EU gives EUR 172 million to Serbia under IPA

BELGRADE A EUR 172 million agreement has been signed under the first component of the Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance (IPA) for 2012. It is aimed at helping Serbia implement reforms of key importance to its membership in the EU. EU gives EUR 172 million to Serbia under IPA The document was signed by Director of the Serbian government's European Integration Office Milan Pajevic and Head of the EU Delegation to Serbia Vincent Degert. During the signing ceremony at the Palace of Justice in Belgrade Friday, Degert said that the rule of law was crucial to the functioning of democracy in the country and that the agreement would bring direct benefit to the citizens of Serbia. He recalled the fact that the EU was the biggest donor in Serbia, having invested more than EUR 2.4 billion in the country since 2000. Pajevic said that the Republic of Serbia would allocate EUR 27 million for a total of 13 projects in the coming year and that, together with the EU/IPA funds, the amount would total EUR 199 million. Justice Minister Nikola Selakovic, who attended the signing, said that the independence of the judiciary had been shaken terribly in the past and the process underway was a unique opportunity to finally move towards the creation of an effective, efficient and accountable judiciary. “The fact that the EU has allocated nearly 30 percent of the money for the judiciary and state administration shows the exceptional importance of the work the Ministry and the European Integration Office will embark on,” said Selakovic. The funds will be used for strengthening the rule of law, through improving the efficiency of the judicial system, with special support from the judiciary, the police and the prosecutor's office - EUR 17 million, public administration reforms - EUR 16 million, social development - EUR 24 million, climate change and sustainable energy - EUR 57.5 million, the European Integration Office has said in a statement. After signing the agreement, Degert handed over EUR 2.3 million worth of technical and computer equipment to the Serbian public prosecutor. This donation is part of the EU project to improve the efficiency of the prosecution. (Beta) Tanjug

EU gives EUR 172 million to Serbia under IPA

The document was signed by Director of the Serbian government's European Integration Office Milan Pajević and Head of the EU Delegation to Serbia Vincent Degert.

During the signing ceremony at the Palace of Justice in Belgrade Friday, Degert said that the rule of law was crucial to the functioning of democracy in the country and that the agreement would bring direct benefit to the citizens of Serbia.

He recalled the fact that the EU was the biggest donor in Serbia, having invested more than EUR 2.4 billion in the country since 2000.

Pajević said that the Republic of Serbia would allocate EUR 27 million for a total of 13 projects in the coming year and that, together with the EU/IPA funds, the amount would total EUR 199 million.

Justice Minister Nikola Selakovic, who attended the signing, said that the independence of the judiciary had been shaken terribly in the past and the process underway was a unique opportunity to finally move towards the creation of an effective, efficient and accountable judiciary.

“The fact that the EU has allocated nearly 30 percent of the money for the judiciary and state administration shows the exceptional importance of the work the Ministry and the European Integration Office will embark on,” said Selakovic.

The funds will be used for strengthening the rule of law, through improving the efficiency of the judicial system, with special support from the judiciary, the police and the prosecutor's office - EUR 17 million, public administration reforms - EUR 16 million, social development - EUR 24 million, climate change and sustainable energy - EUR 57.5 million, the European Integration Office has said in a statement.

After signing the agreement, Degert handed over EUR 2.3 million worth of technical and computer equipment to the Serbian public prosecutor. This donation is part of the EU project to improve the efficiency of the prosecution.