In recent years, Serbia has been actively granting citizenship to foreign nationals, especially from Russia, using the naturalization procedure as an exception. According to the Law on Citizenship of the Republic of Serbia, the government may grant citizenship to individuals if their admission is of interest to the state.
According to the Serbian media outlet Nedeljnik, at least four Russian oligarchs were granted Serbian citizenship in 2025:
Oleg Boyko – estimated to be worth $1.5 billion.
Sergei Lomakin – worth about $1.2 billion.
Yevgeny Strshalkovsky and Yuri Kushnerov – the exact amounts are not disclosed, but are likely to be several hundred million dollars.
The decision to grant citizenship was made by the Serbian government under the leadership of former Prime Minister Milos Vucevic. The formal basis for this was “interest for the Republic of Serbia”, according to Article 19 of the Law on Citizenship. However, the specific reasons and criteria for these individuals to receive Serbian passports remain unclear, especially given the lack of information about their previous business ties to Serbia.
So far, there is no data on whether the new Serbian citizens plan to develop business in the country. However, experts speculate that the granting of citizenship may be related to the desire to attract investment and capital to Serbia. In recent years, Russian entrepreneurs have been actively buying up real estate in Belgrade, Novi Sad, and Serbian resorts.
Statistics on citizenship and residence permits for Russians:
2022: Of the 84 foreign nationals who received Serbian citizenship by government decision, almost two-thirds were Russians.
From February 2022 to December 2024: Russian citizens submitted 73,197 applications for temporary residence in Serbia, of which more than 90% were approved.
February 2025: The number of Russians actually living in Serbia is estimated at 80,000-110,000.
Reasons for granting citizenship
Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic has previously stated that the accelerated granting of citizenship to Russians and Ukrainians is due to a shortage of labor in the country. Priority is given to those who open companies and create jobs for Serbian citizens. However, in the case of Russian billionaires, it is unclear how their citizenship contributes to the development of the Serbian economy.
Thus, Serbia continues to use the granting of citizenship as a tool to attract investment and business ties. However, the lack of transparency in the criteria for naturalization raises questions about the real motives behind such decisions. Against the backdrop of the geopolitical situation, the interest of Russian businessmen in the Serbian passport is likely to be related not only to investment opportunities, but also to the possibility of obtaining a new legal status in Europe.
Source: https://t.me/relocationrs/755
The Chinese company SHAC will invest 40 million euros in the construction of a plant in Novi Sad, Serbia. The company has already signed an agreement with the German automaker BMW. The plant is expected to open by the end of 2025, with the first serial deliveries to European customers scheduled for the first quarter of 2027.
Other Chinese investment projects in Serbia:
Energy sector: In May 2024, the Serbian Ministry of Mines and Energy signed two agreements with Chinese companies totaling about €2.7 billion. These investments include the construction of an oil and petroleum product refinery in Smederevo and the construction of a solar panel plant in Paracin.
Infrastructure: The Chinese company Shandong High-speed Group is involved in the construction of the Belgrade-Zrenjanin-Novi Sad highway, as well as in the reconstruction project of the Constantine the Great airport in Niš.
Automotive industry: Mei Ta has invested 60 million euros in the construction of a plant for the production of automotive components in Obrenovac.
These projects demonstrate the expansion of Chinese investment in various sectors of the Serbian economy, contributing to industrial development and job creation in the region.
Source: https://t.me/relocationrs/741
MediGroup becomes part of Finnish Mehiläinen in the largest deal on the private healthcare market in Central and Eastern Europe
Finnish medical group Mehiläinen acquires the largest private healthcare network in Serbia, MediGroup, in the largest private healthcare transaction in Central and Eastern Europe.
MediGroup, founded in 2013, comprises 13 clinics, three maternity hospitals, two laboratory centers and three laboratories across Serbia. The network provides a wide range of medical services, including diagnostics, outpatient and inpatient care.
Mehiläinen, a leading Finnish operator of medical services, is already present in the markets of Sweden, Germany and Latvia. The purchase of MediGroup opens up an opportunity for the company to strengthen its position in Southeastern Europe and increase patients’ access to high quality healthcare.
