of our new heritage hubs in Krakow, Athens, Lisbon, Nicosia and Venice, with further ones to follow.

It was during the European Cultural Heritage Summit in Venice that Europa Nostra presented its Venice Manifesto, which introduces and promotes the concept of “European cultural citizenship”. Can you tell us more about this important initiative?

— The Venice Manifesto, which was presented in the stunning setting of the Scuola Grande di San Giovanni Evangelista in Venice, will inspire and guide Europa Nostra’s action over the course of the next decade and beyond. Today, more than ever, we need to recognise and celebrate what can bring Europe’s citizens and communities closer together. Culture – arts and heritage – are prime vectors for promoting stronger cohesion and social inclusion within our societies. We need to combat fragmentation and even hostility through solidarity and mutual support. It is for this reason that our Venice Manifesto insists that the concept of “European citizenship”, which constitutes the very foundation of the European project, cannot be reduced to its political or economic dimensions. We really need to promote the concept of “European cultural citizenship”, which will help strengthen the much-needed sense of belonging to a wider European community and will foster the sense of togetherness that will help us successfully combat and overcome forces that could serve to divide Europe and its citizens.

Europa Nostra is active all over Europe, including in Serbia. What is your message to all people who care for cultural heritage in our country and in the wider Western Balkan region?

— Your country and your region are so rich in cultural heritage: built and natural, tangible and intangible. This heritage reflects millennia of European history and today represents the strongest possible anchor within the wider European family. Therefore, taking good care of this heritage and making it more widely known is crucial for the participation of your country and your region in the process of creating a space where the European spirit, which is based on our shared cultural heritage, is palpable.

Like in all countries, we are naturally aware that your priceless heritage is also often endangered by different types of threats. We stand ready to support all those who are committed to saving this heritage, for the sake of present and future generations.

Rossini is maybe the most European figure who – indirectly – won a European Heritage Award this year and should serve as a role model for all of us!

We are delighted that the integrated conservation of the Bač Fortress received one of our Grand Prix awards back in 2018, when we celebrated the European Year of Cultural Heritage. I am delighted that the person who was responsible for the coordination of this outstanding project, Slavica Vujović, has recently been appointed the new President of Europa Nostra Serbia. We wish her and the entire team of Europa Nostra Serbia, led by Secretary General Vesna Marjanović, every success in pursuing the pioneering and visionary work that was led during the last 25 years by Professor Irina Subotić, who was also a highly regarded Vice-President of Europa Nostra and has become an Honorary Life Member of Europa Nostra.

Last but not least, let me highlight the key role played by our Secretary General, Sneška Quaedvlieg-Mihailović, who was born and raised in Belgrade. She has spent more than 30 years working tirelessly, passionately and forcefully to enlarge and strengthen Europa Nostra’s network all over Europe, including in your region. At this moment when we are celebrating the 60th anniversary of Europa Nostra, we are indebted to her leadership and unwavering commitment to the Europe of Culture and the Europe of Values, which are at the core of the mission that’s promoted by our organisation.

It was in Venice that Europa Nostra, together with the European Union, presented this year’s European Heritage Awards/Europa Nostra Awards, which are considered the European Oscars of Cultural Heritage. One of those awards went to Italian musicologist Sergio Ragni in recognition of his many decades of dedication to the life and work of famous European composer Gioachino Rossini. Being a celebrated opera singer and performer of Rossini’s works, this award certainly warmed your heart?

— All winners of our European Heritage Awards warmed my heart and the hearts of so many of our members and partners who had the privilege of attending Europa Nostra’s award ceremony at the iconic Palazzo del Cinema on the Lido in Venice. These winners cover so many aspects of our heritage: from architectural gems to archaeological treasures; from magical gardens to stunning coastlines and other examples of cultural landscapes; from museums and handicrafts to our musical heritage and other aspects of Europe’s intangible heritage.

Of course, I was particularly happy to see Sergio Ragni appearing on the stage to receive his own award in the category of Heritage Champions.

Rossini is not only one of my favourite composers, who also propelled my career forward from the very beginning, he is also a truly European figure: as a musician, as someone who furthered talent, as an influential arts administrator and a respected figure with connections to the most important political figures of his day. His music was played all over Europe – but also in North America and Russia! – it united artists, audiences and all kinds of social layers in a spirit of community and enthusiasm. Rossini is maybe the most European figure who – indirectly – won a European Heritage Award this year and should serve as a role model for all of us!

I am so happy for this high European recognition for Sergio Ragni, whose work with and for Rossini I have admired for many years. He has done this out of pure passion for decades, and has invested large amounts of money and time into this – while making it all available for free to the general public. Go and visit his museum in Naples, or consult his editions of Rossini’s letters and writings when you have a chance! I very much hope that our European Heritage Award will give further visibility to the work of Sergio Ragni and his Rossini collection, leading to a lasting solution to make this work and collection more widely accessible to all musicians, scholars and Rossini lovers today and in the future.

Your own passion for reviving forgotten operatic treasures is wellknown. You’ve explored a wide range of musical styles and historical periods. Are there any uncharted territories or projects you’d like to explore in your future career?

— It has indeed given me great joy to give new life to forgotten musical gems that I found in archives all over Europe, by bringing them to new audiences of the 20th and 21st centuries. At the same time, I want to share with people what I learned about the lives of great composers and singers of those times, such as famous 18th-century castrato singer Farinelli, and the unique 19th century opera diva and multifaceted artist Pauline Garcia-Viardot and her incredible family, who changed so much of Europe’s cultural and social life.

Classical music builds on communion, giving and taking, shades and colours, soft and differentiated sounds. Classical music exhilarates, providing joy and comfort

Of course, there are today also new projects that occupy my mind, but they sometimes take years to materialise or get discarded along the way. But what I would like to explore in the future – in collaboration with Europa Nostra, among others – is a new project in which music is utilised to further social inclusion in deprived areas. We cannot talk about our common heritage without exerting greater efforts to make sure future generations are aware of it, with a particular focus on those who are not brought to European culture automatically through their upbringing or schooling. They will be among the ones who must continue to care for our heritage when we are gone.

Your exceptional career in the world of classical music has earned you numerous prestigious awards and honours. How important are such public acknowledgements to an artist?

— For me, public recognition is a sign that my voice has been heard, and that the things I feel passionate about and find worthy of bringing to public attention have reached an audience and also met with their enthusiasm. In this sense, they are encouraging and I am most grateful for them.

But it is absolutely vital to awaken the interest of young people in culture, and to help them in their professional career. The Cecilia Bartoli – Music Foundation does this through projects like the CD label „mentored by Bartoli“, or the opera academies we just launched in Monte-Carlo.

Your dedication to educating and mentoring talented youngsters is admirable. This will not be the first time that you’ve been asked how you see the future of opera and classical music in general, in our world of new media and modern technologies?

— I always say that, having survived more than 400 years until now, opera will surely survive a little longer. And classical music is, of course, far older and more diverse. I invite people to open their hearts and minds and take their time to discover it. It is such an immensely wide and varied field that everyone will find something in it that fascinates or moves them!

In light of the great many challenges that have confronted, and continue to confront, Europe and the world, what are your hopes for 2024?

— I hope people will listen to and play more music, especially classical music. Classical music builds on communion, giving and taking, shades and colours, soft and differentiated sounds. Classical music exhilarates, providing joy and comfort. I also hope that people will, more than anything, listen to one another carefully and respectfully.

Photo: Uli Weber/Decca

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The European Union’s Economic and Investment Plan for the region, launched in 2020 and worth 30 billion euros, envisages a greener Western Balkans by focusing on key areas like climate action and the circular economy. The significant Clean Energy Transition initiative addresses the region’s coal dependence, with the potential to reduce emissions by 65% through a shift to natural gas. Despite costs, the EU is committed to supporting the region’s green agenda.

We are actively backing renewable energy projects, reinforcing electricity transmission systems and gas interconnectors

In response to the recent energy crisis prompted by the Ukraine conflict, the EU allocated an additional one billion euros, over half of which is designated to funding a cleaner energy transition. This highlights the EU’s active support for renewables, electricity systems and similar essentials. “Consequently, we are actively backing renewable energy projects, reinforcing electricity transmission systems and gas interconnectors,” explains EU Neighbourhood and Enlargement Commissioner Olivér Várhelyi, with whom we discussed projects that are relevant for Serbia.

What are the priorities of your support in Serbia?

― Supporting energy transition in Serbia and across the entire region is undeniably a top priority for the EU. This is an arena where the EU has already made substantial investments and provided support to Serbia. Under the EIP, we have intensified our commitment to energy security and sustainable transition, directing funds toward energy efficiency, renewable energy sources and the construction of the Trans-Balkan Electricity Corridor. The overarching aim is to reduce the reliance on fossil fuels, facilitate improved integration of energy networks and diversify energy sources.

The WBIF, through which a segment of the Western Balkans Growth Plan will be channelled, lends its support to projects focused on transitioning to a low-carbon economy, aligning with the Green Agenda for the Western Balkans. This includes promoting the increased utilisation of renewables, in alignment with the region’s plans for adapting to climate change.

Among the 13 flagship investments endorsed for Serbia under the EIP, seven projects are dedicated to advancing energy transition and environmental sustainability

Among the 13 flagship investments endorsed for Serbia under the EIP, seven projects are dedicated to advancing energy transition and environmental sustainability. These initiatives encompass activities like the reconstruction of the Vlasina Hydropower Plant, the construction of the Kostolac Wind Farm, the rehabilitation of the Bistrica Hydropower Plant, the introduction of smart meters to the electricity distribution system in Serbia and the enhancement of energy efficiency within the Technical Faculties Campus in Belgrade.

How important is the Serbia-Bulgaria gas interconnector?

― When it comes to diversifying energy sources and supply routes, the EU financially supports the construction of the Serbian segment of the Serbia- Bulgaria gas interconnector with a grant of €49.6 million through the IPA scheme. This project holds immense significance for Serbia’s energy security, as it constitutes a crucial prerequisite for opening Serbia’s gas market to non-Russian sources. It is anticipated to become operational later this year. To aid Serbia in mitigating the impact of high energy prices on vulnerable households and businesses in the face of the energy crisis, we allocated an additional €165 million in support through last year’s Energy Support Package. Our overall commitment to Serbia’s energy sector has reached €1 billion in grants since 2000.

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Sustineri Partners actively works to improve companies’ operations and to contribute to shaping corporate policies in the countries of the Adria region through the integration of ESG standards, which encompass environmental protection, social responsibility and good corporate governance.

“Since the inception of our consultancy firm, we have been focused on cooperation with this region’s companies, governments, international organisations and civil society in an effort to contribute to achieving sustainable development goals, particularly through the engagement of the real sector,” says Sustineri Partners CEO and Founding Partner Biljana Braithwaite, who also serves as president of the Women on Boards Adria (WOBA) association.

ESG standards, which over the past few years have become particularly developed and important elements of business operations on the markets of Europe, Asia and America, have also imposed the accelerated transferring of trends in corporate management, sustainability and human rights from more developed countries to our region. “In this regard, Sustineri Partners emerged out of our desire to contribute to sustainable development, environmental protection and responsible corporate governance in our region, which is why we strive to empower the governments, companies and organisations of the region to place sustainability at the heart of their agenda and work,” explains Braithwaite.

“The expertise of the Sustineri Partners team, their deep familiarity with European and other international frameworks and standards, as well as their practical knowledge and experience in achieving change on the ground, especially in the regional context, contribute a lot to development and education, but also to preparing companies for ESG standards and everything that’s coming in the period ahead and is already relevant in the European Union. That’s why we selected the countries of the Western Balkans, as well as the Adria region, as the focus of our activities and work.”

Sustineri Partners collaborates with governments of the region and international institutions in an effort to raise awareness of the importance of sustainability, environmental protection and socially responsible governance, all of which are becoming increasingly crucial to ensuring a better future for all of us. With this in mind, the ESG Adria Summit, as the region’s largest ESG event, also represents one Sustineri Partners’ leading projects.

— Despite only being held for the first time in April 2023, in Porto Montenegro, it has already attracted great interest by having brought together more than 450 participants, distinguished dignitaries: representatives of the governments of the region, heads of financial institutions and leaders of the business sector from more than 150 companies, international institutions and global experts on sustainability, as well as numerous media from around the region. At the second annual Summit, which will take place from 24th to 26th April 2024, we will be dealing with the most current topics of sustainability and focusing on sustainable finance, green transition and other important topics in the areas of human rights protection and corporate governance.

How important is the gender equality issue for different aspects of company operations?

— The issue of gender equality is of exceptional importance for various aspects of companies’ operations today. Women on Boards Adria, as a regional association that was founded recently, has a significant role to play in this context, given that it was launched with the aim of promoting gender equality, encouraging inclusive company decision- making at all levels, removing obstacles to women joining boards of directors and accelerating the pace of their advancement to the highest positions in companies of the Adria region. In this respect, it is extremely valuable to us that we can call on expertise and have partnerships with organisations like the International Finance Corporation (IFC, a member of the World Bank Group) and European Women on Boards, particularly from the point of view of the applying of the best global practices in our region.

Our region has huge potential to attract new investments, knowhow, innovation, creativity, and endless space for regional cooperation, all of which will provide an exceptional contribution to the development of the economy, particularly on the road to joining the EU

At the WOBA association we believe strongly that talent and ambition are equally distributed between the sexes, which is why we advocate for appropriate equal opportunities for men and women to advance to senior positions. Inclusive teams are more successful than homogenous teams. As such, companies that increase the representation of women in leadership positions can expect to see an improved financial performance, as well as improvements in non-financial aspects, such as company reputation, investor perception and the trust of employees and partners.

Numerous analyses have shown that the countries of the Adria region are lagging behind EU standards when it comes to the representation of women on management boards and that women remain underrepresented in corporate executive positions. Through education and training, which we prepare with our partners’ support, materials and standards, followed by the establishment of networks of talented female leaders and cooperation with companies, governments, international institutions and civil society organisations, we want to encourage the greater representation and inclusion of women at all levels, while we also want to alter the region’s statistics through the harmonising of gender policies with EU standards.

Research clearly shows that the greater participation of women on management boards is linked to improved financial success. In other words – companies that advocate for a gender balance and that have a business environment that fosters diversity of opinion achieve better business results in every respect.

It is high time for us to recognise how much times have changed, and that women are increasingly educated and successful in their careers and are no longer asking what they can do for the business market, but rather what the business market can do for them.

To what extent are the issues of corporate responsibility intertwined when it comes to combating corruption, advancing gender equality and protecting the environment?

