Brussels, 29/06/2000 (Agence Europe) - This week the European Commission decided to free EUR 35 million for the reconstruction of Kosovo out of the EUR 240 million earmarked for this country in the EU budget for 2000. This aid is destined for a programme that included: 1) the setting-up of a joint credit line with the World Bank for small and medium sized enterprises, 2) support to the development of the banking sector and the strengthening of SMEs via a contribution to the Re-financing fund, 3) a plan to make safe and render environmentally safe the mining facilities in Trepca, 4) the delivery of fertilisers to farmers for the next cropping season and the financing of a information campaign to farmers. The Commission also allocated EUR 10 million for a health programme, notably covering the training of general practitioners and pharmacists and the management of blood transfusion services.
These programmes will be implemented by the European Agency for the Reconstruction of Kosovo, in association with UNMIK, WHO and Kosovar professionals.
On Thursday Commissioner Chris Patten went to Kosovo to visit some of the sites were financed projects will be implemented.
The Commission had previously approved humanitarian aid to the same region, i.e.:
- EUR 18.2 million in Kosovo, for food aid, the distribution of seeds and fertilisers, supply in drinking water, health projects, etc.
- EUR 31.9 million in Serbia, for the supporting the most vulnerable refugees and displaced persons (food aid, health, shelter and homes, water supply, etc.).
- EUR 5.25 million to Montenegro for similar aims.