Mikko Vetterviri, Director of Mehiläinen International, said that the move is in line with the company’s strategy of international expansion and introduction of new technologies in medicine. He emphasized that the investment in the Serbian market is driven by its high growth potential and the growing demand for private healthcare.
Closing of the transaction is expected after regulatory approvals. In the future it is planned to modernize MediGroup’s medical centers, expand the range of medical services and introduce digital technologies, which are already used by Mehiläinen’s patients in other countries.
Source: https://t.me/relocationrs/737
In 2024, the office real estate market in Riga demonstrates stability, supported by economic growth and increased business activity. Despite the moderate pace of construction of new business centers, the demand for modern office space remains high, especially in the city’s central districts and business zones.
Thus, the office real estate market in Riga continues to develop, remaining attractive to occupiers, especially in modern business centers and flexible office spaces.
Source: http://relocation.com.ua/ohliad-ofisnoi-nerukhomosti-ryhy-vid-relocation/
The Spanish economy grew by 0.8% in the fourth quarter of 2024 compared to the previous three months, according to the national statistics agency INE, which presented the final data. The figure coincided with the previous estimate and with the growth rate in the third quarter.
Consumer spending in Spain in October-December increased by 1% compared to the previous quarter, government spending increased by 0.3%, and business investment by 2.9%. Exports of goods and services increased by 0.1%, imports by 1.4%.
The industrial sector recorded an increase in production by 0.3%, the construction sector by 2.7%, and the services sector by 1%.
In annual terms, Spain’s GDP grew by 3.4%, while previously it was reported to have risen by 3.5%. At the end of 2024, according to the final data, the Spanish economy grew by 3.2%, this data was confirmed.
Source: http://relocation.com.ua/spains-economy-grew-by-only-08/
In 2024, the German residential real estate market faced a number of challenges, including falling prices, slowing construction and rising borrowing costs. Here are the key trends and forecasts for 2025, focusing on the country’s largest cities.
Decline in housing prices
In the first half of 2024, the average asking prices for new and existing apartments decreased by about 3.6% compared to the same period in 2023. This decline is less pronounced than in previous periods, when the drop reached 7.3% and 7.4%, respectively. The largest annual decline was recorded in Frankfurt am Main – by 6.5%, while in Hamburg the decline was only 0.6%.
The situation in major cities
Munich: The most expensive city in Germany with an average price of about 11,000 euros per square meter. In 2024, there was a 5.2% decline in prices for new buildings.
Berlin: The average housing price was around 7,920 euros per square meter.
Hamburg: A 5% decline in new construction prices, which is one of the smallest declines among major cities.
Frankfurt am Main: The largest year-on-year price decline of 6.5%.
Düsseldorf and Leipzig: On the contrary, these cities recorded an increase in prices for new buildings by 4.1% and 8.7%, respectively.
Housing shortage and construction activity
According to a study by the Federal Institute for Building, Urban and Spatial Research (BBSR), Germany needs to build 320,000 new apartments every year until 2030 to meet growing demand, boosted by the influx of immigrants from Ukraine and Syria. However, in 2024, only 216,000 apartments were authorized, the lowest number since 2010 and reflecting the real estate crisis.
Financial performance and investments
Germany’s largest real estate group, Vonovia, reported its third consecutive annual loss in 2024, amounting to EUR 962.3 million, due to significant write-downs in property values. Nevertheless, CEO Rolf Buch predicts a return to profitability in 2025, provided that real estate prices stabilize.
Forecast for 2025
German house prices are expected to grow by 3.5% in 2025, although there is a significant risk of weaker growth. The market continues to face difficulties due to high borrowing and construction costs. Rental growth is expected to exceed house price growth, making it difficult for potential buyers to save a down payment.
In general, the German residential real estate market in 2024 was characterized by declining prices and slowing construction activity. Forecasts for 2025 suggest a moderate increase in prices, but the market remains sensitive to economic and political factors.
Source: http://relocation.com.ua/analysis-of-residential-real-estate-market-in-germany/
