On May 22, the European Payments Council (EPC) officially approved Serbia’s inclusion in the geographical scope of the Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA) schemes, marking a significant step in the country’s financial and institutional convergence with the European Union. With this move, Serbia becomes the 41st country to join SEPA, a development that facilitates standardised and efficient euro-denominated transactions across Europe.
According to the EPC, all current participants in SEPA payment schemes will be able to conduct SEPA Credit Transfer (SCT), SEPA Instant Credit Transfer (SCT Inst), and SEPA Direct Debit (SDD) transactions with Serbian financial institutions once those institutions finalise their adherence processes. This operational alignment is expected to be enabled starting from November 2025, with the earliest possible Operational Readiness Date (ORD) for payment service providers (PSPs) in Serbia projected for May 2026.
In a parallel statement, Serbia’s central bank (NBS) affirmed that it had already undertaken all necessary steps to align domestic payment systems and regulatory frameworks with EU standards. “Joining SEPA, for which we have long been prepared, now allows us to enhance the efficiency of financial transactions with EU countries,” the NBS declared. It further emphasised its commitment to advancing the integration process.
Serbia had initially aimed to join SEPA in March, alongside North Macedonia and Moldova. However, its application was delayed due to the European Commission’s request for improved legislation on anti-money laundering (AML) and counter-terrorism financing (CTF). In response, Serbia’s National Assembly adopted the necessary legal amendments on March 6 — the very day of the EPC meeting. Despite these efforts, the EPC did not review the application at that time, as reported by the NBS.
Earlier, in November 2024, Montenegro and Albania became the first Western Balkan countries to enter SEPA, signalling a broader regional momentum toward financial integration with the EU.
The expansion of SEPA into the Western Balkans is a cornerstone of the European Union’s new Growth Plan for the region. By enabling uniform cashless payments via credit transfer and direct debit in euros, SEPA membership is expected to significantly reduce transaction costs, enhance cross-border financial flows, and deepen the region’s economic linkage with the EU — all while laying institutional groundwork for eventual accession.
The EPC’s endorsement of Serbia’s application represents not only a technical achievement but also a symbolic affirmation of the country’s commitment to aligning its financial infrastructure with European norms.
