Serbia’s Minister of Mining and Energy, Dubravka Đedović Handanović, spoke after the Energy Community ministerial meeting in Athens about the country’s position on the upcoming carbon tax. Serbia, along with other regional countries, is requesting a delay in the introduction of the CO2 emissions tax, which is currently scheduled to start on January 1, 2026.
“Europe has been developing emissions taxation for 20 years. We cannot suddenly jump from zero to 70 euros per ton overnight—that would be unsustainable for our economy,” Đedović Handanović explained.
She also noted that Serbia has fulfilled all the requirements needed to join the European single electricity market, but warned that abruptly implementing the carbon tax could harm the economy.
Speaking to RTS, the minister emphasized that Serbia is the first country in the region ready to join the EU’s single electricity market. While Serbia has completed all necessary legal, regulatory, and technical preparations, the final verification now rests with EU institutions.
“This verification process will be a challenge for the EU itself, as it is the first time it is being done for a non-member state, and it is expected to take about 18 months,” Đedović Handanović said.
She highlighted that Serbia secured the right to apply national, rather than regional, carbon taxation. This means that funds collected from the tax will stay within Serbia and be invested in energy efficiency and renewable energy projects.
“It is crucial to keep our economy competitive, and taxation should support the energy transition, not hinder it,” she stressed.
Regarding the EU’s demand for a faster phase-out of fossil fuels, the minister noted that the transition must be gradual and balanced. She referenced other countries like Poland and the Czech Republic, which have announced they cannot abandon coal before 2049, and emphasized that Serbia faces similar challenges in ensuring energy security.
Đedović Handanović also pointed out Serbia’s significant progress in renewable energy: consumption has increased by 85% in the last two and a half years, and the number of households producing their own solar energy has grown fifteenfold.
“The transition will take 20 to 25 years. We cannot shut down thermal power plants overnight but must develop alternative energy sources, including gas and, eventually, nuclear power,” she concluded.
At the Athens meeting, several regional countries echoed Serbia’s concerns, warning that uncoordinated rules and deadlines for carbon taxation could destabilize Southeast Europe’s energy systems and slow integration into the EU energy market.
