2

What is The Forum Serbia Germany?

• Association of individuals, organizations and institutions from Serbia and Germany Form

• Development and promotion of Serbian-German relations in the fields of politics, economy, culture, education and scienceAim

• Different parts of the Serbian & German societies have the opportunity intensively to exchange particularly important topics and thus provide support to Serbia in preparation for assuming the role of a reliable EU partner

Mission

3

Why «FORUM»?

Serbian-German relations in the past have been substantial and often complex. Always depended on the date of the political and social situation in Serbia and Germany, oscillating from a variety of valuables and intertwining of the two cultures to misunderstandings, conflicts and wars.

Today there is almost no relationship between two countries in Europe which is so filled with conflicting interpretations.

4

Serbia vs Germany

• „emotional and psychological" detachment • sense of "undeserved abandonment“Society

• Germany: the most important Serbian economy & political partner• Biggest donor to Serbia • German companies amongst largest investors in Serbia, employing +25.000

workers• Serbian exports to Germany are in the value of 1,3 biilion EUR, 1st rank

Economy

• Serbian citizens show great ethnical distance towards Germans• However, the majority of citizens would prefer to live, work or

study in GermanyCitizens

5

Germany vs Serbia

• Serbia appears for Germans as territory with quality and capacity in the European cultural area, nourishing and emphasizing its otherness: Byzantine heritage and proximity of oriental cultural matrices and systems

Society

• Serbian cultural duality and ambiguity, althought attractive for Germans, are incomprehensible, with a tendency to see in Serbia an unreliable and unstable future EU member

Mutual understanding

• Communication took place primarily in the political arena: creation of political stability and rehabilitation of the ex-YU war consequences

• Priority topics: stability and establishment of wider support for Serbia's EU accession

Communications

6

Why «FORUM»?

Serbs and Germans are a bit familiar, although considered to be very close to each other because they are history several times fatefully merged

Future ties between two nations will depend to a large extent on whether countries will be able to remove mutual misunderstandings in favor of understanding its cultural, economic and national characteristics

7

How to establish a Dialogue?

Development of network of experts, institutions and

organizations to collaborate intensively on improving mutual

relations

Formal & informal meetings of decision makers in Serbia &

Germany, providing a dialogue on most relevant topics in EU

integration process

Cultural exchange, promotion of economic projects, charity events. Particular attention: young people, trainings, promotion of scholarship

programs, scientific research cooperation, media initiatives

8

Forum kick-off in Belgrade

Bilateral meeting Schroeder-Vucic Ceremonial Forum Launch Serbian decision makers on the inauguration ceremony

The Council Members Ruzica Djindjic Gerhard Schroeder- guest of honour

9

Forum kick-off in Berlin

Signing in the book of DGAP honorary members German Minister of FA – WA SteinmeierSerbian PM Alexander Vucic

on the Forum inauguration

DGAP is located in ex-YU Embassz where Ivo Andric was located

250+ people were present on the panel discussion

10

Who participates in The «FORUM»?

Honorary Members

Council of Experts

The Board of Directors

Friends of the Forum

11

The Honorary Members

Ms Ružica Djinđić President of the Dr Zoran

Đinđić Foundation

Mr Philipp Mißfelder foreign rep. of the fraction

CDU/CSU

Mr Aleksandar Vučić Prime Minister of the Republic

of Serbia

Mr Gernot Erler President of SE Society, German foreign policy

coordinator

H.E. Heinz Wilhelm German Ambassador

in Serbia

12

The Councils of Experts

13

The Board of Directors

Marko Čadež

Jelena Volić Hellbusch

Bojan Predojević

Daniela Schily

Nikola Janković

Nemanja Žugić

14

Visit us in Belgrade

Str. Diplomatska Kolonija 22, 11000 Belgrade +381 11 2641 369, +381 11 3676 501/502/503office@forumsn.orgforumsrbijanemacka.org

15

APPENDIX

Serbia at a Glance Key Facts·Form of Government: Parliamentary Republic·Territory: 88,361 sq. km ·Capital: Belgrade·Population: 7.1 million(1,2)

·GDP per capita: EUR 4,453(1,2)

·Nominal GDP: EUR 31.98 billion(1,2) ·Currency: Serbian Dinar (RSD)·Credit ratings: S&P: BB-/Negative

Fitch: B+/Stable

Moody’s: B1/Stable

VilniusEU Non-EU

SERBIA

Nis

Kragujevac

Novi Sad

Belgrade

EU membership application

Stabilisation andAssociation Agreement with the EU

Response tothe European Commission’sQuestionnaire

20082006 2009 20112008 2009 2011 Mar 2012

EU candidate status awarded

July 2012

Formation of the Government after general elections held in May

Jan 2014

Serbia officially started EU accession process

Mar 2014

Early parliamentary elections held

Apr 2014

The new Government led by PM Vucic in place

Recent Milestones and Progress to EU accession

2

New Government Agenda – reforms, growth, FDIs

New legislation: Labor, Bankruptcy, Privatization,

Construction

Comprehensive fight against corruption &

grey economy

On-going EU accession

negotiations, full membership

expected in 2020

Improvement of the business climate as one of key pillars

Economic development, fiscal

consolidation

Generous incentives, focus on additional

jobs

3

18

Thank youDankeХвала