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The Government of the Republic of Serbia

In the service of citizens

Only economy, government can achieve results together

Kopaonik, 9 March 2022

Prime Minister Ana Brnabic stated today at the Kopaonik Business Forum that the biggest challenge for the new government will be "energy equation" – choosing between energy transition and energy sustainability, or finding a mid-road.

In the discussion, at the closing of the Forum, Brnabic pointed out that the question is whether we will be green and protect the environment more or be more energy independent, which is now a political decision.

Also, as she added, many countries are now thinking about whether to have greater energy independence and to have thermal power plants, or to depend on energy imports.

With this crisis and the war in Eastern Europe, we have seen that everything we knew about the energy transition is not so straightforward, because the EU countries that were leaders in it are slowly returning to coal, the Prime Minister pointed out.

She said that the energy choice is an equation with several unknowns, but one of them could be investing in green hydrogen, emphasising that the economy and the government are facing a crisis together and that only joint efforts can help achieve results and therefore she always follows the conclusions of the Forum, which are good guidelines for the government.

According to her, there are three key results of the government: the first is the development of innovations and new technologies, the second is our economic growth, which amounted to between 7.4 and 7.6 percent in 2021, and the third biggest result is what has been achieved in rule of law adopted by constitutional amendments.

When asked what is left for the new government to do, she said that it is certainly membership in the World Trade Organisation (WTO), because it is very important for the protection of our economy and its competitiveness.

If we were a member of the WTO, we would solve the introduction of quotas on steel introduced by the EU much better, she emphasised and added that membership in this organisation was not a priority because the state had to fight the pandemic.

The second thing is further reform of public companies, because they continue to drag our economy down, the Prime Minister warned.

Speaking about demographic problems, Brnabic reminded that the state gives great help to families with children and tries to improve the living conditions of citizens, but added that this does not only mean an increase in salaries, but also a better environment, quality of education and more.

She congratulated the Association of Economists of Serbia on another successfully organised Kopaonik Business Forum, and assessed that the gathering with its conclusions is important because we have been functioning in crisis management for years.

Answering the question whether Serbia will position itself in the current international crisis, Brnabic pointed out that our country, regardless of the terrible pressures, will defend its position, because it is well-grounded and relies on international law, justice and principles.

That position is extremely difficult, she pointed out and assessed that the arguments are exactly what protects small countries like Serbia.

I believe that if we try and define our strengths and potentials well, we can preserve our position and use the missed time, the Prime Minister said.