Emanuele Giaufret, the European Union’s ambassador to Serbia, ceremonially signed and handed over the new financing agreement for the latest EU aid package to Serbia’s agricultural sector.
The agreement, worth €288 million in EU support, was signed in the village of Tolić near Mionica. It was presented to Tanja Miščević, Minister for European Integration, and Aleksandar Martinović, Minister of Agriculture, Forestry, and Water Management.
The EU funds will be available to support Serbian farmers, agro-processors, and the promotion of rural development.
The event included a visit to one of the previous beneficiaries of EU support for Serbian agriculture, Srđan Miletić’s poultry farm. The new funds are part of the EU’s IPARD programme — the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance in Rural Development. The programme has already begun, and Serbian farmers have had opportunities to apply through two public calls to date.
Ambassador Giaufret emphasized the importance of this support for the development of the agricultural sector, stating:
"The EU cares about Serbian farmers. We are working to support them and to ensure that, when Serbia becomes an EU member, Serbian farmers will become EU farmers, competitive and contributing to our agricultural sector. This significant €288 million in grant funding will enable farmers, processors, and rural communities to face challenges, improve their market competitiveness, and enhance rural development in areas like tourism. The IPARD programme funds have been significantly increased, reflecting the EU's commitment to these goals, as we view Serbia as a future EU member state. Serbia will need to utilize these funds wisely and boost its absorption capacity to make the most of these opportunities. This is a significant boost for Serbia’s agriculture—much more than before! I encourage all farmers to apply for these funds. The EU has provided these opportunities for you."
Minister Martinović noted that under the IPARD III programme, new non-repayable funds allocated by the European Union for Serbia's agricultural sector have increased by approximately 65% compared to the IPARD II programme.
"This kind of support is extremely significant for our country and our agricultural producers. We have already started implementing the IPARD III programme by announcing public calls, and the interest among users across the country is high, as shown by the number of applications submitted. Farmer Srđan Miletić, whose farm we visited today, is an exemplary user of the IPARD II programme. It is through such successful examples that the Ministry of Agriculture and the Serbian government are continuously working to ensure opportunities for improving agricultural production and developing Serbian agriculture. I am confident that we will see equally successful cases through the new IPARD III development programme," Minister Martinović highlighted.
"IPARD III is directly aimed at agricultural producers, including both legal entities and individuals, in the regions of Belgrade, Vojvodina, Šumadija, and western, southern, and eastern Serbia. They will be able to acquire equipment and machinery, build or renovate agricultural facilities to meet European standards in hygiene, food safety, animal welfare, and environmental protection, and improve their production capacity and processing capabilities to access EU markets. This programme is also a preparation for utilizing the much larger European funds that will be available to domestic farmers and processors upon Serbia’s accession to the EU," stated Minister Miščević.
One of the outstanding examples of support through the IPARD programme is Srđan Miletić’s farm.
"Through the IPARD programme, I applied for an investment incentive in agricultural holdings under the Sixth Public Call for Measure 1 in the meat sector. I qualified for the construction of a facility for poultry rearing and housing, as well as equipment for ventilation, feeding, and watering. This has improved my production and made me competitive. Without the support of the IPARD programme, I would not have been able to realize this project at this time. Such support is immensely valuable to us producers, and I urge all interested farmers to see from my example that IPARD is not as complicated as many think. Large investments can be reimbursed, and it’s the best way to improve production," noted beneficiary Srđan Miletić.
To date, 17 IPARD public calls have been announced, over 1,400 contracts have been signed, and more than 1,200 payments have been made to Serbian farmers and food producers.
The European Union Has Supported Serbia’s Agricultural Sector with Over €150 Million Since 2001
Since 2001, the European Union has provided more than €150 million in support to Serbia’s agricultural sector, with an additional €175 million allocated to farmers and agro-processors through the IPARD II programme. The ongoing IPARD III programme is set to offer even greater opportunities for Serbian farmers, granting them access to new EU funds amounting to €288 million. Combined with national contributions and the farmers' own investments, this could result in a total impact exceeding €550 million.
The main goals of the IPARD support programme include enhancing the competitiveness of Serbian farmers, protecting the environment and biodiversity, supporting rural businesses and communities, and developing rural infrastructure.
The EU market has traditionally been the most significant export destination for Serbian agricultural products, with over half of Serbia’s agricultural exports directed towards the EU. Serbian agricultural exports to the EU have quadrupled in the last decade, increasing from €640 million in 2009 to €2.4 billion in 2022, and exceeding €2.2 billion last year. At the same time, Serbia’s agricultural imports from the EU have grown steadily over the past ten years, rising from €440 million in 2009 to over €2.4 billion in 2023.
Discover how you can apply for IPARD funding here.