Serbia is now clearly pro-European

Fifteen years ago, on 12 March 2003 Serbian reform-oriented Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic was killed in Belgrade. His name now holds a German economic stock exchange programme for Western Balkan countries.

Deutsche Welle: Fifteen years of Zoran Djindjic's murder dawned Monday. You were then very active in the region of Serbia and the Western Balkans. What did you think of those moments?

Michael Harris: I remember very well that day, because we were with then Economy Minister Wolfgang Clement in Romania. News of Zoran Djindjic's murder arrived that moment. We were all shocked and absolutely shocked, all German delegations and our Romanian hosts, because we had high hopes at Serbia's new start. Djindjic symbolized this new beginning, especially with close ties to Germany. We were clear that, at least in the background of this tragic event, at least we could continue and strengthen his legacy of strengthening German-Serbian relations, not just economic ones.

After that, you set up the stock exchange program. What was the impulse to name Zoran Djindjic?

Zoran Djindjic's name stood for a very close relationship between Serbia and Germany. He did not only strengthen economic ties (now our theme), but he also had this strong cultural connection because of his study of philosophy and German philosophy. So it was a much broader connection to the topic of education, so we had to focus on the topic of education, schooling and German-Serbian relations. We started the program as a German-Serbian library project. After two or three years, it became clear to us that we must expand to the region. Because as important as bilateral relations is the strengthening of ties within the region, and this has proved very well since we share the entire Western Balkan region in this programme.

If you look back at the work of this program for 15 years, what impulses have emerged from this project, and where will further steps continue?

Maybe once we mention some numbers: We've had about 16,000 scholarship applications in these years for this programme, we have 700 participants from around the region who have made long-term practices in German enterprises, 150 firms that have participated in it. I believe strengthening economic relations is a very pragmatic result. Most stock exchanges have returned to the region. This is important, because the programme should not be a Brain-drain programme, but strengthen bilateral competencies and ties in the region. We have the Alumni network, the strengthening of connections within the region to the new generation, even from well-qualified and well-placed people in their countries. Then it's no matter how pathetic this sounds, even for the transmission of values from Germany to the region and the vice versa. I think we've done very well with the support of GIZ and the Federal Ministry for Economic Co-operation, I think these are the best results of this programme.

Deutsche Welle has always had bursists in the past and still some of them work for Deutsche Welle today. How do you see the element of civil society and media in this regional co-operation and connection with Germany?

This is of course very important and I am happy that Deutsche Welle co-operates. Economic ties are very important, but the mediation of the idea, which is behind this, and of course the media play a central role here. But even the transformation of values of a free media culture is something that is very important in this programme, because at this point we still have many problems in the region. So: The more media on both sides are connected, the better for the program.

What's left of Zoran Djindjic's dying wish in Serbia?

I believe Zoran Djindjic's most important dying wish is Serbia headed towards a clearly proeuropian course. It is now ready to be packaged in Serbia for the country to become part of the European Union, even with values behind it, but also with rules. That is the most important remaining by Zoran Djindjic. But also strengthening bilateral relationships. Economically viewed, we have an apparent increase in the readiness for German ventures to invest in Serbia, as a whole, we have a positive economic development. But if I look at the problems in the region, there is much to do about the key word „regional co-operation”, much to do in the direction of <x2The integration of youth into the country's development”, because we have a tendency of migration. There is still much to do in terms of freedom of the press, that is, to protect press freedom from intentional intervention: So there are still many challenges ahead of us.

How will this reflect in the future on the stock exchange programme?

We definitely want to expand it, and we have the approval of the Ministry for Development that will remain engaged. I guess, basically, the program won't change anything, the model is successful. But we will strengthen more Alumni network, include more elements of civil society engagement so that it does not remain just an economic programme. But on its basis this programme will continue as it is.

Is there any special on this anniversary?

Here at the end of the month in Berlin we will have a ceremony, which will take place in „Euref-Campus”. Because as an economy, we want to show new prospects for economic co-operation. The key words in this direction are energy efficiency, digitization, etc. In late September, we have an economic conference in Serbia where the region will be involved.

Do you have the impression that even the Serbian government supports your project in the spirit of Zoran Djindjic?

We have a very, very consistent co-operation with the Serbian government, where the main partner is certainly Zoran Djindjic Foundation under the direction of Ruzica Djindjic, the widow of Zoran Djindjic. As we said, there are no doubts about Serbia's pro-European orientation, but of course we have points that we criticize, which I've already expressed.

(Michael Harms is director of the German Economics Commission for the East and co-founder of the German Economic Stock Exchange programme for Western Balkan countries named after Zoran Djindjic) / DW