Resource management activities in the context of circular economy and SMEs in Serbia

The transition towards a circular economy (CE) model pre-sents a formidable challenge that entails a multi-step process, empha-sizing the decoupling of economic growth from resource consumption. The pivotal role of micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in fostering resource efficiency (RE) and advancing towards a circular economy underscores the necessity for dedicated scholarly investiga-tions in this domain. This study aims to conduct a comparative analysis of RE adoption within SMEs, examining both the European Union (EU) as a whole and the specific case of Serbia. By analyzing data derived from the Flash Eurobarometer spanning the years 2012 to 2024, the study tracked the prevalence of micro, small, and medium enterprises in the EU and Serbia. The findings reveal significant advancements made by EU SMEs in embracing resource efficiency practices and tran-sitioning towards a circular economy. Notably, disparities exist among nations, with Western Balkan countries, including Serbia, currently exhibiting lower levels of resource efficiency integration and CE imple-mentation