— It has never been more important for companies to take on a more (pro)active role in addressing the social, environmental and economic challenges confronting us today, considering the crucial role they play in shaping the world in which we live. ESG standards evaluate companies’ sustainability and impact on these issues, while they increasingly have a direct impact on companies’ financial performances. Some of these standards are imposed by laws and regulations in the countries where companies operate, which we are seeing in particular in the increasingly demanding regulations imposed by the region’s key economic partners, such as the countries of the European Union, America and Asia. On the other hand, some of these standards emerge from customer and employee expectations, or from pressure applied by investors, due to growing concern with respect to issues of business transparency, human rights and environmental protection.

Companies that advocate for a gender balance and that have a business environment that fosters diversity of opinion achieve better business results in every respect

ESG standards are interconnected and form part of the broader sustainability agenda. They encompass a range of issues: when it comes to environmental protection, for example, they evaluate the ways companies contribute to climate change, pollution, waste, natural resource depletion; social standards deal with human rights issues, among other things, particularly workers’ rights, inclusion, equality and community development, with a particular focus on supply chains; when it comes to corporate governance, the focus is on transparent governance standards, information disclosure, preventing corruption, transparent decision-making processes, cybersecurity and privacy etc.

Why do companies require external assistance in order to be able to meet these demands?

— In order to develop successful ESG strategies and set goals, but also to assess risks, it is crucial for companies to have a comprehensive and objective overview of their own business. It is also important for them to have feedback from key partners, whether that means investors, customers, employees or representatives of the local community and civil society. However, implementing such a process can represent a major challenge for any company, taking into consideration the complexity of first identifying and classifying key factors and issues, and subsequently harmonising them with a general business strategy and legal frameworks related to a company’s operations, conducting risk analysis, and then forming objective, feasible and measurable goals.

That’s why collaboration with experts, or with consultancy firms that specialise in sustainability standards, is becoming an increasingly important component of the work of successful companies. It is important to bear in mind that this is often a multi-month process, and sometimes even a multi-year process, of analysing, creating an ESG strategy and evaluating its implementation and success. External support is crucial for this to be a truly meaningful process, and ultimately a purposeful one. The majority of companies view it as an investment in future improved operations – well prepared and implemented ESG strategies often bring manifold financial benefits, given that they presuppose savings on resources and help in recognising and avoiding risks, as well as in utilising opportunities that emerge. Apart from that, ever-more consumers, particularly consumers of the younger generations, and investors are attracted to companies that are aware of their environmental and social impact and that are thus transparent in their efforts to improve their business in that context. It is for this reason that I am proud of the team that’s been brought together by Sustineri Partners – our experts have amassed many decades of experience working on these topics in numerous sectors, which is essential for the success of the processes we’ve discussed.

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Commenting on the situation in the Western Balkans, Prime Minister Han Duck-soo says in this exclusive interview for CorD: “The stability of the Western Balkan region has a significant impact on the overall stability of Europe as a whole, especially at this juncture of global instability as a result of events like the war in Ukraine and the conflict in the Middle East. In today’s interconnected world, European security also has implications for the security of the Korean Peninsula and Northeast Asia, so South Korea is also closely monitoring the situation in the Western Balkans.”

Mr Prime Minister, could you elaborate on the key aspects of the significant recent agreement reached on mutual investment promotion and protection between Serbia and South Korea; how will it benefit both countries; how does this achievement align with your country’s broader perspective on the re-composition of global value chains and trade partnerships, and what role do South Korean business interests play in this context?

Korean companies have been actively investing in Eastern European countries, including Czechia, Poland, Hungary and Slovakia, in the automotive, electric vehicle battery and consumer electronics sectors – yet Korean investment in Serbia has not been as vibrant as it has in these countries. However, as competition on the Eastern European markets becomes tougher and Serbia pursues more proactive investment policies, Serbia has gained increasing importance as a gateway to Eastern Europe.

In this context, the signing of the Investment Protection Agreement is expected to serve as a valuable legal framework for promoting and safeguarding investments, further facilitating economic cooperation between the two countries.

Currently, 18 South Korean SMEs have established a presence in Serbia, employing approximately 2,000 people. I hope that a more diverse range of South Korean companies will enter the Serbian market in the future, further contributing to Serbia’s economic development and the diversification of our economic cooperation.

You stated in your talks with Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabić that you see Serbia as a hub for companies from your country to expand their European operations. What is required for that idea to achieve fruition?

As previously mentioned, the Investment Protection Agreement signed during Prime Minister Brnabić’s visit is a significant step towards bringing this to fruition. To further promote bilateral investment and trade, and establish Serbia as a hub for European markets, the next step would be the signing of the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA).

Recognising Serbia’s geographical and economic significance, the Korean government has designated Serbia as a priority country for the initiation of the Economic Partnership Agreement.

Regarding the situation on the Korean Peninsula, Serbia has consistently condemned North Korea’s illicit nuclear missile activities and participated in all EU-imposed sanctions, supporting our government’s policies

Efforts are underway to complete the necessary domestic procedures by year’s end, facilitating the commencement of negotiations at the earliest possible date. The signing of the EPA is expected to lower or eliminate trade barriers between our two countries, including tariffs, thereby further boosting economic exchanges.

Furthermore, if Serbia achieves EU accession, which is a strategic goal of the country, I believe that investment between the two countries can be further facilitated within the framework of the existing South Korea-EU Free Trade Agreement.

Your meetings with the Serbian PM have been described as successful and important. Could you share your thoughts on how these discussions might lead to new initiatives and foreign direct investments?

Serbia and Korea have complementary economic structures. In addition to Serbia’s aforementioned strengths as an investment destination, when it comes to trade Serbia has excellent agricultural products, food items and rare minerals. On the other hand, Korea is a leading country in advanced technology sectors and is exploring new investment opportunities.

For instance, Serbia possesses a significant quantity of minerals, particularly lithium, which is crucial for the eco-friendly energy transition. South Korea boasts leading global battery manufacturers such as LG and SK. This presents opportunities for potential collaboration in the electric vehicle battery sector.

Additionally, Serbia is a major producer of grains and South Korea imports a substantial amount of Serbian corn via Romania. In this context, there is substantial potential for the two countries to enhance cooperation in food security, which is becoming increasingly important.

In conclusion, there are numerous areas in which there is real scope to enhance and nurture our cooperation in the economic realm. In this regard, the EPA and Investment Protection Agreement serve as valuable tools to define our mutual goals and take strategic steps towards achieving those goals.

You’ve mentioned that technology was noted as a priority for collaboration in your talks with the Serbian Prime Minister. Could you provide examples of specific technology sectors in which Serbia and South Korea could enhance their cooperation?

South Korea, as a leading country in advanced technology fields like ICT, has been providing support for the development of Serbia’s technological infrastructure. During the visit of Prime Minister Brnabić, the two countries discussed further enhancing shared efforts in innovative industries like smart mobility and the digital transition. Since 2019, South Korea and Serbia have maintained active collaboration regarding the implementation of Serbia’s e-government systems. South Korea established an e-government cooperation centre in Belgrade in 2020, in an effort to support the further enhancement of Serbia’s administrative systems. Additionally, two information access centres have been set up in Belgrade and Niš to facilitate ICT education for both public servants and civilians.

Serbia possesses a significant quantity of minerals, particularly lithium, which is crucial for the eco-friendly energy transition. South Korea boasts leading global battery manufacturers such as LG and SK. This presents opportunities for potential collaboration in the electric vehicle battery sector

Furthermore, it is notable that Serbia last year joined the Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence (GPAI), demonstrating its commitment to fostering the AI industry. Serbia is a country that has established ethical guidelines for the use of AI and is known for its openness to new technologies and innovation. South Korea has also taken significant steps in this direction, forming the National Data Policy Committee under the Prime Minister’s leadership to promote data and AI technology. These efforts suggest that there are ample opportunities for both countries to further enhance their shared efforts in these related fields in the future.

