Short description of the overall project

Citizens of Serbia’s second-largest city will benefit from more comfortable, greener public transport thanks to an investment backed by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD).

Short description of activities financed by the donation

An €8 million loan to the city of Novi Sad will finance the purchase of up to 10 electric buses and accompanying charging infrastructure. The new buses will be used on two of the city’s busiest routes and will replace old, polluting diesel buses, thus helping to reduce air pollution in the city centre. The replacement of the old bus fleet is expected to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 25 per cent from current levels.

The EBRD financing will be accompanied by technical assistance to the Novi Sad public transport company on the preparation of tender documents and certain environmental and social elements of the project, as well as support for the procurement process.

The investment is part of Novi Sad’s wider engagement in the EBRD Green Cities programme, which supports cities keen to invest in green and sustainable infrastructure and to address key environmental challenges.