Two new EU contracts with the Serbian government and with the IOM will significantly contribute to addressing the current migration situation.
The European Commission has signed a contract worth EUR 7.3 million with the Serbian Ministry of Labour, Employment, Veteran and Social Affairs, the Commissariat for Refugees and Migration and the Ministry of Interior which will be used to secure adequate accommodation for refugees and migrants, finance operational costs of reception and transit centres, and centres for unaccompanied minors in Serbia, as well as for salaries of additional staff.
The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) has also started implementing a contract with the EU, in close partnership with Serbian authorities, which will provide roughly EUR 5 million worth of support to improve access to adequate accommodation and basic living conditions for migrants and refugees through the renovation of reception centres and the provision of basic medical care to migrants. The support will also facilitate the voluntary humane and dignified return and reintegration of rejected asylum seekers and irregular migrants wishing to return to their countries of origin.
The Head of the Delegation of the EU to the Republic of Serbia Ambassador Michael Davenport said: “I am certain that with this additional support Serbia will continue to tackle the migrant crisis in a humane and responsible way, as it has done since September 2015. The EU will continue its support to the central government and local communities, and will also work closely with other aid providers.”
Since September 2015, EU financial assistance for Serbia in this area has amounted to more than EUR 50 million.
