Multilateral Economic Cooperation Department of the MFA is responsible for monitoring international and regional organizations dealing with various segments of international economic cooperation such as trade, finance, intellectual property rights, telecommunications, etc. Having in mind a whole range of international economic activities, the MFA covers this area in cooperation with the relevant departments of the Serbian Government responsible for monitoring the activities of specific international organizations.
Apart from universal international organizations, the Republic of Serbia is also active in organizations which aim to enhance regional economic cooperation, such as the Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation, the Danube Commission and EFTA agreement.
Given the increasing interaction and interdependence of national economies, multinational corporations and international organizations, international economic cooperation is gaining in importance while international financial institutions, primarily IMF, World Bank Group and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, have become an unavoidable partner even to the economically most developed countries of the world.
In order to get a bigger picture of the country’s position in the world economy, it is necessary to view the engagement of the Republic of Serbia in international organizations in parallel with the activities at the international and national level in the context of Serbia’s European integration process.
The Republic of Serbia strives to make use of its membership in these international organizations to promote its economy, secure financial support and solvency, and harmonize certain economic sectors with the most up-to-date international standards, particularly in the context of Serbia’s EU accession.

Overview of international organizations in the domain of multilateral cooperation where the Republic of Serbia holds membership or has observer status 

As the international continuator state of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro, and one of the SFRY successor states, the Republic of Serbia has regulated its membership in the majority of international organizations, particularly those of the UN system, by way of successor declarations made in the 2000-2003 period. Nevertheless, Serbia was asked to re-apply for admission to membership in certain international organizations.
-United Nations (1 November 2000)
-World Bank (1992, under the Succession Agreement of 2001)
-International Monetary Fund (IMF) (1992, Succession Agreement of 2001)
-World Meteorological Organization (WMO) (23 March 2001)
-European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) (19 January 2001)
-World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) (24 September 2001)
-Universal Postal Union (UPU) (18 June 2001)
-United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) (25 September 2001)
-United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) (20 December 2000)
-United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) (6 December 2000)
-World Health Organization (WHO) (28 November 2000)
-Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) (2 November 2001)
-International Labour Organization (ILO) (24 November 2000)
-International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) (31 October 2001)
-International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) (13 January 2001)
-International Maritime Organization (IMO) (11 December 2000)
-International Telecommunication Union (ITU) (18 June 2001)
-International Hydrographic Organization (IHO)
-International Organization for Migration (IOM)
-International Sugar Organization (ISO) (14 May 2002)
-Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) (10 November 2000)
-Council of Europe (CoE) (3 April 2003)
-Intergovernmental Organisation for International Carriage by Rail (OTIF) (1 August 2001)
-International Telecommunications Satellite Organization (ITSO)
-International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC)
-International Union of Railways (UIC)
-International Police Organization (INTERPOL)
-International Bureau of Weights and Measures (BIPM)
-International Organisation of Vine and Wine (IOV)
-International Organization of Legal Metrology (OIML)
-International Mobile Satellite Organization (IMSO)
-International Organization for Standardization (ISO)
-International Copper Study Group (ICSG)
-International Lead and Zinc Study Group (ILZSG)
-International Plant Genetic Resources Institute (IPGRI)
-International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRCRC)
-Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) (1891)
-International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA)
-Joint Aviation Authorities (JAA)
-European Conference of Transport Ministers (CEMT) (26 September 2001)
-International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB)
-European Organisation for the Safety of Air Navigation (EUROCONTROL)
-European Civil Aviation Conference (ECAC) (27 November 2002)
-European Conference of Postal and Telecommunications Administrations (CEPT)
-European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites (EUMETSAT)
-European Telecommunications Satellite Organization (Eutelsat) (29 June 2001)
-European Association of National Metrology Institutes (EUROMET)
-European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF)
-European Company for the Financing of Railroad Rolling Stock (EUROFIMA)
-Danube Commission (DC) (1948)
-International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River (ICPDR)
-Danube Tourist Commission
-Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC)

The Republic of Serbia is in the process of acceding to the World Trade Organization (WTO), with the prospect of acceding to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

The Republic of Serbia has had an observer status in the Non-Aligned Movement since 25 September 2001, in the African Union since 8 March 2005 and the International Organization of La Francophonie.

Besides its engagement in international intergovernmental organizations, the Republic of Serbia is involved in the work of numerous international NGOs, institutes, associations, etc. via its experts and institutions. It would be impossible to compile an exhaustive list of these organizations, in view of the fact that the Government or the National Assembly are not required to take a decision on participation in the work of these IOs. Moreover, the Republic of Serbia is also active in numerous programmes and initiatives within the EU.

The Republic of Serbia is a signatory party to many international agreements and conventions.

For further information regarding Serbia’s engagement within the EU institutions and security initiatives, please consult the relevant MFA web presentations concerning the EU Sector and the Security Policy Sector.