SERBIA on its European path

#EUenlargement

Last updated: 10/2023

Trade & € Economic &
investment Investment Plan
Key milestones
● T he EU is Serbia’s biggest trading partner. Launched in 2020, the Economic and
DEC E M BE R 2009 ● The EU’s Foreign Direct Investment in Investment Plan (EIP) for the Western Balkans
Serbia reached €1.5 billion in 2022. will mobilise up to €30 billion in cooperation
Application for EU with international financial institutions until
membership ● Total volume of trade in goods
In 2022 2027. The following EIP flagship projects for
with the EU was
Serbia have been endorsed between 2020
€36.5 billion
M A RC H 2011 65.9%
and 2023, among others:
in 2022.
in exports ● Sustainable transport: Serbia-Bulgaria Rail
EU-facilitated dialogue 51.9% Interconnection: Niš Bypass; Corridor X: sections
between Belgrade and in imports
of Belgrade - Niš Railway Line; Rhine-Danube
Pristina started
Corridor: Removal of WWII German Sunken
Vessels from the Danube, Prahovo sector
M A RC H 2012 ● Digital Future: Rural broadband rollout
● Human Capital: University Children’s Hospital
EU Candidate country
status granted Tiršova 2 in Belgrade
EU funding
JU N E 2013
● The EU is the largest provider of financial measures have already
EU decides to open assistance to Serbia. been disbursed to support
accession negotiations vulnerable families and
● The EU is supporting the socioeconomic
development and fundamental reforms SMEs in facing the rising
SE P T E M BE R 2013 in Serbia, with financial and technical energy prices, as well
assistance through the Instrument for as foster the transition to
Entry into force of renewable energy sources, in
the Stabilisation and Pre-accession Assistance (IPA).
Association Agreement line with the priorities of the EIP
● The Annual Action Plans 2021 and 2022
for the Western Balkans.
allocated for Serbia €122.14 million and
€162.2 million, respectively. ● Since 1999, the EU provided €6.3 billon
JU N E 2021
in loans through the European Investment
● The Annual Action Plan 2023 is part
Political Bank.
of the Energy Support Package for
Intergovernmental
Conference under the
the Western Balkans. The 90% of the
revised enlargement dedicated €165 million as immediate
methodology provides
political steer to the
accession process

DEC E M BE R 2021
Human capital & innovation
Opening of Cluster 4
on Green agenda and ● The EU pays special attention to youth, education and innovation and is helping the Western
sustainable connectivity, Balkans implementing Youth Guarantee schemes to support youth employment.
bringing the number of ● 28,400+ participants exchanged between the EU and North Macedonia benefitting in the area of
opened chapters to 22
out of 35, two of which
education, training, youth, and sport under ERASMUS+ (2014-2020).
are provisionally closed ● The EU provided €33 million in support to civil society (2014-2020).

Source: EU Data ec.europa.eu/neighbourhood-enlargement | facebook.com/EUnear | x.com/eu_near