“It is better to invest a Euro in prevention than seven Euros in natural disaster relief,” said Head of the EU Delegation to Serbia Sem Farizi as he presented the Ministry of Defence with an EU donation in the form of new equipment, whereas the Minister of Defence Aleksandar Vulin said that “any investment in the military is an investment in improved quality of life for Serbian citizens.”
The project is part of the EU assistance package aimed at helping Serbia fight climate change, especially in the context of 2014 floods, Fabrizi said, noting that the EU has offered Serbia EUR172 million for flood prevention and relief. “The first stage was about flood relief and reconstruction. Now, by donating this equipment, we are dealing with prevention. This is the state-of-the-art equipment,” Fabrizi said. EU Ambassador said that the donated equipment would be used to map terrain and draw risk maps, adding that the EU has also secured both software and hardware, and training for people who will be using it. “The project is focused on the drawing of flood prevention maps or, should the worst occur, better flood relief,” Fabrizi said, reminding that the EU Delegation has over the past four years been working with Serbian authorities to provide flood relief in 51 municipalities. According to him, the effort included reconstruction and construction of numerous structures, be it private homes, public buildings or bridges, bringing direct benefits for more than 150,000 people.
Serbian Minister of Defence Aleksandar Vulin thanked the EU Delegation for the donation, generous and substantial not only in terms of money, but also in terms of the quality and usefulness of the equipment. The Serbian Armed Forces cooperate with civil authorities in the event of natural disasters not only post festum, but also prior natural disasters, assisting in prevention and damage relief, Vulin said. “The Military Geographical Institute is up for a tremendous challenge, but it will eventually help Serbia deal with potential threats better, to predict events and be on par with the world,” Vulin said. Any investment in the military is an investment in improved quality of life for Serbian citizens, he said.
Director of the Government Office for Public Investment Management Marko Blagojevic thanked the EU and the Military Geographical Institute, which acts as the implementing party in the project, noting that the EU, as the main donor for flood relief in Serbia, remained committed to helping Serbia reinforce its flood prevention system. “We have done an amazing task in the past four years, but we have to do more, be smarter and more efficient,” Blagojevic said, adding: “The weather has turned against us and we see a rise in natural disasters.” A number of issues have arisen due to inappropriate construction, he said. “The equipment should improve our preparedness and response and let us make more efficient use of resources,” Blagojevic said.
The Batajnica Air Base hosted the presentation of the project Preparation of flood hazard and flood risk maps funded through IPA 2014 to the tune of EUR6.15 million, with implementing support from the World Bank. The money has been used to purchase equipment for aerial laser-based terrain survey and LiDAR camera-obtained data processing hardware and software as well as an off-road vehicle. Thanks to the project, flood risk maps will be drawn for 74 main floodplains, i.e. some 9,500 square kilometres. The Military Geographical Institute will be in charge of terrain surveying in 2018 and 2019. The European Union has provided the most substantial assistance for flood relief to Serbia to the tune of EUR172 million drawn from EU’s Solidarity Fund and IPA 2012 and 2014 funds.
