For 2012, Swedish assistance to Serbia amounts to 110 million SEK (approximately € 12 million). Large programmes include, inter alia, a pollution reduction initiative in the Danube river, support for implementing the National Strategy for Improving the Position of Roma and a judicial reform programme.
The current cooperation strategy runs from 2009 to 2012, and interventions are focused on the following sectors• Democratic governance and human rights (including gender equality and security sector reform)• Natural resources and the environment
Within democratic governance support is given to enhance the democratic dialogue between the state and the citizens and increase citizen participation in governmental administration. The aim is to support development of a democratic, transparent and efficient public administration. Further, building capacity for utilising EU’s pre-accession assistance funds (IPA) and measures against corruption are supported. Major support in this area is for public administration reform within several ministries, support for development of national statistics, and work with local authorities, with a geographical concentration to Southern Serbia.
Human rights and gender equality are promoted by working with both governmental institutions and civil society. Sweden supports minority rights and women’s equal opportunities, and civil society’s role to watchdog these and other fundamental human rights, especially considering vulnerable groups like Roma and LGBT-persons. Sweden is a lead donor for gender equality and Roma integration, where we support large projects in cooperation with the central government.
Security Sector Reform (SSR) is an integrated part of all Swedish development assistance to Serbia, as it is vital for the development of the country and for its EU-approximation. Support is given to increase the oversight of the armed forces and law enforcement and to increase the public’s access to justice. This is done through cooperation with inter alia the police and judiciary, and additional focus lies on anti-corruption and gender equality. Sweden is a major contributor for reforms in the Ministry of Justice as well as Ministry of Interior, and one central contribution is the work with the Serbian Parliament to introduce E-government.
As for the environment, support is given in the areas of environmental infrastructure for waste management and energy efficiency in this area. Support is given both to ministries, governmental institutions and to civil society to enhance the dialogue amongst these actors. Sweden is a lead donor in the sector of environment, working closely with the Ministry of Mining, Environment and Spatial Planning.
Swedish authorities play an important role in the implementation of Swedish cooperation with Serbia, such as Statistics Sweden, Swedish National Police Board, Swedish Environmental Protection Agency, KemI, and Swedish Association Local Authorities and Regions. Other major implementing partners are the World Bank, OSCE and UNDP. Civil Society Support is channelled through Swedish NGOs such as Kvinna till Kvinna, Civil Rights Defenders and Olof Palme International Center. In accordance with the Paris declaration on aid effectiveness (2005), the aims and objectives of the assistance is decided upon in alignment with Serbia’s own priorities and needs assessments.