Serbia allocates €54 million from budget reserve to fund 2027 EXPO as total costs rise to €3.4 billion

Serbian authorities have transferred about €54 million from the state’s budget reserve to finance the 2027 World Expo. The project’s budget, originally projected at €1.8 billion, has now ballooned to roughly €3.4 billion, more than double the initial estimate. Critics note that most spending bypassed competitive procurement; of the €928 million allocated to the Expo last year, only €211 million went through tender procedures. The government maintains that the Expo will lift GDP growth by 1.5 percentage points and reduce the fiscal deficit, despite concerns over cost transparency and rising expenses.

The Financial Council reported that additional funds were earmarked for rail, electricity grid upgrades and other infrastructure, but the lack of clear budgeting and oversight has sparked public debate over the economic benefits versus the financial burden on Serbian taxpayers.