Supporting further alignment with the EU acquis for food safety, veterinary, and phytosanitary policies

The opportunity titled "Supporting further alignment with the EU acquis for food safety, veterinary, and phytosanitary policies" is a grant initiative aimed at assisting Serbia in aligning its policies with EU standards. The total budget for this grant is 1.8 million EUR and it is managed by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management of the Republic of Serbia. The deadline for application submissions is October 13, 2025. This initiative is part of the EU's Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance, which supports candidate countries in their alignment efforts towards EU standards.

Eligible applicants primarily include government bodies, particularly the Ministry mentioned, which is responsible for implementing food safety and agricultural policies. The project specifically targets the sectors of food safety, veterinary, and phytosanitary policies, constituting a significant part of the EU accession negotiation chapters, especially Chapter 12.

The geographic scope of this grant is confined to Serbia, reflecting its status as an EU candidate country. The application process is outlined as an open call format, indicating that interested parties can submit proposals for funding. Financial support provided under this grant will focus on capacity building activities, including legislative drafting, infrastructure improvement, and training for officials involved in food safety and veterinary services.

The grant aims at the implementation and validation stages of projects that will help Serbia adopt EU-compliant legislation and enhance its surveillance systems for animal diseases, among other activities. While the specific success rates for applications are not specified, EU pre-accession grants generally have competitive but favorable success rates for government-led initiatives. Importantly, there are no co-funding requirements attached to this grant, meaning the resources allocated will cover 100% of eligible costs.

Overall, this initiative represents a critical step for Serbia in its journey towards EU integration, providing essential funding to bolster its food safety and veterinary policy frameworks in line with European standards. The relevant documentation further detailing the application process is expected to be accessible through the EU's designated platforms.

Supporting further alignment with the EU acquis for food safety, veterinary, and phytosanitary policies.

EuropeAid/184841/ID/ACT/RS

Type: Action Grants

Programme: Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance

Geographical Zone: Serbia

Budget: 1,800,000 EUR

Published: 18/07/2025

Updated: 18/07/2025

Deadline: 14/10/2025

Documents:

Annex C9, published 18 July 2025, in English.

Annex C1 - standard twinning, published 18 July 2025, in English.

This opportunity is an Action Grant under the Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance (IPA) program, specifically targeting Serbia. The grant, with a budget of 1,800,000 EUR, aims to support further alignment with the EU acquis in the areas of food safety, veterinary, and phytosanitary policies. The call was published and updated on July 18, 2025, with a deadline for submissions on October 14, 2025. Relevant documents, including Annex C9 and Annex C1 (standard twinning), are available in English. The grant falls under EuropeAid project number 184841/ID/ACT/RS.

Eligible Applicant Types: The provided text does not explicitly list eligible applicant types. However, given that it is an action grant under the Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance (IPA), eligible applicants are likely to be organizations or entities that can contribute to aligning Serbia's policies with the EU acquis. This could include government bodies, public institutions, research institutes, NGOs, and potentially private sector entities with relevant expertise. Further details would be needed from the full call documentation to specify eligible applicant types.

Funding Type: Action Grants.

Consortium Requirement: The text mentions "Annex C1 - standard twinning," which suggests that twinning arrangements, possibly involving a consortium of organizations from different countries, might be relevant or even preferred. However, it is not explicitly stated whether a single applicant is permissible. Further review of the full call documentation is needed to determine if a consortium is mandatory.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): Serbia. The geographical zone is explicitly stated as Serbia.

Target Sector: Food safety, veterinary, and phytosanitary policies. The call aims to support further alignment with the EU acquis in these specific areas.

Mentioned Countries: Serbia.

Project Stage: The opportunity aims to support "further alignment with the EU acquis," suggesting that projects should be at a stage where they can contribute to policy implementation, adaptation, or capacity building in the target sectors. This likely implies a development, validation, or demonstration stage, rather than basic research or initial idea generation.

Funding Amount: 1,800,000 EUR.

Application Type: The text indicates that the call is "open for submission" via Sedia.global, suggesting an open call format.

Nature of Support: Money. The funding is provided through action grants, which implies direct financial support for eligible activities.

Application Stages: The provided text does not specify the number of application stages.

Success Rates: The provided text does not include information on success rates.

Co-funding Requirement: The provided text does not mention any co-funding requirements.

Summary:

This opportunity is an action grant under the Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance (IPA) program, specifically targeting Serbia. The grant, with a budget of 1,800,000 EUR, aims to support projects that contribute to further aligning Serbia's food safety, veterinary, and phytosanitary policies with the EU acquis. The call is open for submission via the Sedia.global platform. While the specific types of eligible applicants are not detailed in the provided text, they are likely to include organizations capable of contributing to policy alignment, such as government bodies, public institutions, research institutes, and NGOs. The mention of "standard twinning" suggests that collaborative projects involving organizations from other countries may be encouraged. The deadline for submission is October 14, 2025. Further details regarding eligibility criteria, application procedures, and project requirements can be found in the call documentation, including Annex C9 and Annex C1.