Your Serbian customer or buyer is asking for ESG information. Here is what the regulatory environment requires — and what international buyers need from you.
Serbia is an EU candidate country with significant integration into European supply chains, particularly in automotive, electronics, and agriculture. Serbia's Belgrade Stock Exchange (BELEX) is developing ESG disclosure requirements. As an EU candidate country, Serbia is progressively aligning its legislation with the EU acquis communautaire, including environmental and sustainability reporting requirements. Serbian companies supplying EU buyers are directly exposed to CSRD and CSDDD supply chain requirements. Serbia is also a significant lithium producer — the Jadar lithium project (Rio Tinto) represents one of Europe's largest lithium deposits — making Serbia strategically important for EU battery supply chain diversification.
Key regulations in Serbia — ESG Supplier Guide
EU CSRD — Supply Chain Reporting Requirements
As an EU candidate country deeply integrated into EU supply chains — particularly automotive (Stellantis, Volkswagen suppliers), electronics, and agriculture — Serbian companies are directly exposed to CSRD supply chain reporting requirements. EU buyers subject to CSRD must report on their supply chain sustainability, including Serbian suppliers. Serbian companies should prepare ESG documentation covering environmental performance, labour practices, and governance.
EU CSDDD — Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive
EU companies sourcing from Serbia will be required under CSDDD to conduct human rights and environmental due diligence. As an EU candidate country, Serbia is expected to transpose CSDDD into national law as part of its EU accession process. Serbian companies should prepare for CSDDD due diligence requirements from EU buyers.
Serbia EU Accession — Environmental Alignment
Serbia's EU accession process requires progressive alignment of environmental legislation with EU standards, including the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS), industrial emissions directives, and waste management regulations. Serbian companies should monitor EU accession progress and prepare for increasing environmental compliance requirements. Serbia's National Programme for Adoption of the EU Acquis (NPAA) sets out the timeline for environmental legislation alignment.
EU Battery Regulation — Lithium (Jadar Project)
Serbia's Jadar valley contains one of Europe's largest lithium deposits, with Rio Tinto's Jadar project representing a potential major source of lithium for EU battery manufacturers. The project was initially cancelled by the Serbian government in 2022 following environmental protests, but was reinstated in 2024 after the Constitutional Court ruling. If developed, Jadar lithium would be subject to EU Battery Regulation due diligence requirements. The project faces significant environmental and community opposition, and its ESG performance will be closely scrutinised.
Serbia LPPD & CERT-RS Cyber Obligations
Serbia's Law on Personal Data Protection (LPPD, 2018) is closely aligned with GDPR and requires data controllers to notify the Commissioner for Information of Public Importance and Personal Data Protection within 72 hours of becoming aware of a personal data breach likely to result in a risk to the rights and freedoms of individuals. Serbia's CERT-RS (Computer Emergency Response Team of Serbia) coordinates national cyber incident response. Serbia is an EU candidate country and its regulatory framework is progressively aligning with EU standards including NIS2. Suppliers processing Serbian customer data must align incident response to the Commissioner 72-hour notification window.
What this means for you as a supplier
Serbian companies supplying EU automotive, electronics, and agricultural buyers face immediate CSRD supply chain reporting requirements. Companies should prepare ESG documentation covering environmental performance, labour practices, and governance. Serbian companies in the automotive supply chain should align with IATF 16949 and prepare for EU CSDDD due diligence. The Jadar lithium project — if developed — will face intensive EU Battery Regulation and CSDDD scrutiny. Serbian companies should monitor EU accession progress and prepare for increasing environmental compliance requirements.
Key dates
FY2024 (ongoing)
CSRD — large EU companies must report on supply chain sustainability including Serbian suppliers
July 2029
CSDDD Phase 1 — largest EU companies must conduct supply chain due diligence including Serbian suppliers
Ongoing
EU accession — Serbia progressively aligning environmental legislation with EU acquis
Automotive supply chain: Serbia's EU integration advantage
Serbia is deeply integrated into European automotive supply chains, with major manufacturing operations including Stellantis (Fiat 500L production in Kragujevac), as well as hundreds of tier-1 and tier-2 automotive component suppliers. Serbia's automotive sector exports approximately €3 billion annually, primarily to EU markets. As EU automotive companies implement CSRD supply chain reporting and CSDDD due diligence, Serbian automotive suppliers will face increasing ESG documentation requirements. Key ESG issues for Serbian automotive suppliers include: energy efficiency and GHG emissions (Scope 1 and 2), water management, waste management, labour practices and working conditions, and supply chain traceability. Serbian automotive suppliers should align with IATF 16949 quality management and ISO 14001 environmental management systems as a foundation for ESG compliance.
Jadar lithium: Europe's battery supply chain and Serbia's ESG test
The Jadar valley in western Serbia contains one of the world's largest deposits of jadarite — a lithium-boron mineral discovered in 2004. Rio Tinto's Jadar project, if developed, could supply approximately 90% of Europe's current lithium demand and make Serbia a critical node in the EU battery supply chain. The project was cancelled by the Serbian government in January 2022 following large-scale environmental protests, but was reinstated in July 2024 after the Constitutional Court ruled the cancellation unconstitutional. The Jadar project faces significant environmental concerns including: impacts on the Jadar River and agricultural land, acid mine drainage risks, and community opposition. The project's ESG performance will be closely scrutinised by EU battery manufacturers, investors, and civil society. Rio Tinto has committed to meeting EU Battery Regulation due diligence requirements and IFC Performance Standards. The Jadar project represents a critical test of whether Serbia can develop its critical mineral resources in a manner that meets EU sustainability standards.
Last reviewed: April 2026. This guide is for general information only and does not constitute legal advice. Regulations change — verify current requirements with a qualified adviser.
Received an ESG questionnaire from your EU buyer?
ESG Stress Free helps Serbian suppliers respond to EU CSRD and CSDDD supply chain compliance requirements from European buyers.