EIB puts €22M behind Serbia's green and digital transition
What's the deal? The European Investment Bank has agreed a €22 million package to finance digital, green, and sustainable agriculture projects for Serbian small and medium-sized businesses and mid-cap companies. The deal combines a €20 million EIB loan with a €2 million European UnionDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → grant, with Erste Bank a.d. Novi SadDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → channelling the money to eligible firms.
Why now? It is the first operation in Serbia under the EIB's Innovation and Green Transformation Facility for the Western Balkans, a development programme launched in 2025. The EIB announced the agreement on Monday.
What's the endgame? The digital component can back innovative products and processes, research, and artificial intelligence. The green side funds energy-saving measures and projects to cut greenhouse gas emissions, while support also extends to sustainable agriculture, including livestock and crop production.
What's in it for companies? Firms receiving loans through the scheme can cut their repayment sum by 10%, thanks to the EU grant channelled under the Western Balkans Investment Framework. The package also includes EIB technical assistance to help Erste Bank prepare projects for financing and strengthen ties with Serbia's innovation network, including support for early-stage startups.
The signal: The agreement is the seventh between the EIB and Erste Bank a.d. Novi Sad since 2009, and it points to a widening EU push to link development finance with the twin goals of digital and green transformation across the Western Balkans.
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