The European Investment Bank and Erste Bank a.d. Novi Sad announced on 21 September a €22 million financing agreement for small and medium-sized enterprises and mid-caps in Serbia. It combines a €20 million EIB loan with a €2 million European Union grant to be channelled through the bank.

The financing is intended for digital, climate and sustainable agriculture projects; the grant can reduce the repayment amount for recipient companies by 10%. The EIB said this was the first Serbian operation under its Innovation and Green Transformation Facility for the Western Balkans, launched in 2025. The package also includes support to help companies prepare bankable projects.