The European Union has donated 95 vehicles to Serbian Ministry of Interior and the Commissariat for Refugees .
The donation was made by the Director General of the DG NEAR Christian Danielsson during his two-day visit to Belgrade earlier this February as a part of €56.4 million in EU assistance to Serbia for managing irregular migration since September 2015. On top of this, EU Member States have provided almost €20 million bilaterally. Additional funds for Serbia will be made available and put to use as necessary.
Danielsson handed over to the Minister of Interior Nebojsa Stefanovic and Commissioner for Refugees and Migration Vladimir Cucic keys to vehicles – off-road “Škoda Yeti”, “Peugeot 208,” Peugeot New Boxer and Fiat Ducato Mini bus –at the ceremony held at the Fountain Plateau in front of the Palace of Serbia. The donation of additional vehicles is expected in the near future.
Serbia and the EU – Partners in managing irregular migration
FoNet
On this occasion, Danielsson said that Serbia and the Eu were partners on the same mission, adding that the cooperation during the migrant crisis set an example for good cooperation.
“We at the EU are impressed with the way Serbia is solving the problem of the migrant crisis,” EU official said.
The EU will continue to support Serbia in dealing with the crisis and strengthening of its border controls.
Danielsson said that the donation of vehicles to the Ministry of Interior was a sign of close cooperation between the EU and Serbia not only in the context of the migrant crisis but also in a much wider context, adding that it showed “just how closely integrated Serbia and EU Member States are.”
According to him, EU Member States accounted for two thirds of Serbia’s overall foreign trade. “Such a deep relation creates jobs, prosperity and direct investment here in Serbia,” Danielsson said.
“We are also working very closely together on the reforms that Serbia has embarked on. For instance, the support the EU gives to the economic reforms here in Serbia which are impressive, and the support the EU gives to the education reform… And the support the EU gives to the energy sector reform here in Serbia where it has since 2000 devoted EUR500 million for that purpose. And I’m thinking of the support the EU gives when it comes to all that is being made in order to further strengthen public administration and judiciary. There should therefore be no surprise that the EU is the biggest donor to Serbia with a total of €2 billion in grants since 2007.”
Danielsson said that all of it has been done “within the framework of EU’s strong commitment to Serbia’s choice decision to go toward the EU membership” and concluded that the donation of vehicles “is very symbolic in that context.”
Most of vehicles to be used by border police
FoNet
Serbian Minister of Interior Nebojsa Stefanovic said that the EU donation was also intended for border police which managed to arrest 2,300 smugglers since the outbreak of crisis. “These vehicles represent concrete assistance that should help Serbia be more effective in fighting illegal migration,” Stefanovic said. He and Danielsson discussed Serbia’s stronger participation in Frontex operations and the ways in which the EU and Serbia could further improve border control. He also briefed Danielsson on the progress made relating to chapter 24.
Commissioner Vladimir Cucic said he was happy with the fact the EU had recognised the efforts Serbia was making and stressed that “the EU, being the largest donor and a reliable partner” had always considered Serbia’s needs when planning the allocation of funds.
