EU humanitarian aid to Kosovo, Albania, FYROM, Yugoslavia

Summary: February 12, 2001: The Commission approves €17.8 million in humanitarian aid for the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, Kosovo, Albania and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) (Brussels)

The European Commission has granted additional financing of €17.8 million so that humanitarian assistance can continue uninterrupted throughout the winter. Charged to the 2001 budget, this decision supplements funding of €31.6 million decided in December 2000. The aid is managed by the Humanitarian Aid Office (ECHO) and is intended to cover the basic humanitarian needs of refugees, displaced persons and other vulnerable groups during the winter. These needs mainly involve health, housing, food and repatriation aid.

Almost half the amount available is for Serbia (€7.6 million), which has the largest number of refugees and displaced persons. The objectives are as follows:

to meet the most pressing humanitarian needs following the Kosovo crisis;
to continue assistance to refugees, displaced persons and vulnerable groups among the local population and to the host communities;
to promote the voluntary return of refugees to Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina.

In Kosovo, Montenegro, Albania and FYROM, this decision covers both the urgent needs of winter and activities easing the transition to longer-term development.

In the region as a whole, the following areas of activity remain a priority:

Food aid; provision of fuel-wood and housing; health; assistance for host families and support for income-generating activities; improvement in the drinking water supply system and health infrastructure; aid for repatriating refugees and displaced persons.

This new decision forms part of a policy of close coordination between the competent Commission departments (ECHO, DG RELEX) and enhanced cooperation on the ground between ECHO and the European Agency for Reconstruction, now responsible not only for Kosovo but also Serbia and Montenegro.

Ref: EC01-010EN
EU source: European Commission
UN forum:
Date: 12/2/2001

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