Its existence was known before Jörg Heskens (49), a German official, who accompanies the President of Serbia on numerous occasions Aleksandar Vučić. Even Vučić told several times that he calls him "my Swaba".
But it was only recently that the investigation of the magazine Spiegel and the Belgrade editorial office of BIRN brought insight into the internal papers of the German Ministry of Economy. Heskens actually works for the German Organization for International Cooperation (GIZ), which in turn works for the German Government, writes DW.
Officially, Heskens was hired in Belgrade as a "long-term advisor for the administrative partnership of the Federal Ministry of Economy and Energy and the Serbian Presidency".
This is what the German Ministry of Economy states in its response to DW.
The "partnership" on "industrial strategy" with the Presidency was signed in August 2020, which Spiegel described as Germany's "cold interest" in reaching Serbia of lithium.
However, it is not strange that only one ministry cooperates with the presidency on Andrić's crown - which has no competence in economic policy. It is also interesting that Berlin apparently does not have a similar arrangement with any other country in the world.
BIRN: Who is the German who calls Vučić "my wild Serb" and longs for Serbian lithium
"There are no other similar projects"
The Ministry of Economy in its answers to DW admittedly states that administrative partnerships are "an instrument of the Ministry used in various partner countries", following the example of the so-called twinning projects of the EU, especially in countries aspiring to membership.
With them, the Ministry clarifies, some experts are integrated in the long-term institutions on the spot in order to advise. Serbia also has such partnerships with the EU.
However, on the specific question of where, in the field of economy, the German Ministry has an arrangement similar to the one Heskens has in mind, the Ministry writes that the Government is in charge of coordinating twinning projects, but:
"Currently, apart from the administrative partnership in Serbia, there are no other similar projects for which the Ministry is competent in a leading role, and in which German long-term advisers are engaged."
GIZ does not give specific answers either, but refers to the Ministry of Economy.
Another ministry, the one for economic cooperation and development, which closely cooperates with GIZ, says that they are not in charge of Heskens and that they do not finance anything similar anywhere in the world.
They finance, however, "capacity-building initiatives in partner countries - for example, in areas such as the application of environmental standards." Advisors from the Ministry's expert departments sometimes play a role in these endeavors.
Photo: Djordje DjokovicProtests against Rio Tinto
Heskens through three governments
According to Spiegel, in 2009, Heskens became an advisor at GIZ Subotica, then at the Ministry of Economy in Belgrade, before moving to Vučić's presidency, where he also has an office.
His involvement with Vučić lasted through three German governments, while the department of economy was managed by the Christian Democrat Peter Altmeier, the Green Robert Habeck, and now the Christian Democrat Katerina Reiche.
Spiegel states that Heskens had "great success" in the form of German investments in Serbia, especially in the field of auto industry suppliers. According to the magazine, Serbia "lures them with subsidies, exemption from customs duties and cheap labor with a median salary of 780 euros per month."
But Heskens' big target was reportedly the valley's lithium Cores. The Ministry's internal papers reveal Germany's interest in "white gold", but it was never a secret. In July 2024, the previous chancellor, Olaf Solz, signed a corresponding memorandum with Vučić - before the protests in Serbia intensified and the matter was put on ice again.
Is Serbian lithium or access to the most powerful man in Serbia so special for political Berlin? And does Germany really not have a similar arrangement in any other country?
DW also addressed the representatives of all parties from the Economic Committee of the German Bundestag to ask for their opinion on Heskens' involvement and whether they are aware of similar arrangements somewhere.
Unknown similar case
Sebastian Roloff, an MP of the ruling Social Democrats, says he is not aware of whether the government is sending similar advisors elsewhere. Also, he does not know what Heskens' results are in Belgrade, but he would like to hear some answers from the Ministry of Economy, considering that the article in Spiegel raises questions about Germany's cooperation with an "autocrat".
"In principle, partnership should not be rejected if two governments, that is, states, agree on a partnership and shape it concretely together," says Roloff.
His colleague from the board, Boris Mijatović, now an MP of the opposition Greens, is far more critical. He says that Germany sends advisers when it comes to development cooperation, peace missions and other political cooperation.
"But, as far as I know, individual counseling of individual office bearers is neither a rule nor desirable," Mijatović states in a written response.
"At least I'm not aware of a case where a second-in-command at the behest of a German organization like GIZ cooperates so closely on a personal level with any official, as is the case with Jergo Heskens and Aleksandar Vučić."
Photo: AP Photo/Darko VojinovicFear of lithium: Protest in Šabac - July 30, 2024.
"Legitimate" protests in Serbia
According to Mijatović, Heskens' role can be interpreted as "the legitimization of a head of state who rules autocratically." He thinks that Germany needs to show through the work of its staff that it really stands for the rule of law, democracy and transparency.
"After all, that's what the protesters in Serbia are looking for - they're fed up with corruption in the state. I don't see that the German government has a clear line on all these issues. And Mr. Heskens doesn't contribute to that work in Serbia either," Mijatović added to DW.
Malte Kaufman, a member of parliament for the opposition Alternative for Germany (AfD), says it is "unusual" for Germany to fund advisers to foreign prime ministers or presidents. AfD, he added, adheres to the principle of non-interference in the affairs of other countries.
Serbia, he says, is important in the Western Balkans, so Germany's interest is stability and the rule of law, while the current peaceful mass protests are "legitimate". "We in the AfD are exemplary democrats and we will wait for the next Serbian parliamentary elections without interfering in internal affairs," Kaufman told DW.
The ruling Christian Democrats and the opposition Left did not respond by the time this article was published.
"Mutual interests"
Heskens and Vučić did not respond to an inquiry by SPIEGEL and BIRN earlier. But, Vučić never hid his opinion about Heskens - not even the fact that he is there by agreement with the German authorities.
"Proud of everything Jörg Heskens has done for Serbia in bringing in foreign investors," Vučić wrote on Instagram in January 2025 after "with representatives of the German government" he signed a new contract on Heskens' "support." "I am very happy about that," Vučić wrote at the time.
Photo: buducnostsrbijeav/InstagramVučić and Heskens (left) at the signing of the contract with Ambassador Anke Konrad
The satisfaction, apparently, is mutual. When asked by DW whose interests Heskens represents - German or Serbian - the Ministry of Economy in Berlin replied: "Cooperation is in mutual interest."
"On the German side, above all, small and medium-sized companies profit from the knowledge and contacts that the long-term advisor has on site. On the other hand, their arrival creates jobs in Serbia," they add in the answer.
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