What are the key issues with which our two countries can improve their cooperation at the political level?

In February of this year, a high-level policy dialogue was held between the two countries in which discussions not only covered bilateral issues, but also explored measures for political cooperation on major regional concerns.

The two countries are currently exploring avenues for shared efforts on the multilateral stage, on the basis of their close bilateral relations. In particular, regarding the situation on the Korean Peninsula, Serbia has consistSerently condemned North Korea’s illicit nuclear missile activities and participated in all EU-imposed sanctions, supporting our government’s policies.

As South Korea assumes the position of a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council in 2024, we look forward to UN-level cooperation with Serbia in dealing with global challenges like climate change, cybersecurity, the digital divide and sustainable development.

How do you view the situation in the Western Balkans and could South Korea play an active role in promoting regional stability and international cooperation in the years ahead? The Republic of Korea opted to abstain in voting on Kosovo’s entry into UNESCO three years ago. Given the experience of events that have led to today’s reality on the Korean Peninsula, how do you view unfolding events in Kosovo today?

The stability of the Western Balkan region has a significant impact on the overall stability of Europe as a whole, especially at this juncture of global instability as a result of events like the war in Ukraine and the conflict in the Middle East. In today’s interconnected world, European security also has implications for the security of the Korean Peninsula and Northeast Asia, so South Korea is also closely monitoring the situation in the Western Balkans.

Cultural exchange can represent a significant aspect of international relations. Are there any plans to intensify cultural exchange programmes between our two countries that you would like to share with our readers?

The Agreement on Cooperation in the Fields of Culture, Art and Education was signed in 2006 and a joint Committee was held in 2017, providing an institutional framework for cultural cooperation. With this as a valuable foundation, the Korean government has been steadily promoting cooperation in related fields, such as culture, art and education.

In particular, the Korean government seeks to strengthen cultural and people- to-people exchanges with Serbia through two-way cultural diplomacy. Indeed, this year, the Gyeonggi Sinawi Orchestra, a fusion orchestra, visited Serbia to present unique and diverse aspects of Korean music to the Serbian people. I believe that exchanges involving artistic groups can indeed serve to foster bonds and nurture a sense of rapport through culture. Furthermore, the Forum for Strategic Studies, a thinktank based in Serbia, and the Embassy of the Republic of Korea to Serbia held a public diplomacy debate that served to deepen trust between the two countries. Through communication with the Serbian people, academia and the media, we have developed a better and clearer shared understanding of the policies of the two countries.

In this regard, the Korean government will continue to promote cultural and people-to-people exchanges with Serbia, with a view to fostering even deeper mutual understanding. In this way, we look forward to exchanges between the two countries continuing to expand and thrive.

Looking ahead to 2024, given that global political and economic tensions haven’t eased, what are your expectations and priorities for South Korea over the coming year?

There are now mounting challenges to the rules-based international order: not least in the form of North Korea’s evolving nuclear and missile threats; Russia’s unjustifiable invasion of Ukraine; the heightened geopolitical tensions in the Indo-Pacific region; the global climate crisis; disruptions in global supply chains; and the energy crisis. The attack on Israel by Hamas has added further uncertainty and insecurity in the global community, and indeed in the global economy.

Amidst the sincere efforts to address such a ‘poly-crisis’, there is an ever-greater need to strengthen international cooperation and solidarity in order to uphold the universal values that we treasure and indeed the rules-based international order that serves to safeguard them.

Accordingly, in these times of uncertainty – this epochal tectonic shift, often referred to as ‘Zeitwende’ – the standing and role of Korea is expected to be further elevated and broadened. Indeed, there is widespread recognition of Korea’s ability to move forward to embrace the opportunities and promise of the future while safeguarding universal values.

Against this backdrop, the Republic of Korea will seek to expand its roles and responsibilities to contribute even more to upholding the rulesbased order and its underlying core values. It will do so in a wide range of areas, including the economy; science and technology; and space, among many others.

This is the vision we embrace of a Global Pivotal State (GPS) that contributes to a free, peaceful and prosperous world. It is with the aim of realising this vision of serving as a GPS that Korea announced its own Indo-Pacific Strategy last December.

Moreover, as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for the 2024-2025 term, Korea will work on building and sustaining global peace and security and on responding to emerging threats on the solid basis of international law and with universal values as a guiding light.

Korea’s aspiration to host the 2030 World Expo in Busan is rooted in our sense of responsibility

In response to North Korea’s heightened nuclear and missile threats, South Korea will continue its efforts aimed at completing North Korea’s denuclearisation and nurturing peace on the Korean Peninsula, while enhancing the effectiveness of extended deterrence based on the ROK-U.S. combined defence posture. Furthermore, Korea will continue to strengthen Korea-U.S.-Japan trilateral security cooperation.

The Republic of Korea will contribute activey to addressing various global issues for the betterment of humanity. In particular, drawing on the wisdom and insights gained in travelling its path of development, Korea will continue to truly fulfil a bridging role between developed and developing countries, in order to play a valuable part in fostering global co-prosperity. In this regard, Korea will continue to scale up its ODA to promote development cooperation that contributes to the realisation of global values like freedom, democracy, human rights and the rule of law.

The Korean government’s aspiration to host the 2030 World Expo in Busan is also rooted in our sense of responsibility. We are eager to share with the global community all the blessings we have received since the Korean War. Through the Busan Expo 2030, we will provide a platform for the world to explore solutions to common challenges such as climate change, economic inequality and the digital divide.

Serbia has already secured the right to host the Belgrade Expo 2027. We sincerely hope that the Busan Expo will echo this, also offering valuable windows of opportunity for deepening interaction and teamwork between our two countries, opening up new vistas in our rapport. We look forward, with the momentum generated by such an inspiring Expo, to deepening bonds of friendship between our nations. And we truly believe that this will be to the benefit of humankind more broadly.

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There is no guarantee that we will succeed in this endeavour, at least not in the foreseeable future, especially when it comes to breaking the SANU Gallery’s impressive attendance record that has stood since 1984. However, we could at least state with a clear conscience that we have exerted efforts to leave behind a better world for our children than the one we inherited from our parents – adds SANU President Zoran Knežević in this interview for CorD Magazine.

Mr Knežević, SANU is currently commemorating the centenary of the birth of great painter, writer, filmmaker and Academy member Miodrag ‘Mića’ Popović. Apart from the two exhibitions that have already been unveiled – a smaller one at the SANU Library and a larger retrospective exhibition at the SANU Gallery – how else is the Academy celebrating the legacy of this distinguished former member?

– Permit me to remind your readers that the Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts is this year commemorating the centenary of the births of two important academics and painters: Miodrag ‘Mića’ Popović and Milorad ‘Bata’ Mihailović. To mark this exceptionally special occasion, large retrospective exhibitions have been arranged at the SANU Gallery to present the works of these two great artists and friends, rebels against the dogma of socialist realism in art, who were connected, among other ways, by havreing both belonged to the famous “Zadar Group”, which they co-founded with a group of their fellow students.

