Serbia regional infrastructure and EU integration

In late July 2026 Serbia intensified its push for deeper European integration and regional connectivity. On 30 July, Italian Vice‑Prime Minister and Transport Minister Matteo Salvinì visited Belgrade, emphasizing support for Serbia’s EU accession and reviving the Belgrade–Tirš railway corridor that would link Serbia directly to an EU seaport. The discussion also highlighted the upcoming Expo 2027 site as a catalyst for Italian investment.

The following day, Serbian Prime Minister Đuro Matsu travelled to Ohrid, North Macedonia, to broaden bilateral ties. The leaders agreed on a gas interconnector and a high‑speed railway that would extend Serbia’s rail network through North Macedonia to Greece, complementing the earlier Italian‑backed rail initiative. Additional cooperation on border facilities, agricultural trade and tourism underscored Serbia’s strategy of building infrastructure links to facilitate its EU accession ambitions.