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As the Agence Française de Développement (AFD) marks five years of activity in Serbia, AFD’s CEO Rémy Rioux, accompanied by French member of Parliament Liliane Tanguy and Ambassador Pierre Cochard, along with Arnaud Dauphin, AFD Director for Western Balkans met with the President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vučić, the Prime Minister, Miloš Vučevic, the Deputy Prime Minister for Finance Siniša Mali, the Deputy Prime Minister for Environment Irena Vujović, and the Minister of Mines and Energy, Dubravka Djedović, to celebrate achievements and reaffirm their shared commitment to building a sustainable, inclusive future.
Over two days in Belgrade, AFD was privileged to engage with key Serbian stakeholders to strengthen ties and discuss ongoing and future initiatives aligned with Serbia’s Green Agenda and European Union accession goals.
The visit was marked by two major agreements, highlighting the depth of collaboration between AFD and Serbia:
- A €75 million loan co-financed with the EBRD to modernize Serbia’s national solid waste management program, addressing environmental challenges and improving living conditions.
- A Memorandum of Understanding with the Ministry of Mining and Energy, supported by the 2050 Facility, to develop advanced modeling tools for Serbia’s energy transition and climate strategy. This project will be implemented by CIRED (International conference on electricity distribution).
The mission also included discussions with civil society leaders, reinforcing the importance of grassroots initiatives, and exchanges with the European Policy Center and other think tanks on Serbia's convergence path towards the EU.
The mission was also the opportunity for a reception celebrating AFD’s five years of presence in Serbia. Hosted by Ambassador Pierre Cochard, the event brought together government officials, local partners, and international stakeholders to reflect on AFD Group’s contributions, with over €1.5 billion committed to projects in the Western Balkans since 2019. This was also the opportunity for the agency to thank its local partners for their trust and encourage them in their path toward a more sustainable world.
Rémy Rioux emphasized the spirit of partnership driving AFD’s work: "Together with our Serbian partners, we have built bridges between ideas, people, and institutions, fostering meaningful change for a sustainable future in the Serbian path towards European convergence. These five years of collaboration represent the beginning of an even stronger shared journey."
AFD’s initiatives in Serbia span vital sectors such as urban mobility, waste management, energy transition, and inclusive growth. By aligning efforts with EU standards and the Paris Agreement, AFD supports Serbia in addressing critical development challenges while ensuring economic and social resilience.
2025 will open even more opportunities to work together in the regional connectivity, digital, and water sectors. AFD stands by the people of Serbia for the country's EU integration of the country and its sustainable development trajectory.
Press contact:
Marija Stankovic – stankovicm@afd.fr
Gabriel Jacquet – jacquetg@afd.fr