From 2007 to 2011, Đelić served as the Deputy Prime Minister of Serbia, as well as the Minister for Science and Technological Development from 2008 to 2011. During that period he was chief negotiator for Serbia's accession to the European Union. He was also the chief governor of Serbia in relation to the World Bank Group and Deputy Governor to the EBRD. In December 2011, he resigned from the governmental office, stating failure to get country's candidate status for EU accession.