UNOPS aimed to support Serbia’s EU accession process by advancing reforms and aligning national policies with EU standards. With 22 out of 35 negotiation chapters open, the emphasis was on addressing gaps in Clusters 2–5 through targeted technical support with the broad goal of providing a strategic foundation for accelerating the accession process and fostering Serbia’s sustainable development.

The main focus has been on developing a comprehensive Country Needs Assessment, prioritizing necessary reforms and providing a transparent and structured pathway for regulatory alignment and compliance. The UNOPS expert also aimed to strengthen institutional capacities, foster cooperation among stakeholders, align legislative frameworks and enhance public support for Serbia’s EU integration efforts. Under this assignment, the UNOPS advisor provided support to the Ministry of European Integration of Serbia for the preparation of technical support applications for the “Knowledge for Reform Action in the Western Balkans” program, and facilitated the development of roadmaps and needs assessments to align with EU priorities.

The K4R programme developed Terms of Reference for senior advisors crafted to address critical areas, including infrastructure project management, sustainable operations of energy projects, power sector reform and energy efficiency planning. This step laid the groundwork for modernizing Serbia’s energy sector and aligning it with EU standards.

Next, UNOPS created a comprehensive needs assessment questionnaire for Serbia’s Ministry of European Integration and other key ministries. The questionnaire was designed to identify annual priorities within the EU accession process, focusing on specific negotiation chapters in Clusters 2–5. By targeting EU-aligned reforms, the collected responses shaped a detailed Country Needs Assessment, helping Serbia prioritize reforms and regulatory improvements.

The assignment further supported the development of the Roadmap for democratic reforms, outlining clear commitments and actionable steps to align Serbia’s governance with EU recommendations. Finally, the K4R expert supported the design of the Centre for Excellence within the Ministry of European Integration, envisioned as a hub for sharing best practices and knowledge to strengthen Serbia’s EU integration efforts.

The work of UNOPS has significantly advanced Serbia’s EU accession process by strengthening institutions and promoting sustainable development. These efforts collectively enhance institutional readiness, promote sustainable growth and improve the quality of life for the people of Serbia by prioritizing reforms across EU negotiation chapters, leading to a detailed Country Needs Assessment.

The assignment contributes to SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions by enhancing governance through the development of a Roadmap for democratic institutions and by establishing a Centre for Excellence that strengthens institutional frameworks.

It also relates to SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals by fostering collaborative efforts through the establishment of the Centre for Excellence.

Additionally, the assignment supports SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure by advancing infrastructure improvements through the revision of the energy sector needs assessment.