The Serbian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Mining and Energy, Zorana Mihajlović signed an agreement on the implementation of the project Promotion of Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency in Serbia with the German Organisation for International Cooperation. According to it, Germany is the most important partner of Serbia, having in mind not only trade but also overall bilateral relations.
“Partnership is the right word that reflects our relations, not only between the Ministry of Mining and Energy but also the Government of Serbia and the Government of Germany,” said Minister Mihajlović. “With investments, strategic partnerships, but also with the participation of citizens in the process of the energy transition, Serbia can be a country that is not only energy safer but also with a far healthier environment.”
Mrs Mihajlović also pointed out that greater use of renewable energy sources and improvement of energy efficiency is in the interest of the State, economy and citizens and that the Ministry will continue to implement projects in cooperation with all international partners.
Following this agreement, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz will visit Serbia soon.
“During his visit to Germany, the President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vučić agreed on the arrival of Chancellor Scholz and I am glad that he is coming to visit and I certainly expect good talks and understanding between the two statesmen,” recalled Mrs Mihajlović. “Germany is our biggest partner, the country with which we have the most intensive political and economic relations, the total trade exchange last year amounted to 6.5 billion euros, more than 75,000 people work in German companies in Serbia. When it comes to cooperation in the field of energy, the projects we have worked on together and are still working on are worth more than 1.5 billion euros.”
The German ambassador, Thomas Schieb said that the agreement is another chapter of cooperation with the Ministry of Mining and Energy of Serbia, in addition to the one that exists with KfW Bank in the field of improving energy efficiency.
“I am glad that we will have the opportunity to greet the new chancellor,” he said. “The meeting is a continuation of the talks that President Vučić had in Berlin. He will visit other countries in the region, which is a signal that the Western Balkans are the focus of the new government. Some of the topics will be the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina, regional cooperation, the Berlin Process, the war in Ukraine, but also overall bilateral relations, including energy security. Serbia, and above all, the Ministry of Mining and Energy, has achieved a lot in this area, especially when it comes to the new legislative framework, which is a clear sign that Serbia is committed to energy transition and the green agenda.”
