Serbia 's economy might be in the doldrums , but one company is tasting sweet success as the country readies itself for entry into the European Union . Serbia , which begins EU membership negotiations next year , is struggling with sluggish growth , high inflation , unemployment at 25 % , and excessive public debt . Despite the country 's problems , Bambi -- the country 's biggest confectionery maker -- is investing in its operations and looking to new export opportunities . Read more : Germany 's modest Mutti Merkel is no Iron Lady Thatcher . `` We are not sleeping , we are not waiting until these things [ entering the EU ] come about , '' its COO , Daniel Boehi told CNN . `` Bambi is a good role model in that sense . '' The company 's factory in Pozarevac is already state-of-the-art . The fast-paced operation is open 24 hours hours a day , and run with three shifts of workers . New technology has been brought in to keep the company in line with EU regulations , including a machine which automatically weighs every product to ensure it maintains its advertised net weight . Read more : After Fukushima : Could Germany 's nuclear gamble backfire ? `` We have food experts , technologists and lawyers who tell us what to do , '' Boehi told CNN . `` Our portfolio , our production lines , our quality standards ... [ they ] are not much different to what Nestle or any global player would be doing . '' Read more : Rule one for television field producers : Expect the unexpected . The factory visited by CNN churns out 40 tonnes of Bambi 's best-selling biscuit , the Plazma , each day . The company is investing $ 13 million in more production lines next year . Boehi told CNN he expected joining the EU would increase demand for products and open new markets . `` New opportunities might open up , mostly with surrounding markets like Romania , Bulgaria , Greece and Croatia , '' he said . Read more : Building learning blocks at LEGO school . Boehi added : `` We do n't see actually countries like Germany , Switzerland [ and ] the UK as a real opportunity for us ... these markets are saturated . '' While Serbia aspires to EU membership , such a move will also provide challenges . Watch more : Can Italy improve competitiveness . Serbia 's minimum wage , at $ 1.36 an hour , is one of the lowest in Europe , and comes in below China , Malaysia and the Philippines . The country is also struggling with its rising unemployment levels . Entry into the EU has raised fears the country 's educated youth will flee to better economies within Europe . `` Wage costs will go up , this is clear , but the way we will deal with that is not laying off people . It is by simply organizing ourselves in a better way , '' Boehi told CNN . `` We are paying more than others and the competition will slowly , slowly need to ... adjust to that and come up to the same level . So , it will go up but that is part of life . ''
Serbia is struggling with sluggish economy , high inflation , unemployment at 25 % . Serbia 's minimum wage , at $ 5 an hour , is one of the lowest in Europe , and comes in below China . Entry into the EU has raised fears the country 's educated elite will flee .