Belgrade awarded millions in contracts without public tenders

Belgrade's city administration awarded contracts totaling at least 85 million euros in 2025 without adhering to public procurement procedures, according to a report by business magazine Nova Ekonomija.

The magazine detailed that 12 different city secretariats entered into agreements for goods, services, and public works outside the scope of Serbia's Public Procurement Law. These contracts were awarded in addition to those secured through competitive tenders.

While Serbia's Public Procurement Law does permit exemptions for certain procurement processes, these typically apply to contracts falling below specific value thresholds or for other defined reasons. The report suggests a significant amount of public money was allocated without the transparency typically ensured by public bidding.

The scale of these non-tendered contracts raises questions about the allocation of public funds and adherence to regulations designed to ensure fair competition and prevent corruption in government contracting.