Serbia - Commission successfully concludes its humanitarian aid operations

On 10 October 2003, Poul Nielson, the European Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid, will visit Belgrade where he will officially close the European Commission's humanitarian operation in Serbia. This will mark the end of 12 years of humanitarian action by the European Commission's Humanitarian Aid Office (ECHO) in the Western Balkans. ECHO's assistance to the Balkans totalled €2.3 billion in the period 1991-2003. Since 1999, Serbia alone has received more than €218 million from ECHO, and about €1.5 billion in total EC funds. During his visit, Mr Nielson will meet the Serbian Prime Minister, Mr Zoran Zivkovic, as well as other members of his government.

« ECHO's intervention in the Balkans has made a real difference to the lives of thousands of people in the region and has helped lay the foundations for a gradual transition to peace and development » commented Commissioner Nielson.

The main objective of ECHO's assistance to the Balkans, including Serbia, has been to meet the basic needs of the victims of the successive crises in the region during the 1990s, notably refugees, internally displaced people (IDPs) and vulnerable local populations,. At the height of the conflict in 1994, ECHO was providing food aid to almost 3 million refugees and IDPs in the Balkans. Other activities have included provision of shelter, fuel, medical aid, water, sanitation - as well as psycho-social aid for a deeply traumatised population, support to the reconstruction process and to income-generating activities.

Twelve years and a total of €2.3 billion of humanitarian aid have rendered ECHO's operation in the Western Balkans the longest and largest humanitarian intervention ever. €670 million have been allocated to Serbia and Montenegro, including Kosovo. ECHO-funded activities have been implemented by humanitarian agencies of the United Nations, international organisations such as the Red Cross and over 200 non-governmental organisations from all over Europe and beyond.

Between 2000 and 2003, ECHO finalised its interventions in Croatia, Bosnia- Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, Albania and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. With the conclusion of its intervention in Serbia, ECHO is effectively ending its activities in the Balkans. With the humanitarian crisis over, the Balkans now face a much larger task of bringing about long term development and prosperity to the region. The EU remains strongly committed to helping the Balkans, including Serbia in realising these efforts. Its CARDS programme will continue to support structural reforms in crucial areas like economic reconstruction and regeneration, institution-building and justice and home affairs.

The CARDS programme alone will provide €4.65 billion to the Balkans between 2000 and 2006. For 2004 only, €237 million will be allocated just to Serbia and Montenegro through the CARDS programme to support the State and its constituent republics.

In addition to Serbia's Prime Minister, Mr Zoran Zivkovic, Mr Nielson will meet the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Goran Svilanovic, the Minister for Foreign Economic Relations, Mr Goran Pitic, the Minister for Social Affairs, Ms Gordana Matkovic, and the Commissioner for Refugees, Mr Ozren Tosic.


More information about ECHO in the Balkans:

http://europa.eu.int/comm/echo/field/western_balkans/index_en.htm

| Top |