Smederevska Palanka, October 3, 2025 – Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management Dragan Glamočić and EU Ambassador to Serbia Andreas von Beckerath
Serbia is on the brink of eradicating rabies in wild animals, after more than a decade of EU-backed oral vaccination campaigns.
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At the “Rudine” airfield in Smederevska Palanka, EU Ambassador to Serbia Andreas von Beckerath and Agriculture Minister Prof. Dr Dragan Glamočić joined the latest aerial vaccination drive, where vaccine baits are dropped across the country.
“I am very happy to mark with you the last in a series of EU-funded campaigns of aerial vaccination of foxes and other wild carnivores against rabies. However, we must remain vigilant. Even after the completion of this EU-funded programme, the Veterinary Directorate must continue the vaccination campaigns with its own resources, maintaining the great results achieved so far. The time has come for Serbia to take the lead in the fight against rabies”, stated Ambassador von Beckerath.
EU ambassador in Serbia called on the relevant competent institutions of the Republic of Serbia to assume their responsibilities and continue close cooperation with the health and scientific sector. In order for Serbia to remain a rabies-free country, an approach based on inter-sectoral cooperation is needed.
Minister Glamočić praised the EU partnership, pointing out that no rabies case in wild animals has been reported in Serbia since 2018.
“Thanks to long-standing cooperation with the European Union, Serbia is one step away from the final eradication of one of the most dangerous zoonosis. By implementing vaccination, the most advanced and proven effective method of combating this disease, we are not only protecting the health and safety of our citizens and animals, but also creating the conditions for easier movement of pets. I am proud that, together with our European partners, we have created the basis for Serbia to soon obtain the official status of a rabies-free country”, stated Glamočić.
The EU has invested over €18 million in Serbia’s rabies programme since 2010, financing both spring and autumn campaigns. More than 1.3 million vaccine doses are distributed by air in each round. The final campaign, launched in early September, is set to conclude next week.
Read more:
EU Allocates €4.6 Million for Fox Vaccination
Ten million euros to eradicate rabies in Serbia: less and less rabies in wild animals
