Sefcovic: Agreements to open door to largest FDI in Serbia's history

BELGRADE - European Commission Vice-President for the European Green Deal, Interinstitutional Relations and Foresight Maros Sefcovic said agreements signed in Belgrade on Friday would further underline the EU-Serbia partnership and open the door to the "largest FDI in Serbian history."

In a statement after signing an EU-Serbia MoU on strategic partnership on sustainable raw materials, battery value chains and electric vehicles, Sefcovic said July 19 would go down as a "truly historic day for the Serbian economy."

On behalf of Serbia, the MoU was signed by Minister of Mining and Energy Dubravka Djedovic Handanovic.

"Today, Serbia is really stepping forward to take a central role in Europe's economy and, I would underline, in our most strategic value chains, and I think that is very important for Serbia, it is very important for the EU," Sefcovic said.

"I would like to thank (Serbian) President (Aleksandar) Vucic and (German) Chancellor (Olaf) Scholz for their leadership, for their support throughout the years and also for choosing the Team Europe approach because this is the way we want to do business in Europe with our friends," he said.

Sefcovic noted that the MoU was "clear proof that we already live in the era of clean tech."

He said the companies that had attended the signing ceremony were "the creme de la creme of what you can get in Europe, the best companies, the most responsible firms with very clear social and corporate responsibilities and obligations."

"I am sure that the agreements which we achieved today will not only pave the way to the development of the full e-mobility ecosystem in Serbia by 2030 but will also further underline the important partnership we have between the EU and Serbia. First, I would like to underline that this will open the door to the largest FDI in Serbia's history. "

He noted that the EU was already Serbia's top investor and trade partner and that he was convinced that "after this, even more European companies will be lining up to invest in Serbia."