Germany is the largest bilateral donor and development partner of Serbia and has so far approved more than EUR 2.3 billion to us in the form of grants and favourable loans for the achievement of Serbia’s long-term development goals in accordance with European standards and values, the Minister for European Integration Jadranka Joksimović has said tonight.
She and the member of the Board of Directors of the German Development Bank Group (KfW Group) Christiane Laibach have spoken tonight at the reception in Belgrade, which was organized by the KfW Office in Serbia on the occasion of the visit of the high representative of this institution.
On behalf of the Government of Serbia, Joksimović has expressed gratitude for the overall assistance and support that Germany and the German Development Bank have been providing to Serbia for more than two decades.
In particular, she has emphasised numerous results achieved with German development aid, which are extremely important for the sustainable development of Serbia, progress in the European integration process, and, above all, for a better life of citizens, as stated in the press release of the Ministry of European Integration.
“Despite all the current geostrategic and social circumstances that are now a consequence of the war in Ukraine, which the European Union and the region are facing, I believe that it is necessary not only to preserve the existing but also to accelerate the dynamics of the European integration process and thereby additionally strengthen our joint capacities for facing great challenges for peace and stability,” Joksimović has stressed.
Laibach has stated that she is happy to have the opportunity to visit Serbia as a member of KfW Bank’s Board of Directors.
“Our cooperation covers the most important components of Serbia’s development, and I believe in the continuation of cooperation based on mutual trust. My visit is a sign of support for Serbia and I am grateful for the support of the Serbian Government, as well as for the appreciation of cooperation by Minister Jadranka Joksimović,” Laibach has said.
She has added that the upcoming intergovernmental negotiations between Serbia and Germany, at the end of the year, will be an opportunity to further expand cooperation.
It is pointed out in the announcement that the largest part of Germany’s development support to our country, in the previous 22 years, was provided by the German Development Bank.
Projects valued at EUR 1.3 billion, which are currently being implemented, include the energy sector and are aimed at encouraging energy efficiency and the use of renewable energy sources, protecting the environment by building complex systems for managing waste water and waste in general, as well as supporting small and medium-sized companies and the introduction of dual professional education in secondary schools and colleges.
It is also added that, in addition to financial cooperation projects, KfW actively participates with its favourable loans in regional initiatives through the Investment Framework for the Western Balkans in cooperation with the EU and other international financial institutions, primarily in the field of energy.
Source: Tanjug
