EU sets aside EUR 30mn from IPA funds

EU sets aside EUR 30mn from IPA funds

"What is most important is that we cannot just send money, we need to know exactly what it will be used for. For this reason the role of the Serbian government, which must make the first step, is decisive, because we do not want to react as donors," Bendikt explained, adding that the EU will provide experts to assess the damage caused by the catastrophic floods.

The EU official pointed out that the organization in this respect has very good contacts with the Serbian Office for European Integration, and noted that a new office is expected to be set up for this purpose.

Benedikt recalled that the EU responded by sending teams and humanitarian aid in the first days of the floods, and said that some of the rescue teams are still in Serbia.

"We now move to the second phase which concerns problems that will arise after the withdrawal of the water, which is mostly related to construction and reconstruction of what has been destroyed," said Benedikt.