The exhibitions are accompanied by outstanding catalogues that have been published by the Academy, with the one representing Popović’s work having been prepared by art historian Dr Vesna Kruljac, assistant professor at the University of Belgrade Faculty of Applied Arts. Throughout the exhibition’s run, visitors are able to watch excerpts from Popović’s films, while lectures by Dr Kruljac and other experts have also been organised, dedicated to researching and interpreting Popović’s creative work. Apart from the exhibitions, the central event with which SANU is commemorating the legacy of its prominent members is a scientific conference under the working title “Polemic Aspects of Post-1945 Serbian Modernism With A Particular Focus on the Actions of Zadar Group Members”, which will take place at the Academy on 17th and 18th October and will focus on shedding light on Serbian modernism from a new perspective and re-evaluating the Zadar Group’s contribution to our fine art scene. You have already mentioned the smaller, chamber exhibition dedicated to Mića Popović at the Library of the Academy, while SANU has also used the Popović works preserved in its collection to participate in exhibitions at other galleries in Belgrade, Kikinda and elsewhere.

The title of the Popović retrospective exhibition includes the wording “The Art of Permanent Rebellion”. In the case of this academic and painter, that rebellion wasn’t merely artistic, but rather also implied an engaged, critical perspective on events occurring in society. This brings us neatly on to the unavoidable and eternal question of determining the correct relationship between the Academy and politics?

— I think this question needs to be observed in the context of the position of the Academy, as defined by the Law on SANU and the Statute of the Academy, as “the highest scientific and artistic institution of the Republic of Serbia”, and then for such a designation to determine its appropriate role in society. In a broader sense, this position is also determined by the dual nature of the Academy, i.e., its operational and honorary roles.

It could be stated that SANU’s authority is unquestionable in our scientific and artistic milieu, that what the Academy does and says is highly reingspected; beyond its own framework, in the political sphere, the Academy – in accordance with the aforementioned definition – rarely speaks out, and particularly not with regard to daily political issues, because it isn’t organisationally structured like a political party that formulates an opinion or common stance that it then promotes publicly.

I would remind your readers that SANU is this year commemorating the centenary of the births of two important academics and painters: Miodrag ‘Mića’ Popović and Milorad ‘Bata’ Mihailović

In accordance with its structure, the Academy is an assemblage of independent individuals, intellectuals who can, and often do, have completely contradictory political views and opinions, with which they appear in public of their own accord, independent of the Academy, individually or in groups, on the basis of their own feelings and needs. In this regard, a question arises as to the extent to which decisionmakers in society are prepared to listen to the well-intentioned and science-based assessments and advice of their own top scientists that have been formed through, among other things, national academies, but also the responsibility of academies for the advice that they offer.

The Academy maintains its relations with the state and its executive bodies primarily via an open and constructive dialogue, but also through collaboration with every opportunity for the competences of the Academy to be beneficial to the state and society. In so doing, the Academy acknowledges and appreciates the various social frameworks in which we operate, with the essential political distancing that results from the requirement for the Academy to be independent and to operate primarily in the service of the general good, and not any particular interest.

You were elected SANU president this March. In accepting to take on the position, you promised continuity and to direct SANU “towards safe harbours”. What would you single out as your priorities?

– The leadership of the Academy is confronted by many obligations and responsibilities, alongside the performing of daily tasks. I would use this opportunity to single out just a few of the most important activities that marked the first months of my mandate to a large extent.

Partly due to circumstance, in the first few months of its mandate, alongside its regular work related to providing the institution with the conditions required to operate and function, the new SANU leadership devoted the greatest attention to advancing our Academy’s international cooperation with academies across the region, but also in a broader European and global context, as well as improving SANU’s cooperation with international academic associations, universities and the like. Numerous contacts were established, multiple meetings were held, and we had several visits and encounters. So, it could be said that we renewed some important collaborations and improved some others, and – together with what we inherited from the previous period on this front – SANU can now boast of having very wide international cooperation and visibility.

Numerous activities that are in the focus of the attention and engagement of the leadership unfold constantly at the Academy, including the holding of numerous scientific gatherings, lectures, panel debates and roundtable events, exhibitions and concerts. All these activities are progressing at full steam, and let me note with satisfaction that they are also prepared in a very high-quality way and are well attended.

We are awaited in the year ahead by elections for new regular, correspondent and foreign members, so at this moment the Academy and its leadership are already somewhat turning – through a series of preparatory activities – towards that challenge and the important work that lies ahead of us.

Work is also continuing on capital national projects, such as the compiling of the SANU Dictionary and the Serbian Encyclopaedia, which require the constant attention and engagement of the SANU leadership and members. New volumes and books are expected soon, constant care of the Serbian language and script is taken etc.

SANU has responded to numerous existing challenges over the previous period. Its scientific summits have contributed to discussions regarding healthcare (during the Covid-19 pandemic) and energy sources (with reference to smallscale hydro power plants and mining practises), as well as declaring its position on Kosovo. Should the Academy continue down that path?

— I am able to state unreservedly that SANU has – with the work and activities it has carried out over the previous period, coupled with the values it promotes and the standards it applies – achieved significant results and become an exemplary, well-organised, functional institution and a centre of cultural, scientific, artistic and intellectual life generally in our neighbourhood. It is thus completely self-evident that the central pillar of the work programme of the new SANU leadership is “rational and realistically achievable continuity in the work and activities of the Academy, or in the managing of its affairs in accordance with the highest standards appropriate to our house”.

We are awaited in the year ahead by elections for new regular, correspondent and foreign members, so at this moment the Academy and its leadership are already somewhat turning – through a series of preparatory activities – towards that challenge and the important work that lies ahead of us

The answer to your question is therefore a simple ‘yes’: the Academy should, and is, continuing along the same path and responding to current challenges, with an additional essential clarification: that it does so wherever it possesses the required competences to address a given problem and wherever it is able to contribute realistically and constructively to resolving said problem.

The tragic shooting at Belgrade’s Vladislav Ribnikar Primary School has led to talk across Serbia about a crisis of education and the disruption of the system of values that largely develops during the school education process. What would you say about the current state of Serbia’s education system?

— The Academy devotes a lot of attention to education, as evidenced – among other things – by the fact that operating actively under its auspices are the SANU Board for Education and the SANU Board for Higher Education. In the context of your question, the best answer – to which I have nothing to add personally – was provided two years ago, when a large scientific conference was held at SANU under the title “Education: status, perspectives and role in the development of Serbia”.

This conference included the presentation of a voluminous publication containing key data points on the state of education in Serbia, as well as the defining of recommendations for improving education in Serbia, which were then submitted to the public and all relevant state bodies and national educational organisations and institutions, while the conference ‘Proceedings’, representing a collection of works presenting transcripts of authorised discussions from the conference, were also published. I would also mention the fact that multiple lectures and panel debates held at SANU in recent times have also addressed various relevant topics related to education, while several exhibitions covering the topic of education have been organised at the SANU Gallery of Science and Technology.

Returning to the exhibition of Popović’s paintings, it has been stated that half a million people saw his 1984 exhibition, which set a SANU Gallery record. At this time when there is plenty of talk of the need to redefine the model of culture, particularly among young people, what needs to be done to break that 1984 exhibition attendance record?

— It could probably be stated that SANU’s raison d’etre, at least to a certain extent, is identified with its permanent active participation in the ambitious endeavour of creating a modern, more humane and more tolerant society, within that framework of social and political awareness, and many view this as a natural and implied obligation of the Academy. Many people will probably also agree with the ascertain that our society needs a radical change to the predominant model of culture, if not “conceptualising a completely new world” – to paraphrase the words of my esteemed predecessor as SANU president, academic Vladimir S. Kostić.

