BELGRADE – Serbia has reached an important milestone in its integration with the European Union’s inland waterway transport system. The European Commission has granted recognition in the EU to certificates of qualification, service record books and logbooks issued by Serbia for inland navigation.
In practical terms, this means that crew members working on Serbia’s rivers will have their professional documents recognised on EU inland waterways. For workers, companies and the wider transport sector, this removes an important administrative barrier and creates new opportunities for mobility, employment and business cooperation across borders.
This achievement comes after four years of intensive work by Serbia’s institutions to align its certification system with EU requirements. It also reflects a strong and continuous partnership between Serbia, the European Commission and the Transport Community.
The Transport Community supported Serbia throughout this process, providing technical assistance, guidance and coordination. The Secretariat also helped initiate and maintain communication with the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Mobility and Transport, ensuring that Serbia’s progress was properly presented, assessed and followed up.
“This is a major step forward for Serbia and for the integration of the Western Balkans into the EU transport market. It shows that reforms deliver concrete results for people and businesses. The recognition of Serbia’s inland navigation documents will make it easier for qualified workers to operate across European waterways and will strengthen Serbia’s role in regional and European transport connectivity,” Mr Matej Zakonjšek, Director of the Permanent Secretariat of the Transport Community said.
The European Commission’s decision confirms that Serbia has taken the necessary measures to ensure that its system for issuing these documents meets the same requirements as those applied in the European Union. The assessment included a detailed review of Serbia’s procedures and a fact-finding visit carried out by the Commission in Belgrade in May 2024.
Serbia’s inland navigation professionals will now be better connected to the EU market. It is another sign that alignment with EU transport rules brings visible and practical benefits.
The milestone is also directly linked to the Transport Community’s Next Generation Action Plan for Waterborne Transport, which aims to support safer, modern and better-connected inland waterway transport across the Western Balkans.
The Transport Community continues to play a crucial role in bringing the Western Balkans closer to the European Union transport system through policy alignment, but also through practical achievements that make everyday transport easier, safer and more efficient.
This success also sends a wider message to the region: sustained reform, close cooperation and clear EU alignment can open real opportunities for workers, companies and transport operators.
