The European Union is the biggest donor of assistance for refugees and internally displaced persons: from 2001-2016, it has granted Serbia EUR90 million for such purposes.
Serbia has activated the EU’s Civil Protection Mechanism to benefit from material support to help cope with the influx of refugees and asylum seekers in the country.
Today 900 blankets, 700 bed sheet sets and 350 pillows have been delivered to the Refugee Centre in Presevo.
On 15 September, EU funded European PROGRES programme delivered ten metal grid containers and a water tank to the Refugee Centre in Presevo. The next delivery will be on 21 September for 900 blankets, 700 bed sheet sets and 350 pillows.
Migration is the defining challenge of this moment. There are 20 million refugees and internally displaced people in our neighbourhood alone. Our key objective is to help stabilize and to keep the hope of refugees to return to their homes alive.
For candidate countries (Albania, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Turkey) and potential candidates (Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo), the EU provides both financial and technical support. The aim of this support is to help the beneficiaries make political and economic reforms and to help them meet the obligations necessary for membership of the EU.
Together with German Ambassador to Serbia Axel Dittmann, Head of the EU Delegation Michael Davenport visited reception centre for refugees in Kanjiza where Red Cross of Serbia and Caritas deployed EU aid in the form of food and sanitation packages.
The EU Delegation is ready, at the request of the Serbian Government, to provide approximately € 400,000 to help prepare temporary accommodation for refugees in Belgrade. An NGO partner to manage this project has already been identified.
The distribution of EU humanitarian assistance in food, water and hygiene items, including special packages for babies, started today. The aid is delivered by the Serbian Red Cross to the most vulnerable refugees and families with children in Subotica, Kanjiza, Negotin and Zajecar.
For candidate countries (Albania, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Turkey) and potential candidates (Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo*), the EU provides both financial and technical support.
Oskar Benedikt, deputy head of the EU Delegation to Serbia, on Wednesday 19 August visited the reception centre for migrants in Presevo and announced an immediate donation of €390.000 from the EU to help Serbia deal with increased migration flows in the short-term.
