• Reinforcement of animal health and welfare“ is one of the numerous projects through which the European Union supports the development and improvement of agriculture in Serbia. It provides support to the Veterinary Directorate of Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management in the process of harmonization with EU legislation and standards in the area of animal health, welfare and farm biosecurity.
  • Animal welfare means the state of the animal’s body and mind, and the extent to which its nature (genetic traits manifest in breed and temperament) is satisfied.
  • Environmentally and animal friendly farming means our shared responsibility towards society where everybody cares for animals.
  • Equivalent animal health certification standards will improve export of live animals and animal origin products to regional and international markets.
  • Dog bites and attacks cause many hospitalizations each year all over the world while rabies and other zoonoses (diseases that can be transmitted from animal to people) find important reservoirs in uncontrolled stray dog populations. It is well recognized that increasing responsible dogs’ ownership will decrease stray dog presence on the streets.
  • Improved farm biosecurity will protect animal holdings from the entry and spread of diseases.
  • The project supports production of animal-friendly and high-quality products as a result of keeping and raising, transport and slaughter of animals in good conditions 
The project  “Reinforcement of animal health and welfare”, total value of which is EUR 1.38 million financed by the European Union supports the development and improvement of agriculture in Serbia. It provides support to the Veterinary Directorate of Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management in the process of harmonization with EU and international standards in the area of animal health, biosecurity and animal welfare. It is also assisting in revision of administrative framework and capacities for animal welfare with clear recommendation for improvement and upgrading of existing structures in relevant sector. Standards related to the animal welfare will be developed with the aim to improve collaboration between the public and private sectors and international coordination.

Currently, the EU is supporting Serbia’s agriculture through four Technical Assistance Projects, one project support in equipment (in process) and through set of IPARD support. From 2007 the European Union has invested in agriculture in Serbia from IPA funds about EUR 100 million and the budget for IPARD programs is EUR 175 million.

The project is implemented by OPERA S.r.l (Italy) as a leader partner in consortium with Instituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell’ Emilia Romagna (IZSLER) (Italy).

More about project can be found on  http://animal-health-and-welfare.euzatebe.rs/

The European Union’s donations to Serbia exceed EUR 3.6 billion from 2000 to date. The funds have been used to support development, quality of life and reforms in: civil protection, flood relief and protection, education, connectivity, environment, health and consumer protection, culture, rule of law, local development, jobs and growth, public administration, migration, public financial management, civil society and media, social inclusion, youth and sport. EU support is implemented in cooperation with the Government of Serbia. The European Union is a larger donor of development aid to Serbia than all other international donors put together