The advance payment represents 7% of the total funds allocated for each beneficiary under the Western Balkans Growth Plan, with an additional 59 million euros earmarked for various projects.

Serbia has met all formal conditions for the funds, including ratifying crucial financial agreements with the EU.

Additionally, Mali noted that Serbia officially joined the Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA) in May 2025, enhancing financial integration with EU member countries.

On June 21, 2025, Serbian Finance Minister Sinisa Mali announced that Serbia received 51.66 million euros from the European Union as part of the Growth Plan for the Western Balkans.

This advance payment is intended as direct budget support and marks Serbia's first disbursement under the Western Balkans Growth Plan.

Mali emphasized that this funding confirms Serbia's commitment to reforms and its progress towards meeting European Union standards.

The Growth Plan aims to accelerate economic growth and promote socio-economic convergence with EU Member States.

In October 2024, the European Commission approved reform programmes for Serbia and other Western Balkan countries, committing them to socio-economic reforms from 2024 to 2027.

Serbian Minister of European Integration Nemanja Starovic noted that the request for funds was based on the full implementation of key reform programme elements, with the processing deadline nearing completion.

These funds will finance significant projects, including the integration of renewable energy sources into Novi Sad's heating system and the reconstruction of the Potpec hydroelectric power plant.

The Western Balkans Growth Plan was adopted by the European Commission at the end of 2023 to enhance the integration of the region with the EU.

Researcher Marko Todorovic highlighted that Serbia has received positive evaluations for its compliance with certain conditions of the Growth Plan.