UNSDCF Serbia – 2023 Joint Steering Committee – UNRC Opening Remarks

Dear Minister Miscevic, dear Marina Ivanovic, head of UN Dept at MFA , dear assistant ministers and state secretaries, dear UN colleagues. I am happy to be here this morning, and grateful for the presence of many of my UN colleagues, in this room and online (apologies on behalf of sick ones). It is an important annual moment in the collaboration between the United Nations team and the Government of Serbia. And I am grateful for the Ministry of EU integration and Ministry of Foreign Affairs to facilitate again such engagement. This is an excellent opportunity for us to reflect on our common priorities, on the challenges that we faced in 2023, and on how we can accelerate both the realisation of Agenda 2030, and the EU accession agenda. I will share 3 points today.

1. Let me highlight briefly the key features of our cooperation framework:

It is a 5 year framework running from 2021 to 2025, we are reporting today on the third year 2022. It has 3 strategic priorities: green transformation / human capital / HR, Gender and the RoL agenda. It has 8 outcomes, and you will hear today about some key results under each of these outcomes. The estimated budget for 5 years is Euro 320m - in 2023, our budget rise to Euro 85m, mostly due to an increase in Priority 1 on the green agenda. As of end of September we have spent about 73% of this budget, and we expect a full budget delivery for 2023.

2. What have been our priorities in 2023?

1. A strong effort to address the triple planetary crisis of climate change, pollution and biodiversity
2. Sustained support to multiple legislative, regulatory, policy and strategic frameworks, in almost all our mandated areas of work.
3. An increased focus on shaping solutions for the most vulnerable, across the agencies.
4. A significant shift to dedicated actions at the local level, supporting local self-government and regional development, linking the national agenda with local contexts.
5. As a 5th point, I would like to mention here that 2023 is the year HR75, and of course one of our collective efforts was to push forward a very wide agenda on Human Rights and Gender Equality for all. 

In terms of how we worked this year, I will highlight innovation, financing, building capacities and expanding partnership or joint programmes. I am sure colleagues will provide some good examples.

One important focus for us this year was also to support an integrated approach to complex challenges, in other words, multi sectoral/ multi ministerial strategies to advance the implementation of the food system strategy, of the climate change and biodiversity agenda, of mixed migration strategy, or of mental health. This requires a concerted and well coordinated input from different UN agencies, to mirror the involvement of multiple government agencies.

3. My 3rd point is on the good achievements that we have made together on the realisation of Agenda 2030, on the joint global initiatives that the Government of Serbia and the United Nations. To name only one: we are very proud that Serbia was one of 32 countries that submitted a renewed commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals at the UN General Assembly SDG summit in September. These commitments are very clear, grounded in some of the key transformations that the UN has been advocating for as big actions. This was a whole of government effort, and the result will pave the way the formulation of the national development plan, and anchor it in sustainability principles. This is our guiding agenda for 2024 and beyond.

And I want to recognise here the important work done by the statistics office on tracking progress related to SDGs and multiple EU related indicators.

I have been a bit more than 4 years here. Colleagues, I am so grateful of your contributions, efforts, dedication. It is never easy, but this room is full of people with good will, and great spirit. Thank you.

The United Nations team in Serbia continues to bring in an immense wealth of knowledge, norms, values and standards from all corners of our global institution in all areas of social, environmental and economic development. Every step we take on building a better future for all is a step away from conflict, suffering and loss. Together with our national counterparts, we will continue to advance the full realisation of Agenda 2030 with a people-centered approach to development, and to promote values of solidarity, unity, equity, and accelerate fundamental transformations in our economic and social models. Hvala.