Serbia is preparing for a significant policy shift at the start of next year, when new taxes on greenhouse gas emissions and imports of carbon-intensive goods take effect. Parliament has already approved both measures.
Under the new rules, each tax is fixed at EUR 4 ( USD 4.66) for every tonne of CO₂ equivalent. The approach mirrors the logic behind the EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), prompting Serbia to introduce its own version. Even so, a number of supporting regulations must still be drafted before the system can run smoothly.
Officials say the legislation is designed to cut pollution, push industries towards greater energy efficiency, encourage the uptake of renewable energy and help Serbian companies secure a firmer footing in both domestic and international markets.
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The emissions tax is aimed squarely at large industrial polluters across several sectors, cement, fertilisers, iron and steel, aluminium and electricity. Businesses in these fields must hold a licence for their emissions, and the law allows for incentives to be offered to companies pursuing decarbonisation projects.
A second tax targets the import of carbon-intensive goods. Electricity is excluded for now, due to technical challenges and the absence of a reliable way to calculate what should be taxed. This import levy applies only to firms bringing in five tonnes or more of the designated products each year. It covers goods in four categories: iron or steel, cement, fertilisers and aluminium.
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