The Regional Rural Development Standing Working Group (SWG), as a platform for networking and regional co- operation, has been established during the Agricultural Policy Forum 2005 (“Rural Development Opportunities for Co-operation in the SEE”) held in Macedonia and Serbia in June 2005.
The Regional Rural Development Standing Working Group (SWG) was founded on the basis of a common wish to establish an organization for sustainable rural development in SEE. It consists of representatives of governmental institutions responsible for agriculture and rural development in respective countries and territories.
With the International Agreement in March 2009, the SWG is registered as an International Intergovernmental Organization, with its managing and coordinative body – SWG Head Office/ Secretariat, based in Skopje, Macedonia. On September 7th 2009, the Law on Ratification of the SWG Agreement has been decisively completed by the Parliament of the Republic of Macedonia.
