Social assistance in Serbia leaves a three-person household €190 short of the minimum amount required for basic consumption, according to a new study by the Friedrich Ebert Foundation.
A three-person household receives €147 in financial assistance, while Serbia’s minimum consumer basket costs €337. The country’s at-risk-of-poverty threshold is even higher, at €368.
The findings come from the study “Social Dimensions of EU Enlargement in the Western Balkans,” authored by Dr. Mirna Jusić. It examined economic reform programs from 2022 to 2025, reform agendas, the EU’s IPA III instrument and obligations connected to EU accession.
The study concludes that social rights remain underrepresented among reform priorities in Serbia and the wider Western Balkans.
Social Assistance Covers Less Than Half of Basic Costs
Social assistance in Serbia covers less than half the value of the minimum consumer basket for the three-person household used in the study.
The gap between the €147 benefit and the €337 basket is €190. Meanwhile, the household would need an additional €221 to reach the €368 at-risk-of-poverty threshold.
Serbia has recorded employment growth and moved closer to the EU average in certain labor-market indicators. However, the foundation warned that long-term social convergence cannot focus only on employment and skills development.
The introduction of Serbia’s digital “social card” was also followed by a decline in the number of people receiving assistance. The study warned that some Roma and other vulnerable residents could consequently be excluded from the social protection system.
The report recommends directing employment programs more systematically toward young people, women and the long-term unemployed.
Other recommendations include testing the Youth Guarantee program, aligning labor legislation with European standards and strengthening dialogue among the government, employers and labor unions.
Serbia has made progress in dual education and in connecting education with labor-market needs. Nevertheless, the study calls for greater preschool access in disadvantaged communities and further improvements to higher education.
EU Reforms Must Deliver Visible Benefits
The report identified a similar gap between reforms and everyday needs in Serbia’s health care system.
Electronic medical records represent an important step toward digitalization. However, digital services alone cannot solve the shortage of medical workers or stop them from leaving the country.
High out-of-pocket health care expenses and unmet treatment needs also remain significant social risks.
The Friedrich Ebert Foundation recommended addressing social protection earlier in Serbia’s EU negotiations. Labor unions, employers and civil society should also participate more actively in that process.
The study argues that officials should measure progress through the European Pillar of Social Rights. Assessments should consider not only the number of laws adopted or reforms completed, but also their practical effects on residents.
Employment growth, economic indicators and digital public services remain important parts of European integration. However, their value is limited if they do not produce greater social security.
The study concludes that EU integration can strengthen public trust only when people experience visible improvements in their daily lives. Therefore, social rights should receive the same attention as the rule of law, democratic institutions and economic criteria.
