The Swedish government adopted a new seven-year strategy for reform collaboration between Sweden and the Western Balkans and Turkey yesterday. The main goal of the ongoing collaboration with the countries from the region is to strengthen the conditions for a democratic and inclusive development. The collaboration with the Western Balkans includes: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Serbia, and Montenegro.
As the Swedish Embassy in Skopje announced, through the new strategy, Sweden will intensify its work in the fields of human rights, democracy, rule of law, gender equality, inclusive economic development, environmental protection and fighting climate change. Also, the Swedish support will focus on peace-making and inclusive societies and will build broad and long-lasting relations between Sweden and the countries of the region.
–The development of the EU neighbourhood is of importance to Sweden and the European Union and it is in Sweden’s interest to continue with the cooperation with the Western Balkan countries in order to contribute to the democratic development, focusing on respecting human rights, gender equality, and rule of law, said Per Olsson Fridh, Minister for International Development Cooperation of Sweden.
As the Embassy indicates, Sweden is one of the biggest bilateral donors in the Western Balkan countries. The Swedish support complements the work of the EU in areas that are of priority for Sweden. According to the strategy, Sweden will continue to contribute to the EU support intended for the countries of the region in their reform agendas and in their EU approximation. Support for civil society is of key importance for the democratic development and for the Swedish support to the country, which is reflected in the strategy.
The strategy for reform collaboration is adopted by the Swedish government, but is implemented by the Swedish International Development Agency – Sida, the Swedish Institute, the “Folke Bernadotte” Academy and the Swedish Consulate General Istanbul.
– The financing of the new strategy for the period 2021-2027 amounts to 5.6 billion Swedish Krona, of which 5 billion Swedish Krona are intended for the Western Balkan countries, and 0.6 billion Swedish Krona for Turkey. In the Republic of North Macedonia, Sweden will initiate an inclusive process for operationalization of the new strategy. The Swedish Embassy will invite various stakeholders to participate in this process at the following email: ambassaden.skopje@gov.se, informs the Embassy of Sweden in Skopje.
Translation: N. Cvetkovska
