To spur growth, employment, and the green transition, the European Union has provided a €160 million financial package to support Serbian businesses. This initiative, which was announced today at a ceremony in Belgrade, is the result of a partnership between EIB Global of the European Investment Bank (EIB), and Banca Intesa and Intesa Leasing, as part of a wider collaboration with Intesa Sanpaolo, a banking group leading in Europe. The funds will be available at favourable terms to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and mid-caps in order to address their working capital and investment needs, as well as to boost green investments in renewable energy, clean transportation and energy efficiency projects. This support will benefit around 240 companies and protect around 25 000 jobs, thus driving climate resilience and competitiveness in the local economy.

As part of the EU for Green Agenda in Serbia initiative, the European Union is providing technical assistance to help set up the credit line effectively. This involves supporting Serbian SMEs in developing bankable green investment projects and assisting Banca Intesa to expand its offer of green financial products and services to small businesses in the country

Up to now, the banks have made €780 million available in EIB credit lines and Banca Intesa and Intesa Leasing funding to support over 1 500 companies in Serbia, which has helped to protect some 86 000 jobs and create 1 700 new ones.