Photo: FoNet
Minister of Labour, Employment, Veteran and Social Affairs Aleksandar Vulin said that Serbia expected European Commission and other donors to provide additional financial support to help Serbia successfully cope with refugee crisis.
Following the round table on refugee crisis, held at the Book Fair, Vulin told press that Serbia stood ready to help, but that money for refugee crisis was not planned in this year’s budget.
“Naturally, Serbia needs additional financial support and we expect this assistance soon. Serbia wants to help, but did not foresee refugee crisis in its current budget. We need help,” Vulin said.
Asked about the sum, Vulin said that wished not to bid on it and that Serbia would come out with proposals depending on its obligations.
During the discussion, Head of EU Delegation to Serbia Michael Davenport reminded that the EU already provided Serbia with financial and material support in the form of equipment and vehicles as requested by Serbian Government.
He mentioned the assistance package to Serbia aimed at authorities, in charge of refugee reception centres, and NGOs helping in those centres.
According to Davenport, a close communication has been established which should enable donor community to efficiently support Serbia in addressing refugee crisis.
He said that the EU was the biggest donor to Serbia after the 2014 floods and provided the biggest assistance in refugee crisis, too.
“European Union is your long-term partner,” said Davenport and noted that the EU would continue to help Serbia cope with refugee crisis this year as well as in 2016.
UN Permanent Representative in Serbia Irena Vojačkova Sollorano said that the UN was very experienced in helping governments of countries affected by the refugee crisis.
She said that there was a close cooperation between UN Agencies and Serbian authorities.
Her counterpart of UNHCR Hans Friedrich Soder said that the refugee crisis affecting European countries was different from other refugee crisis because it was marked by a constant influx of people.
According to him, due to continued influx of refugees, UN Agencies must keep all their resources alert all the time in order to address the challenges, because the duration of crisis was unclear.
