EU donates EUR 240 million to Serbia for environment, energy efficiency

The European Union approved EUR 240 million in non-repayable assistance to Serbia from pre-accession funds for projects worth an overall EUR 325.2 million. The investments, intended for the period through 2032, are for waste and wastewater management, energy efficiency improvement and the transition to renewable energy sources.

Serbia and the European Union signed a financing agreement for the Multiannual Operational Programme on Environment and Energy, worth EUR 325.2 million. It includes EUR 240 million in non-repayable funds from the Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance, and Serbia is providing the rest.

State institutions will run the mechanism under an indirect management system, in accordance with the way that EU member states conduct programs within the cohesion and regional development funds. The agreement is another type of support in EU accession, the Ministry of European Integration said.

Grants also intended for green energy, waterworks

Serbia’s National IPA Coordinator and State Secretary at the Ministry of European Integration Mira Radenović Bojić said the agreement enables significant financial support for improving environmental protection and further developing the energy sector.

“This way we secured support for sustainable waste management, improvement of wastewater treatment infrastructure and the promotion of energy efficiency measures in public buildings and households,” she stressed. Radenović Bojić added that the assistance package also covers the development of capacities for the transition to renewable energy sources as well as the improvement of public waterworks and sewerage systems.

The program involves measures to protect air quality, aiming to lower harmful emissions and improve public health.

“In addition to renewing or building infrastructure, the program will support the development of strategic documents and plans for the harmonization with European Union standards. We will invest in capacity building of local and national institutions and in the development of technical documentation. Ultimately, the program will enable better cooperation with the relevant national and international stakeholders including civil society organizations and the private sector, in order to secure integrated implementation and improvement of the sustainable development policy,” Mira Radenović Bojić pointed out.

Von Beckerath: Our joint future depends on green, just transition

The agreement is another example of the EU’s strong and long-standing commitment to supporting Serbia on its path toward the EU, said the new Ambassador of the EU in Serbia Andreas von Beckerath.

“Environmental protection and sustainable energy are not only the core of the European Green Deal, but they are key to improving the quality of life of all citizens. With this significant investment, in synergy with the new Growth Plan for the Western Balkans, our goal is to accelerate Serbia’s alignment with EU standards and help the materialization of tangible benefits for citizens and the environment. Our joint future depends on this green and just transition, and we are delighted that we will go down that path together,” the chief of the Delegation of the EU stated.

The plan includes EUR 141.9 million for waste and wastewater and EUR 140 million for air quality and energy efficiency

The program, which covers the programming years 2024-2027, will be implemented from 2025 to 2032. It consists of EUR 141.9 million for waste and wastewater management and waterworks, EUR 140 million for air quality and energy efficiency and EUR 43.3 million for technical support.

There is EUR 44.9 million in the program earmarked for 2024, followed by EUR 108 million for the current year and EUR 76.8 million and EUR 95.5 million for the next two.