Brussels, 22/11/2000 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission has announced that the first deliveries of electricity arrived last night in Serbia as part of the Union's emergency aid. The fuel deliveries had begun on 11 November. During coming weeks, there will be deliveries of medicines and food. Commissioner Chris Patten, who noted that Serbia is facing a "terribly difficult winter, mainly as far as energy is concerned", said he was "delighted our help has begun to arrive earlier than expected".
We recall that these electricity deliveries are mainly assured by Bulgaria. A contract concluded last week by the European Commission with NEK Bulgaria provides for deliveries amounting to a value of EUR 30 million, as the first tranche of the grant, and the Commission may grant subsidies of up to EUR 46 million if necessary. All the aid comes within the context of emergency aid decided by the EU for the current year, for a total of EUR 200 million.