Additional Context: Since the fall of former Yugoslav President Slobodan Milošević in 2000, Serbia has received over $1 billion in U.S. assistance aimed at stimulating economic growth, strengthening the rule of law, and promoting good governance. Notably, most of this funding went directly to the development of Serbian state institutions and infrastructure–from court reforms to environmental projects–rather than to NGOs. But by casting independent activists as potential “foreign agents” amid the U.S. withdrawal, experts note that Serbia’s government may be using this moment to tighten its grip on the country’s already marginalized civil society sector.

Those targeted included Civic Initiatives, the Centre for Research, Transparency and Accountability (CRTA), the Centre for Practical Policy and the Trag Foundation. Civic Initiatives, CRTA and the Trag Foundation have partnered with Western donors in the past to promote free and fair elections and democratic developments across the region.

Devex Researcher Note: IIEA stated that Serbia received $800 million since 2000 in U.S. assistance as per now defunct USAID public-facing resources. Other sources including ForeignAssistance.gov show that the number may be over $1 billion. According to the Government of Serbia in 2024, the country received $1.2 billion in foreign assistance with $937 million specifically for development programs.

Source: IIEA