Macron's Serbia Visit to Focus on Economic Ties and AI Collaboration

Emmanuel Macron, the French President, is set to embark on a diplomatic journey to Serbia from August 29 to 30, 2024. This visit aims to strengthen economic bonds and explore Serbia's expanding role in the artificial intelligence (AI) sector.

Serbia, a landlocked country in Southeastern Europe with a population of approximately 7 million, has emerged as a regional leader in AI research. The nation's capital, Belgrade, one of Europe's oldest continuously inhabited cities, hosts several AI research centers and institutes. Serbia's strong tradition in mathematics and computer science education has contributed to its rapid growth in the AI sector.

During his visit, Macron will engage in discussions with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic. Their talks will focus on enhancing economic ties and addressing the implications of AI development.

A key topic of discussion will be Serbia's upcoming chairmanship of the Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence (GPAI) in 2025. This initiative, established in 2020 by Macron and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, aims to guide the responsible development and use of AI. Serbia's leadership in this role underscores its growing importance in the global AI landscape.

The visit also comes in the wake of a significant agreement signed in July 2024 between Serbia and the European Union. This deal grants the EU access to raw materials mined in Serbia, including copper and lithium, further strengthening economic ties between Serbia and EU member states.

"The two leaders will also work on the stakes at play from artificial intelligence, given that Serbia will chair the Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence and France will host an AI Action Summit in 2025."

France, a leading country in AI research and development in Europe, is set to host an AI Action Summit in 2025. This event, coupled with Serbia's GPAI chairmanship, highlights the increasing collaboration between the two nations in the field of AI.

As a candidate for European Union membership, Serbia's growing prominence in the AI sector and its recent raw materials agreement with the EU demonstrate its efforts to align with European initiatives and standards.

This diplomatic engagement between Macron and Vucic, both in office since 2017, represents a significant step in fostering closer ties between France and Serbia, particularly in the rapidly evolving field of artificial intelligence.