Serbia officially applied for EU membership in 2009 and was granted candidate country status in 2012. Accession negotiations began in 2014 and are still ongoing. The prospects for integration are complicated by the EU’s demand for normalization of relations with Kosovo and problems in meeting economic criteria.
Programme support for Serbia
Slovakia is a traditional ally of Serbia, as both nations have experienced similar political and economic developments in past. The entire Western Balkans region, including Serbia, has long been a focus of Slovakia’s development activities. Serbia has been a programme partner since 2018.
Public finance
Between 2020 and 2023, support to Serbia focused primarily on strengthening the management and planning capacities of local governments, particularly in less developed areas. The project helped selected municipalities optimize management practices, improve planning processes, and create stronger links between strategic and financial planning. It also supported the formation of regional coalitions to facilitate joint planning and project development.
In the context of ongoing EU accession negotiations and the process of acquis approximation, since December 2025 the support has shifted toward achieving legal and institutional harmonization of Serbia’s tax system with the EU acquis. Current activities include:
- Mapping EU tax directives and assessing their applicability to Serbian laws system,
- Documenting the legal transposition of EU directives to meet a technical requirement in EU negotiations,
- Preparing draft amendments to laws and bylaws.
To ensure these complex tax reform efforts are effectively managed, expert support will be provided to guide the process, while dedicated assistance will be offered to working groups tasked with drafting and reviewing legislation.
Private sector engagement
Heating of residential and industrial buildings represents a significant share of energy consumption in Serbia. The country is currently working to decarbonize its economy by implementing measures to enhance energy efficiency. In this context, utilizing natural, renewable resources such as geothermal energy, an alternative to natural gas and other fossil fuels, has become one of key priorities.
The goal of the project we support, Geothermal Energy in Serbia, is to facilitate investment decision-making within the public sector regarding the use of geothermal energy for heat production, while also securing financing for the planned projects. To achieve this, we connect public sector partners in Serbia with relevant EU stakeholders and international financial institutions. Simultaneously, with the assistance of Slovak experts, we aim to strengthen the technical capacities of our Serbian counterparts in preparing these projects.
Mobilizing resources from private finance through Resource Mobilization Facility enabled implementation of several projects. They focused on improving energy efficiency of public buildings and use of renewable energy sources. See details here.
The Development Plan and Mid-Term Plan of local self-governments (LSGs) ensure that measures and activities are planned in a realistic manner to achieve the priority goals of the LSG and the goals of public policies at the national level. It also enables a clear understanding of obligations related to the EU accession process that are implemented at the local level. The assistance received through Public Finance for Development programme is important for the reform of the planning and budgeting system.
