In its 2025 Rule of Law Report on Serbia, the European Commission noted that every second business in Serbia faces corruption-related issues. The report reveals that 84% of business leaders in Serbia believe corruption is widespread (compared to the EU average of 63%), and 53% see it as a problem in doing business (EU average: 35%).
Despite adopting a National Anti-Corruption Strategy for 2024–2028, the Commission states that implementation is lacking in scope and does not fully address GRECO recommendations. Serbia still hasn’t criminalized illicit enrichment and has not signed the OECD Anti-Bribery Convention.
Public procurement is highlighted as particularly vulnerable, with widespread use of exemptions that undermine the legal framework. In 2023, exempted procurement nearly matched the value of regular public contracts. The State Audit Institution found irregularities in over 21% of examined contracts.
The report also points to high corruption risks in sectors critical to the business environment, including state-owned enterprises, public-private partnerships, taxation, privatization, and concessions. Oversight mechanisms remain weak, and enforcement of criminal provisions is rare.
Public consultations have marginally improved but remain insufficient. In 2024, only 58.3% of proposed laws underwent consultations, and just 29.7% of required secondary legislation followed the same process.
Judicial independence remains low. Only 36% of companies and 30% of the general population believe courts are independent, with a slight increase in trust from the business sector compared to 2024.
Despite these issues, 57% of companies express confidence that their investments are protected by law and courts. Still, the EU urges Serbia to enhance transparency, enforce anti-corruption measures, and strengthen the independence of its judiciary.
