EU earmarks EUR 15 million for Kosovo Serbs

BRUSSELS The EU set up a special fund for the development of Serb municipalities in Kosovo, the first tranche amounting to EUR 15mn, the European Commission (EC) said. "The special Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA) program will help address the needs of Serb majority municipalities throughout Kosovo, with a specific emphasis on the northern municipalities," the EC said in a release. EU earmarks EUR 15 million for Kosovo Serbs Funding will first focus on municipal infrastructure, public administration, rural and regional development, employment and environmental protection, and possible further additional funding will be determined on the basis of an on-going needs assessment, the release reads. "This money will be allocated to Kosovo in addition to its EUR 65-70 million annual budget under the EU's IPA program for this year," the EC underlined. EU Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fuele said on this occasion that, after Belgrade and Pristina proved that they are committed to implementing the Brussels agreement, the EU needs to show it is serious in its support to this process. "I am therefore delighted that we are able to provide additional funding in support of the April agreement," Fule noted in the media statement, underscoring that the implementation of the agreement of 19 April is vital to the normalization of Belgrade-Pristina relations and to the EU prospects of both. Tanjug

EU earmarks EUR 15 million for Kosovo Serbs

Funding will first focus on municipal infrastructure, public administration, rural and regional development, employment and environmental protection, and possible further additional funding will be determined on the basis of an on-going needs assessment, the release reads.

"This money will be allocated to Kosovo in addition to its EUR 65-70 million annual budget under the EU's IPA program for this year," the EC underlined.

EU Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fuele said on this occasion that, after Belgrade and Priština proved that they are committed to implementing the Brussels agreement, the EU needs to show it is serious in its support to this process.

"I am therefore delighted that we are able to provide additional funding in support of the April agreement," Fule noted in the media statement, underscoring that the implementation of the agreement of 19 April is vital to the normalization of Belgrade-Priština relations and to the EU prospects of both.