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The Government of the Republic of Serbia

In the service of citizens

Mali expounds multiple bills

Belgrade, 4 March 2025

First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Siniša Mali today presented proposals of several important legal acts at the first sitting of the first regular session of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia in 2025, including the Bill amending the Law on Higher Education and the Bill referring to favourable housing loans for young people.

Despite the impossible working conditions, Mali said that several important bills are before the MPs, one of which relates to giving young people the opportunity to become independent and thus provide themselves with a better future.

The First Deputy Prime Minister pointed out that this will be made possible by a guarantee scheme for loans to be approved to young people aged 20 to 35, with a 1% down payment.

According to him, this means that young people will be able to purchase an apartment worth €75,000 with a down payment of €750, while for an apartment worth €100,000, the down payment would be €1,000.

Mali stated that this is an opportunity that young people should seize, noting that the loans will be available within eight days of the law being published in the Official Gazette.

The First Deputy Prime Minister emphasised that the MPs also have before them a piece of proposed legislation designed to meet students’ fourth demand, i.e. the Bill amending the Law on Higher Education, which envisages an additional RSD 18 billion for higher education and a 50% reduction in tuition fees, among other matters.

Mali also recalled that a 5% increase in salaries in education is planned as of 1 March, followed by another raise in October, after salaries in the sector went up 11% in January.

This means that this year, salaries of educators will rise by more than 22% cumulatively, the First Deputy Prime Minister emphasised.

Mali further noted that the Bill on the Protection of Users of Financial Services, which limits interest rates in order to protect citizens’ living standards, is also on the agenda today.

He went on to state that the agenda also includes bills designed to contribute to the acceleration of European integration, noting that amendments that align with the European Union’s Growth Agenda will allow Serbia to gain access to the initial €112 million out of a total of €6 billion provided for the Western Balkan countries.

The First Deputy Prime Minister said that the continuation of infrastructure projects in Serbia is also planned, including the completion of the Ruma-Šabac-Loznica road and the Danube road.

At the sitting, Mali presented the proposed legislation on the further gasification of Serbia, the ratification of agreements on regional gas hubs and the purchase of six new locomotives for railways, as well as free trade agreements with Egypt and the United Arab Emirates.

These agreements are very important for Serbia, he said, noting that alongside the free trade agreement with the People’s Republic of China, they will provide the economy with an export market of more than 2.2 billion people.

Everything we promised to students and other citizens is before the MPs today, Mali said, emphasising the importance of adopting the proposed legal acts.