I couldn’t say that I know for certain what needs to be done and how in this sense, but I am certain that this must be the goal, at least in principle, that we all strive to achieve, including the Academy. There is no guarantee that we will succeed in this endeavour, at least not in the foreseeable future, especially when it comes to breaking the SANU Gallery’s impressive attendance record that you mention. However, we could then at least state with a clear conscience that we have exerted efforts to leave behind a better world for our children than the one we inherited from our parents.

The post Radical Change to the Dominant Model of Culture Required appeared first on CorD Magazine.

Romanian Ambassador to Serbia Silvia Davidoiu speaks enthusiastically about the strengthening of economic cooperation between the two countries. Speaking in this interview for CorD Magazine, she says that she is looking forward to the next few years. “I expect the fruition of our ambitious, long-planned strategic connectivity projects, and the launching of new partnerships in the agriculture, IT and energy sectors”. And this cooperations is set to be crowned with the construction of a motorway that will reduce travel times between Belgrade and Timișoara to just one hour.

Your Excellency, as the Ambassador of a country that enjoys a high level of understanding and cooperation with Serbia at the political level, you often mention the various possibilities of advancing bilateral economic cooperation. Could you cite progress achieved in this area over the past two years?

– Economic cooperation has substantial potential to further our countries’ growth, having a direct impact on the wellbeing of our citizens and the substance of our bilateral relations. Moreover, it provides a comprehensive vision and additional means to further develop our ties.

One short answer to your question refers to the formal agreements on transport connectivity (e.g., the Timisoara-Belgrade highway/expressway), positive developments in bilateral trade, with a total value surpassing €2.6 billion in 2022, and new initiatives on energy security, aside from the Arad-Mokrin gas interconnector. Over the past two years, we have also diversified our presence on the Serbian market with additional domains (apart from industry) attracting Romanian entrepreneurs. As an example, during this period, Instant Factoring, a Romanian company in the fintech sector, has offered innovative and accessible financing solutions to Serbian SMEs. In April 2023, we also organised a business forum as a preliminary step towards new, regular B2B meetings between Romanian and Serbian companies (operating in the agriculture, energy, construction, industry, ITC and other sectors), aimed at strengthening bilateral economic relations through mutual investments and exchanges. We are committed to implementing all these projects and count on the Serbian side’s engagement in this regard. We are active in some of the economic areas that are most relevant to Serbia’s comprehensive security and sustainable development.

I look forward to the next few years. I expect the fruition of our ambitious, long-planned strategic connectivity projects, as well as the launch of new partnerships in agriculture, IT and energy – all sectors that are expanding in Romania, in Romania, possibly with an external expansion outlook. To give you an example, with my country currently exploring offshore gas reserves, implementing SMR technologies for nuclear power and capitalising the investments of top Romanian players in renewables, I expect my country to consolidate its position as a net energy provider for the region, including Serbia.

How do Romania and Serbia utilise the European Union funds that are provided through the IPA funding mechanism to improve cross-border cooperation?

– Cross-border cooperation between Romania and Serbia, with the support of IPA funds, has a long history of successful partnerships. In the 2014- 2020 programming period alone, 84 projects were contracted, representing 99.98% of the programme budget, with an absorption rate in excess of 95%. This impressive track record encourages us to believe that this IPA instrument will continue to forge new forms of collaboration between our countries.

Cross-border cooperation between Romania and Serbia, with the support of IPA funds, has a long history of successful partnerships. In the 2014-2020 programming period alone, 84 projects were contracted

As for the 2021-2027 period, the Interreg IPA Romania-Serbia Programme counwas the first of its type to be adopted by the European Commission. It focuses on promoting energy efficiency and renewable energy, reducing emissions of greenhouse gases and all forms of pollution, improving equal access to inclusive and quality services in education and health, enhancing the role of culture and sustainable tourism in furthering economic development, and increasing border management capacity. Climate and energy objectives receive 35% of the total allocation of the IPA Interreg Romania-Serbia Programme in the 2021-2027 cycle, as a direct contribution to the European Green Deal and the Green Agenda for the Western Balkans. Moreover, 52% of the Programme’s financial package is dedicated to projects of strategic importance and large infrastructure projects in the fields of healthcare, border management, risk management and emergency situation response.

We are seeing EU accession enthusiasm waning in Serbia, with many believing that this is due to the slowness of the integration process. Serbia has opened only slightly more than half of the accession negotiation chapters, despite the process having started more than a decade ago. It was almost two years ago that the last cluster was opened, which is also when you arrived in Serbia. Does such a tempo contradict the messages coming from the EU about a strong new commitment to the expansion of the bloc to encompass the Western Balkans?

– The EU’s commitment to the European perspective of the Western Balkans is firm and unabated, as reiterated in the European Commission President’s State of the Union Address on 13th September. However, the pace of negotiations depends entirely on candidate countries fulfilling the necessary criteria, particularly on the fundamentals.

EU accession is a two-way street, with regard to the EU’s capacity and willingness to accept new members benchand candidate countries’ consistent and measurable efforts to meet clearly- defined benchmarks. This has been a constant feature, regardless of the revisions of the process conducted over previous years.

On the one hand, the messages from the EU and its Member States clearly testify to the first track of this process being open and unobstructed for those Western Balkan and Eastern European countries that fulfil the accession criteria. That represents encouragement for these partners to internalise European values and principles in their entirety. Three more counwas tries were granted EU candidate status over the past year, including one from this region. The process is therefore advancing and the messages do match the actions.

On the other hand, the second track of European integration relates to their merit-based quality and it is thus the sole responsibility of candidates and potential candidates to determine the pace of reform. This implies that, by the time of accession, these countries should be strategically aligned with the EU and fully harmonised with the acquis, including when it comes to respect for fundamental rights and compliance with the EU’s Common Foreign and Security Policy. This is a key aspect that ensures the sustainability of political and economic partnerships with candidate and potential candidate countries, creating the conditions for a strengthened EU.

The statement of the President of the European Council regarding some countries of our region being possibly admitted into the EU in 2030 garnered a lot of negative comments in Brussels. Can we continue to take the enlargement process seriously without specific dates for the next round of enlargement?

– Charles Michel’s recent reference to the bloc’s readiness to accept new members is firstly a confirmation that enlargement remains a top priority for the EU over the coming years. It is also encouragement for candidates to increase the tempo of key reforms in order to secure solid and irreversible achievements that are in line with each partner’s relationship with the EU, in a dynamic and merit-based approach. It therefore represents an appeal for active and consistent engagement on all sides for the new enlargement of the EU. The President of the European Council was explicit in his speech in Bled about the imperative of ensuring the process remains credible. This is dependent on the EU’s openness to continue the enlargement process, but also on candidates’ fulfilment of necessary benchand marks. Again, the twin-track approach of advancing on the basis of merit remains in place, so there is consistency in messaging, just as we are on the same page in our understanding that Western Balkan (and Eastern European) states belong within the Union. Whether we manage to meet this mutual goal within a specific timeframe depends on all of us. We all need to take the process seriously in order to make EU integration happen and to keep it within the lines of a successful policy for the transformative effect on candidates and potential candidates and the bloc’s internal coherence and external appeal and action.

The messages from the EU and its Member States clearly testify to the first track of this process being open and unobstructed for those Western Balkan and Eastern European countries that fulfil the accession criteria

There are frequent calls coming from within the EU that encourage Serbia to change its stance on Kosovo, but also the EU Member States that have chosen not to recognise the unilaterally declared independence of Kosovo. Will Romania maintain its stance on this issue? — First, allow me to offer a few clarifications: we have not experienced any calls or pressure to change our stance regarding the status of Kosovo. The interactions we have had with third parties on this topic were more in line with evaluating our position in the context of our common renewed interest in firmly advancing the dialogue and reconciliation between Belgrade and Pristina. This is an approach that we welcome and encourage in an effort to dispel any misunderstanding.

Romania has a consistent and principled position on the non-recognition of Kosovo’s unilateral declaration of independence. We maintain a constructive approach on the issue, without prejudice to our national position. It is the primary responsibility of Belgrade and Pristina to reach a comprehensive and definitive solution. My country joined the efforts of the EU and other relevant actors in supporting the normalisation process through result-oriented negotiations between the two parties.

Romania reasserts its full support for the EU-mediated Political Dialogue, which represents the only adequate framework to normalise relations between Belgrade and Pristina. Against the backdrop of persistent tension, the two sides need to reengage in this framework to identify a solution that reflects their respective interests and contributes to the peace and stability of the region, with full respect for all agreements reached to date in the EU-facilitated dialogue process.

Are you satisfied with the status and treatment of members of the ethnic Romanian community in Serbia?

– Our respective national minorities have anchored our relations in a state of mutual respect and good neighbourliness, despite the changes experienced by our countries in recent history. They are also a source of constant enrichment for our historic ties and provide a reference point to the quality of the overall Romanian- Serbian dialogue. We cherish this outstanding bond and remain constructive, open and transparent in our support for the rights of those belonging to our ethnic minorities.

Romania’s constant interest in the preservation of the cultural ethos of its national minority, its mother tongue and religious identity, is consistent with European standards in this field, which are crucial for a democratic society.

Serbs in Romania enjoy all the rights stipulated by the relevant international documents: parliamentary representation, education, religious services and media in their native language. They are active in local administrations and provide an important contribution to our society. We would like to see all citizens that identify as Romanian in Serbia fully enjoying the rights provided by the national legislation and international documents signed by the state, and provided by requirements on the EU accession path.

Differences nonetheless persist, with Romanians in Eastern Serbia having restricted access to education, media and religious services in their mother tongue, as well as limited representation in local and national administration, in contrast to those residing in Vojvodina. These issues should be substantively tackled within the framework of the Romanian- Serbian Joint Intergovernmental Commission for National Minorities, the third protocol of which is currently being negotiated.

The post Support For Result-Oriented Dialogue appeared first on CorD Magazine.

Undoubtedly the greatest living screenwriter of television shows that have occupied our small screens for decades – Better Life, Hot Wind, Happy People etc. – is Siniša Pavić, who is today still with us at the age of 90. He remains sharp witted and is an interesting interlocutor. He recently told the author of this article that he no longer really watches television because there’s nothing to watch, but he never misses the shows of Jovan Memedović, because they present the only ’normal life’ that can be found on the box today.

I’ve chosen this Sinisa Pavić statement to introduce this interview with Jovan Memedović (63), the only television journalist in the country to have long since outgrown that role and become a kind of national treasure, because he’s placed his knowledge, work and efforts in the service of preserving nature and healthy living in Serbia. He has been explaining and demonstrating for years, or more precisely decades, that there can be no strong Serbia without strong rural communities, because Serbia dies when its villages die. His most beloved comments are those that come from viewers, because he is equally good at conversing with everyone.

“I’m only incapable of conversing with politicians. I encounter them, they want to tell me something, they sometimes insist that we meet up for a chat. However, I realised long ago that they come from a completely different world and that I don’t even know how to talk with them. It is similar with civic structures in smaller towns. Fortunately, I collaborate very well with everyone else. With the villagers I’m instantly a brother, a first cousin. And I try to help them in every way I can. The common man has been sadly neglected.”

Our eye no longer recognises the wilderness as an environment, but rather sees it as a danger. For city folk, the wilderness is already a potential danger

When he cruises around the country, he notices the negative consequences of our poor conduct in the natural world. And he loudly tries to draw attention to that, often going far beyond the producing of a TV natestimonial. Around a year ago, for example, he brought together volunteers to clean Lake Perućac. They packed bags with tons of rubbish and leftovers that had been dumped in and around this gem of the Drina river canyon.

He recently quit his job after a 30- year career at national public broadcaster Radio-Television of Serbia, but RTS continues to air his shows – the top-rated Sasvim Prirodno [Completely Natural] and the franchised game show The Chase. Apart from being widely renowned for his work, Memedović is also a favourite among the country’s ladies, just like the former most famous presenter of TV Belgrade, Miloje Mića Orlović (1934-2013). He is also loved by animals, which I witnessed myself when watching him pet his white husky in the garden of Vračar’s Monks Bar, where we sat and talked. Of everyone sitting in the garden, the dog only approached his master.

Jovan’s early career interests were largely determined by his Montenegrin origins, with his father hailing from the Drobnjak area of mount Durmitor and his mother originally from Cetinje. They both died relatively young, but they first prepared him well enough to handle life. He says that he first fell in love with nature as a child.

“As my parents are both from Montenegrin regions, I spent my summer holidays mostly by the sea, with my mother’s relatives in the Bay of Kotor, or on Durmitor. At the seaside I fished, while on the mountain I helped my relatives with all the household chores and their livestock. Those two interests later followed me throughout my entire life.”

He completed the 4th Belgrade Gymnasium grammar school and lower music school, competed in judo for many years, and graduated from the University of Belgrade Faculty of Sport and Physical Education. During his studies, he had a mandatory course that included spending ten days camping in nature, and it was then that he experienced his self-discovery. He discovered the life that he belongs to.

Television isn’t used in the function of serving an ordinary person who needs to find out something… it is overburdened by politics that literally pulverises everything in front of it

He classifies the upbringing he received at home as being in the ‘Montenegrin paternal style’, which means that his father was a natural man who was inclined to view life in a simplistic way. His father an economist and his mother was a psychologist, and together they attempted to ensure that he and his sister acquired and developed what would be referred to as ‘good taste for life’. His sister, Olga, spent more than 20 years working as head of the UN’s developing countries department in Vienna. A top expert, she earned her doctorate in economics in the Netherlands.

His father relocated from Montenegro to Belgrade in 1957 and bought a piece of land in the Dedinje neighbourhood that was being used to cultivate corn. There he built his house, and despite spending the next 30+ years living there, his strong accent didn’t change until his dying day.

“He didn’t devote much time to me; he wasn’t overly interested in my desires and didn’t respect them much. I got used to listening to him and not arguing with him much. We didn’t socialise. My father was much closer to my sister, and I was closer to my mother. I guess that’s how it goes. They were both quite conservative and led a patriarchal lifestyle. My mother insisted that I attend music school, that I learn English, but I wasn’t a particularly good pupil because I couldn’t calm myself in class; I could hardly wait for the class to end so I could run outside. In a practical sense, my childhood was very closely connected to nature, but under the great and strong influence of my mother – for which I’m very grateful to her.”

There isn’t a single job at TV Belgrade, or RTS, that he hasn’t done.

