More than 1,800 participants attended the first EU Opportunity Week in Serbia, from 21 to 26 June 2023. It was the first time all EU programmes and funds open to Serbians were gathered in one place to share application procedures and opportunities. A further 3,500 participants followed online and interacted with programme representatives in the dedicated online space. The event, jointly organised by the Delegation of the European Union and the Government of the Republic of Serbia, encompassed 120 information sessions and panels over five days and in three cities: Belgrade, Niš, and Novi Sad. It covered the full range of EU support in the economy and business, education, youth and sports, culture, media and civil society, local development, and green transition, as well as agriculture.

In a video message delivered at the event’s opening, the EU Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement, Olivér Várhelyihighlighted the significant assistance provided by the EU to Serbia, including through the Economic and Investment Plan for the Western Balkans. Mobilising up to €30 billion investments, as a combination of grants, preferential loans and guarantees, this substantial package supports investments in sustainable transport, clean energy, environment and climate, digital future, human capital and the private sector. The Serbian Minister of European Integration, Tanja Miščević, and EU Ambassador to Serbia Emanuele Giaufretsigned an agreement at the event on new donations through the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA III) amounting to €200 million, of which €162 million in EU grants. The majority of the EU-provided funds will be directed towards the environmental sector, with over €72 million allocated for enhancing infrastructure, bolstering institutional capacity in environmental protection, and effectively managing and mitigating climate change in line with Green Agenda.