The implementation of ideas and projects related to the green transition is already contributing to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, the transition to renewable energy sources, the reuse of waste to produce new products, the improvement of air quality, and the preservation of biodiversity—in short, the implementation of the Green Agenda.
Would you like to contribute to environmental protection?
See below for the possibilities in this area:
The Embassy of France is conducting a national competition for sustainable urban development aimed at cities and municipalities in Serbia. The competition seeks to reward excellent initiatives and encourage the exchange of good practices between Serbia and France.
Sustainable water and waste management, energy efficiency, smart cities, and eco-literacy in schools are the main topics of this initiative.
Apply for one or more categories in the contest by filling in the questionnaire, which will be available on the website www.ekoopstina.rs in May. Prizes are also planned.
The New European Bauhaus is an initiative of the European Commission that connects the Green Agenda, as a vision of European development, with concrete living spaces and the experiences of citizens. The New European Bauhaus is also an open invitation to everyone to imagine and build a future together that includes sustainable urban development inspired by art, as well as economic and social development in harmony with nature and a preserved environment.
The initiative provides support in several categories, including:
NEB Award
The four award categories reflect the themes of the transformation of the New European Bauhaus:
- Reconnecting with nature;
- The return of a sense of belonging;
- Prioritising the places and people who need it most;
- Shaping a circular industrial ecosystem and supporting life cycle thinking.
In each category, there are two parallel competitions:
- Champions – existing and completed projects in accordance with NEB values and principles; the winners receive €30,000 and a communication package.
- Rising Stars – concepts from young talents under the age of 30; the winners receive €15,000 and a communication package.
NEB Festival
The European Commission has invited actors from across the EU and beyond to participate in the second New European Bauhaus (NEB) festival, which will be held in Brussels in April 2024. The accompanying programme will consist of special video events across Europe. You can participate in or contribute to the festival in several ways:
- By presenting a project or invention;
- By participating in the artistic and cultural programme;
- By organising a special video event; or
- Through a media partnership.
The festival will last four days, and the programme consists of four parts:
- Forum – a platform for discussion and exchange of ideas related to the New European Bauhaus;
- Fair – a laboratory and exhibition of projects and inventions in accordance with the values of the New European Bauhaus;
- Fest – a celebration that combines culture, art, and entertainment; a place for communal joy, where freedom of expression is celebrated, and radical, innovative, and revolutionary ideas and visions are embraced;
- Video Events – special events and initiatives in Brussels and beyond, aligned with the values of the New European Bauhaus.
You can find all the opportunities offered by the initiative at the link: https://new-european-bauhaus.europa.eu/get-involved_en
The Green Agenda for the Western Balkans is a regional development strategy that aims to address the challenges of climate change and the green transition, and to help the countries of the Western Balkans align their environmental regulations with European standards and norms.
UNDP is implementing the project “EU for the Green Agenda in Serbia” with the technical and financial support of the European Union, in partnership with the Ministry of Environmental Protection, and in cooperation with the Embassy of Sweden and the European Investment Bank (EIB), with additional financial resources provided by the Swedish government, Switzerland, and Serbia.
The LIFE programme is an EU instrument for financing environmental and climate actions. Founded in 1992, it has co-financed thousands of projects to date. The LIFE 2021-2027 programme is managed by the European Executive Agency for Climate, Infrastructure and the Environment (CINEA) and has a budget of €5.4 billion.
More detailed information about the LIFE programme is available at: https://cinea.ec.europa.eu/programmes/life_en
Serbian entities can be partners or associates with qualified entities such as EU member states and international organisations, as Serbia is not a participating country in the LIFE programme. Entities in Serbia may participate in other consortium roles, such as associate partners, subcontractors, or third-party contributors.
The credit line for green financing (abbreviated GEFF) is a programme of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) that provides funds for financing energy-efficient technologies in households—apartments, family houses, and residential buildings—as well as for companies that produce or sell them. The programme covers the markets of the Western Balkans, including Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Serbia, North Macedonia, and Kosovo, with a total credit line amounting to €85 million.
The GEFF in the Western Balkans is implemented within the Regional Programme for Energy Efficiency (REEP Plus) and is supported by a grant from the European Union (EU), the Investment Framework for the Western Balkans (WBIF), and the Federal Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Austria (BMF). Partnering with donors is critical to promoting high-efficiency green technologies and practices. Donors provide essential support to GEFF projects that mitigate the effects of or increase resilience to climate change and other environmental threats.
Partners
Financing through the GEFF occurs through local partner financial institutions (PFIs) that use the credit line to finance borrowers who meet established eligibility criteria for investment in eligible projects.
The Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) is one of the European Union’s key financial instruments that, through strategic investments in transport, energy, and digital infrastructure, connects countries, facilitates daily life for citizens, and contributes to economic development.
With a total budget of €33.7 billion for the 2021–2027 period, CEF:
- Develops high-quality and sustainable trans-European networks, improving transport connectivity and safety.
- Fills missing links in transport, energy, and digital infrastructure, enabling better connectivity, more efficient flow of goods and energy, and access to modern digital technologies.
- Enhances the EU’s energy security and use of renewable energy sources, thus contributing to sustainable development and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.
- Facilitates digital transformation through the development of fast and secure digital networks that improve connectivity for people and businesses and enable faster access to modern digital services.
As a candidate country, Serbia can access various funding opportunities through CEF, enabling it to upgrade its infrastructure, connect with key European networks, and support economic development through modernization and digitalization.
What types of projects are supported?
CEF is divided into three key sectors, each funding major infrastructure projects:
CEF Transport – Modernizing European transport networks: funds projects that improve mobility and connectivity within the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T).
- Supports cross-border transport infrastructure, removal of bottlenecks, and completion of missing links
- Invests in sustainable transport, multimodal mobility, and intelligent traffic management systems
- Promotes innovative solutions to reduce environmental impact and increase safety.
Budget: €25.81 billion (including €11.29 billion for Cohesion fund beneficiary countries).
CEF Energy – Building a smart and sustainable energy system: supports the development of modern, secure, and interconnected energy infrastructure in line with the objectives of the European Green Deal:
- Invests in electricity, gas, and cross-border renewable energy projects
- Improves energy market integration and enhances supply security
- Supports interoperability and digitalization of energy networks.
Budget: €5.84 billion
CEF Digital – Strengthening Europe’s digital infrastructure: accelerates digital transformation through the development of secure and high-speed digital networks across Europe.
- Enhances cross-border 5G networks, secure cloud services, and optical networks
- Improves internet speed for businesses, public institutions, and key sectors
- Strengthens digital security and resilience.
Funding and budget per project
- CEF Transport: €1 million – €100+ million per project (depending on scope and complexity)
- CEF Energy: €5 million – €50 million per project (focused on trans-European energy projects)
- CEF Digital: Grants from €2 million to €20 million.
Who can apply?
CEF supports projects by various types of organizations, including:
- Public administrations and infrastructure operators
- Private companies and SMEs working on large infrastructure projects
- Service providers in the transport, energy, and digital sectors
- Cross-border partnerships and consortia. Applications for open calls are submitted via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal.
Key resources and useful links
Horizon Europe is the European Union’s largest research and innovation funding programme, running from 2021 to 2027 with a total budget of €95.5 billion. This programme plays a key role in addressing global challenges and driving technological progress. Its main objectives are:
- Tackling climate change and global health and social challenges through the development of sustainable solutions and technologies.
- Promoting scientific excellence and technological advancement, contributing to progress across all scientific fields and fostering innovations that shape the future.
- Strengthening European industrial competitiveness by supporting European companies to enhance their innovation capacities and compete on global markets.
- Encouraging collaboration between academia, industry, and policymakers, creating synergies that accelerate the transfer of research results into market-ready products and services.
Serbia, as an associated country, has full access to the Horizon Europe programme. This means that researchers, institutions, companies, and innovators from Serbia can apply under the same conditions as those from EU member states. This provides an opportunity to enhance scientific cooperation and develop new technologies with long-term benefits for society and the economy.
What types of projects are supported?
Horizon Europe funds cutting-edge research, the application of science, and innovative projects. The programme is structured around four key areas:
Pillar I: Excellent Science – Supports top-level research, researcher mobility, and infrastructure development:
- European Research Council (ERC): Funds individual research projects with long-term impact.
- Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA): Fellowships and training for researchers at all career stages.
- Research Infrastructures: Supports world-class research centres and ensures open access to scientific resources.
Pillar II: Global Challenges and European Industrial Competitiveness – Funds research and innovation aimed at solving climate, health, and societal challenges. Clusters include:
- Health
- Culture, creativity and inclusive society
- Civil security for society
- Digital, industry and space
- Climate, energy and mobility
- Food, bioeconomy, natural resources, agriculture and environment
Pillar III: Innovative Europe – Aims to make Europe a leader in breakthrough innovations that create new markets:
- European Innovation Council (EIC): Supports startups, SMEs, and deep-tech innovations.
- European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT): Fosters entrepreneurship and industry-led research.
- European Innovation Ecosystems: Encourages cross-border cooperation between innovators and investors.
Widening Participation and Strengthening the European Research Area (ERA):
- Supports cooperation, excellence, and knowledge exchange across Europe.
- Provides assistance to countries with lower participation rates in EU research programmes.
You can browse calls for project proposals HERE.
Funding and project budget
Horizon Europe covers a broad range of activities. Budget allocation depends on the type of project and activity:
- Research and Innovation Actions (RIA): Usually between €1 million and €10 million per project.
- Innovation Actions (IA): Focused on commercialization and development, typically €2 million to €15 million per project.
- Coordination and Support Actions (CSA): Related to policy and networking, usually between €500,000 and €5 million.
- ERC Grants:
- Starting Grants (up to €1.5 million)
- Consolidator Grants (up to €2 million)
- Advanced Grants (up to €2.5 million)
Who can apply?
Horizon Europe is open to a wide range of applicants, including:
- Universities and research institutions
- Companies (including SMEs and startups)
- Public institutions and policymakers
- Civil society organisations (CSOs) and NGOs
- Industry and business associations
Applications for open calls are submitted through EU Funding & Tenders Portal.
Serbia Desk – National Contact Points (NCPs)
For guidance and support, contact the national contact points for Horizon Europe in Serbia.
Key resources and useful links
EU for Circular Economy in Serbia is a two-year project supporting Serbia’s transition toward a resource-efficient, innovative, and sustainable economic system. The project, implemented by the Ministry of Environmental Protection with the support of the European Union, runs from January 2025 to January 2027.
The aim of the project is to help businesses adopt circular principles through expert support, education, networking, and the development of plans that contribute to Serbia’s green transition. At the same time, the project supports local self-governments in designing strategic documents and plans that strengthen their role in implementing circular economy practices at the local level.
What does the project offer?
1. Expert support for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)
The project provides support to five SMEs from the textile and food processing industries (dairy, meat, fruit, and vegetables), including:
- Training on circular economy
- Initial environmental assessment
- Development of a Circular Business Model and Action Plan
- Two study visits to the EU
- Mentoring and advisory support
- Guidance on financial instruments for implementation
Campaigns and education
The project includes a public awareness campaign and a series of events and workshops to:
- Raise awareness about the circular economy
- Connect actors from the private and civil sectors
- Share best practices and knowledge
Who can participate?
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that:
- Operate in the textile sector (clothing, leather, footwear) or food processing (dairy, meat, fruit, vegetables)
- Are privately owned with majority domestic ownership
- Have existed for at least three years and made a profit in 2024
- Are motivated to develop a circular business model and implement changes
How to apply?
Calls for applications are published on the EU MOGUĆNOSTI platform, under the categories GREEN TRANSITION and LOCAL DEVELOPMENT.
Each call includes detailed application instructions.
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