“For the first six years, I was a freelance journalist and even worked without being paid a dinar. As I began transferring from one job to another, my love for the work also grew. I initially wrote news, then presented shows of various profiles – informative, entertaining, sports – and was constantly considering ways to do things even better and with more quality. The only thing that I ignored was the fact that it was very difficult to live on a television salary. Television is an underutilised medium in our country. It is mainly used in the function of something that serves the government – regardless of whether it’s this or that government. Ordinary folk are completely neglected in terms of what they can hear and get from watching television. Television isn’t used in the function of serving an ordinary person who needs to find out something, to be useful to them in their life. Television isn’t capable of doing that. And I’m not referring only to the television programming of today, but rather going back 20-odd years, because it is overburdened by politics that literally pulverises everything in front of it. Unfortunately, television is most often in the hands of people who don’t know the work they need to do; they usually don’t even know what television is capable of, and then the programming largely boils down to banality and cheering something on. In our country we have cheerleader television.”

His dedication and addiction to creating something good on television has not abated for three full decades. He has received invitations from numerous individual political figures to join this or that party, which he has always declined.

We aren’t much of a quiz nation; we don’t make good quizzes and all our game shows are made by someone else and we then transpose and adapt them

“I nevertheless persevered because I dedicated myself to life issues, to human issues, because I gave my word to some other people, and not just politicians. My life and professional motto is to present people who deserve to be heard and seen by as many people as possible because of what they do and what they’ve dedicated themselves to doing; to work together with them to demonstrate concern for preserving the natural wealth and beauty of Serbia, but also to show how much we’re incapable of preserving and how ready we are to destroy what we’ve been gifted.”

He has had to expose himself to numerous hardships in order to present profound events and landscapes. For instance, in order to shoot a chamois goat in the Tara River Canyon, he spent five days freezing, hiking and climbing like a goat before managing to film it from a distance of 50 metres. Elsewhere in the world, these kinds of reports are created with an incomparably larger team and over incomparably longer periods. And only willing enthusiasts like Jovan are able to work ‘tooth and nail’ and create something with four days of shooting that requires a month’s worth of footage elsewhere in the world. And when events haven’t allowed him to hesitate, he has always been the first to react.

“While the floods of 2014 were happening, I spent more time on the ground than the rescue services. Not to anger them, they were obviously there too, but here’s an illustration. It was a forbidden zone; you couldn’t get through because everything was inundated. I was considering how to get to a village that had been submerged. We took a canoe and headed around the Sava to get to the other side, only to return to the Sava and head downstream to enter the village. And we saw what it looked like. We returned to the riverbank, where my fellow journalists were standing in colourful ankle boots with microphones in hand, announcing that the floodwaters were high and returning to their newsrooms. And we went by canoe, saw how it looked, filmed the situation and brought information back directly from the scene.”

The places where he’s been for his shows sometimes seem dangerous to the viewer, but he doesn’t see it that way.

“Our eye no longer recognises the wilderness as an environment, but rather sees it as a danger. For city folk, the wilderness is already a potential danger. Going somewhere where people still live like they did a hundred years ago isn’t dangerous – it’s just far away. There were some risky situations, but I always thought of that as being part of my duties. If I hadn’t considered that a given, would I have done this job for so many years?”

This interview revealed to me that TV shows about hunting and fishing are slowly losing their appeal, because hunters and trappers are being stamped out by environmentalists. When he did a show about hunting and fishing, he became synonymous with fishermen for millions of viewers, and he was the first to make a show about fishing in the half-century history of Television Belgrade, then RTS. It was also watched by those who don’t distinguish a rod and a hook from a bow and arrow.

“While working on the show The World of Hunting and Fishing, I realised that it is a very narrow topic and that, while I was catching fish, I was missing out on life stories that are much more useful to a wider audience. That’s why I decided on a new concept that enabled me to address different topics and provided an opportunity to travel through nature and peer into the very soul of places and the people who live there. That’s how the documentary-travel series Completely Natural emerged, which is still running today. While working on this project, I once again visited Siberia, the Far East, the Kola Peninsula, Norway, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Svalbard, and most European countries. Of course, most of the documentary stories I shot were in Serbia.”

Unfortunately, television is most often in the hands of people who don’t know the work they need to do and the programming largely boils down to banality and cheering something on. In our country we have cheerleader television

Jovan rides around on a bicycle or a motorcycle, spent a long time driving a pickup truck that was a gift from a sponsor, while a sponsor has now given his team a comfortable Subaru. However, in the show we often see him with a wooden staff, conquering areas that ‘even God forgot’, making it unavoidable to ask how many pairs of boots this travel writer has. What followed was a detailed description of various ‘exotic’ footwear without which he wouldn’t be able to hit the road.

“I have around a dozen, maybe more, with different ones for different occasions. Rubber boots are a must. I have waders up to the knee, two that reach the hip, and two that actually extend into waterproof overalls in which you can enter the water. I could open a shop not only because of the number of boots I have, but also because of their purpose. I’m great friends with people who sell equipment for the kind of exploring and travel that I do. And they call me whenever new items appear. If you’re not suitably dressed, if you don’t have appropriate footwear, the journey turns into a nightmare. The most important thing is what I wear as a first layer in contact with the body. It is obligatory for that to be wool – the most compact, finest, thinnest. Because it is thin, it naturally wears out quickly. The jackets I wear on my travels represent a special story. If they are too thick, you can’t get into the car with them on, you can’t walk in them because they soon become a heavy weight on your back and you start to sweat. There are now various heating aids – put a special insole in a shoe and it retains heat for ten hours.”

Prior to receiving an offer to host the popular game show The Chase, which is broadcast on RTS, this journalist already believed that he could do the job. He knew that a large part of the success of any quiz show depends on everyone who appears being true to themselves.

“I love The Chase, because in that game show I don’t pretend for a moment, I don’t play, but rather I’m just myself. And the most important thing for me is to relax the competitor, to approach them in the best possible way, to relieve them of any stage fright. We aren’t much of a quiz nation; we don’t make good quizzes and all our game shows are made by someone else and we then transpose and adapt them. Our people aren’t as fun in front of the camera as some other nations. Our people are careful not to do anything embarrassing and think only about what others will say. A knowledgeable interlocutor once explained to me that this is because we are mostly a depressed people. I didn’t verify that.”

When we were making arrangements for this interview, Jovan told me that he would be on holiday until 5th September. It is interesting to know what he means by a holiday.

“I even took a computer on my holiday and wrote. I realised after three days that I wouldn’t be able to rest. I closed the laptop and forgot about it. And I have a lot of work waiting for me.”

There is a funny story about a person who was under hypnosis as part of an experimental project to determine how much hypnosis can help people overcome addiction. The project was led by Dr Tihomir Kojić, while Jovan’s mother also participated in it as a psychologist. The project ran for several years, and at one point Dr Kojić permitted each member of the team to ask the patient under hypnosis whatever interested them. Jovan’s mother asked what would happen to her children, who were then still in school, and the hypnotised girl answered: ‘Your daughter will be a scientist, and your son will be very famous and popular’.

Everyone laughed at the time, and Jovan still smiles today as he recounts what was foretold by the hypnotised girl.

And he concludes this interview, with a great dose of satisfaction, by stating the following:

“The essence of the work I’ve done to date, and that I believe I’ll continue to do, is that it only differs slightly, or almost not at all, from how I live. Fate brought me to this job and I realised that I can always do it, because I would live like this even without a camera. I love this job and everything I do is a great pleasure for me. Who would go to Vienna to film garbage collectors otherwise? I’ve shot three shows at rubbish dumps this year alone, and I’ve never seen any other journalist doing that.”

Unlike all other previous My Life articles for CorD Magazine, this one was – at the request of Jovan Memedović himself – dedicated exclusively to the work of this television personality, without any mention of his private life.

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