serbia-montenegro.usaid.gov
Mission Director: Michael T. Harvey
Serbia
Knez Milosa 50
11000 Belgrade, Serbia
Telephone: (381-11) 361-9344
Fax: (381-11) 361-8267
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Overview
USAID programs in Serbia, operating under a five-year approved strategy (2006-2011), support the U.S. foreign policy objective of seeing the country complete its transition to a democratic, prosperous state, and moving rapidly toward European Union (EU) membership. Serbia’s positive transition to a market-oriented, consolidated democracy is essential for facilitating the country’s full integration into Europe and for maintaining peace and stability in the Balkans.
From 2001 to 2008, nearly $670 million in U.S. assistance was provided to Serbia, of which approximately 80 percent was managed by USAID. This investment by the American people helped Serbian local governments to be more responsive to their citizens; municipalities to attract significant investments by becoming more business-friendly; implement reforms to produce the highest growth in the region for Serbia’s banking sector; modernize commercial courts to become more efficient and transparent; and, make independent media more professional and financially viable. USAID programs continue to promote democratic governance and sustained economic growth while building the capacity of key counterparts at the national and local levels to move the country toward lasting political and economic stability. At the same time, USAID is helping Serbian companies to be more competitive in global and regional markets.
Since the May 2008 victory of a pro-European coalition government, Serbia has demonstrated its determination to move toward EU membership. However, it still faces a number of domestic and international challenges, including accelerating a stalled reform agenda while mitigating the impact of the global financial crisis on Serbia; taking the necessary steps to combat corruption; responsibly expressing the country’s opposition to Kosovo’s independence; and, reforming the electoral system which is not yet fully transparent nor accountable to citizens and allows political parties to wield excessive power over public life and business development.
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