The Swedish government has yesterday decided on a new seven-year-long strategy for Sweden’s reform cooperation with the Western Balkans and Turkey. The continued collaboration with the countries in the region shall strengthen the conditions for a democratic and inclusive development. The collaboration with the Western Balkans includes Albania, Bosnia and Hercegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia.
With the new strategy, Sweden will intensify its efforts to work with human rights, democracy, rule of law, gender equality, inclusive economic development and environment and climate change. The Swedish support shall also focus on peaceful and inclusive societies, as well as build broad and long-term relations between Sweden and the countries in the region.
”The development in EU’s neighbourhood is of importance to Sweden and the EU. It is in the interest of Sweden to continue to collaborate with the countries of the Western Balkans in order to contribute to a democratic development with human rights, gender equality and the rule of law in focus”; says Per Olsson Fridh, Minister for International Development Cooperation. Sweden is one of the biggest bilateral donors to the countries in the Western Balkan region. The Swedish support complements the work of the EU in areas which are prioritised by Sweden. According to the strategy, Sweden shall also continue to contribute to the EU’s support to the countries’ work with the reform agenda and for their EU approximation. Support to the civil society is central for a democratic development and is also important for Sweden’s support to all the countries within the strategy.
The strategy for reform cooperation is decided by the Swedish government but will be implemented by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), the Swedish Institute, the Folke Bernadotte Academy and the Consulate General of Sweden in Istanbul.
The funding for the new strategy for 2021-2027 is 5.6 billion SEK in total, split into 5 billion SEK for Western Balkan and 0.6 MSEK for Turkey.
In the Republic of North Macedonia, Sweden will now initiate an inclusive process to operationalise the new strategy. Embassy of Sweden will invite stakeholders to take part in this process. E-mail: ambassaden.skopje@gov.se
Link to the strategy can be found here:
