Brussels, 06/01/2014 (Agence Europe) - On 23 December, the European Commission adopted the 2013 national programme for Serbia totalling €178.7 million under the Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance (IPA). Including this programme, the EU's pre-accession funding for Serbia now stands at €2.6 billion since 2001.
The new funding will help Serbia in the area of the rule of law by supporting implementation of national strategies to fight against corruption, improvement of the prison system and strengthening the independence and competence of the judicial system. The European aid will also help improve the capacity of public administration at central and local levels by developing the country's management of public finances and public procurement. Thirty-four municipalities in South and South-West Serbia will be specifically targeted to develop local governance capacities, conditions for business and infrastructure development, and support the implementation of social inclusion and employment policies. The funding will also be used to strengthen the efficiency of the Serbian customs administration and border control facilities. The development of the private sector will be supported through measures that will improve the environment for doing business in Serbia, increase the competitiveness of Serbian enterprises and support investment in research and innovation. As regards transport, navigation conditions on the Danube will be improved.
In addition to this funding, €2.5 million under the Civil Society Facility, €4 million for the Tempus programme, and €12 million for refugees under the Regional Housing Programme will also be available for Serbia. (CG/transl.fl)