TRADE & REGULATORY FRAMEWORK

Serbia’s trade and regulatory relation with the European Union is anchored in the Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA), establishing preferential trade and a framework for legislative alignment with EU norms.

What the SAA is

International treaty between Serbia and EU (SAA) effective since 2013.

Legal framework for free trade zone and EU-law alignment.

Key Elements

Free Trade Zone

Gradual abolition of customs duties on most goods between Serbia and EU

Regulatory Alignment

Serbia commits to harmonising domestic legislation with EU acquis

Most tariffs on bilateral trade with EU abolished over transitional period.

EU remains Serbia’s largest trading partner.
EU accounts for majority of Serbia’s foreign trade.

Free trade supports Serbian exporters and reduces trade deficit.

What Serbia Aligns With

Serbia is progressively aligning its legal framework with key EU standards, including:

Customs & Tariff Classification Systems

Competition Law & State Aid Rules

Legal & Administrative Capacity Building

Simplifying Trade

Serbia implements improved IT systems for customs efficiency with support from EU.

Alignment of Serbia’s national customs tariff with EU Combined Nomenclature.

Trade & Investment Signals

Stable Market Access

Predictable rules and access to EU single market

Legal Predictability

Alignment with EU norms signals reliability to investors

Competitive Export Landscape

Trade liberalization supports export growth

EXPLORE FURTHER

Serbia’s NPAA: EU acquis alignment plan (link)

Download the Stabilisation and Association Agreement
Download Serbia/EU Trade Statistics