Serbia
Serbia is a priority country of Switzerland’s transition cooperation with Eastern Europe. Serbia is supported in its transition process and reforms in line with European values and standards. Within this framework, SECO contributes jointly with its Serbian partners, amongst others, to the improvement of the macroeconomic and business environment, the fostering of a competitive private sector, sustainable urban development and the mitigation of climate change.
Country context
Growth is accelerating, driven by domestic consumption and public expenditure. The unemployment rate declines to below 10%, accompanied by an increase in average salaries. The economic outlook for Serbia is positive. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are the backbone of the Serbian economy, providing around 60% of total employment and generating 50% of value added in Serbia. However, SMEs still face an uneven playing field, as large companies and foreign investors often communicate directly with the government, facilitating access to government subsidies. Furthermore, significant progress has been made in developing the legal framework in climate and environment related matters. Additionally, Switzerland is commitment to support its stability and prosperous development in line with European values and standards, given that Serbia has been an EU candidate since 2012. SECO cooperation with Serbia started in 1991.
What are SECO’s objectives?
SECO and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) jointly define and implement the Swiss cooperation programme 2022-2025 in Serbia, which covers the following domains of intervention: democratic governance and civil society, economic development and employment, and sustainable energy and resilient cities. Furthermore, Switzerland will continue its migration partnership with Serbia. SECO’s focus is on:
From 2022 to 2025, a total of some CHF 96.5 million is foreseen for Swiss transition cooperation with Serbia, of which around CHF 42 million is from SECO.