South Eastern Europe is on its way up and making great strides as a region, already recording considerable successes in the course of democratisation and economic change. Political stability has not been established everywhere, though, and unemployment and poverty still prevail in many places.

Creating jobs

This is why Austrian Development Cooperation (ADC) has set its sights on generating employment and income in the region. Promoting private sector development aims at supporting sustainable economic growth in South Eastern Europe.

Harnessing economic synergies

In its activities in the region, ADC harnesses synergies with Austrian private sector and industry and acts in close concert with other local development institutions. Regional cooperation approaches also make up an important component of ADC’s strategy in South Eastern Europe. The main international coordinating framework for regional projects is the successor to the Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe, the Regional Co-operation Council run by the competent secretariat in Sarajevo.

Modernising education and strengthening civil society

Besides promoting entrepreneurs, Austrian Development Cooperation devotes particular attention to mobilising youth. ADC projects and programmes assist in modernising the educational systems, bringing higher education and vocational training into line with European standards and labour market requirements.

Another priority of Austrian Development Cooperation is advancing rule of law and civil society as well as measures to combat human trafficking.

Austrian Development Cooperation (ADC) concentrates in South Eastern Europe on the priority countries Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Kosovo and Moldova.