Serbia unveils €600 million aid package for pensioners and low‑income households

President Aleksandar Vučić announced a new aid package costing more than €600 million, aimed at over three million Serbian citizens. The measures include one‑time cash payments for pensioners – €35,000 for those earning up to 31,092 dinars, €27,500 for earnings between 31,092 and 58,851 dinars, and €20,000 for the lowest earners – as well as support for recipients of social assistance, child allowances and veterans. All pensioners receiving up to 80,000 dinars will also receive tourist vouchers worth 10,000 dinars each. The government will extend subsidies for energy‑price‑vulnerable consumers and allocate additional €28.1 million for electricity and gas discounts of 20‑40 %. A separate component reduces co‑payments for prescription drugs, allocating roughly €105 million to lower out‑of‑pocket costs for medicines. Finance Minister Siniša Mali defended the programme, saying the one‑off assistance is fully financed within the fiscal space, does not threaten public‑finance stability and should not be portrayed as vote‑buying. The package is presented as a targeted, fiscally responsible response to the needs of the most vulnerable groups ahead of the election campaign.