Brussels, 30/12/2003 (Agence Europe) - On 29 December, the European Commission adopted a decision to provide Kosovo with an additional EUR 16 million of aid to be implemented by the European Agency for Reconstruction in Pristina. The extra funds will provide further EU support to the United Nations Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) and Kosovo's Provisional Institutions of Self-Government (PISG) for the implementation of the Kosovo "Standards Work Plans".
A press release explains that more than EUR 11 million has been earmarked for economic and social infrastructure in Kosovo's municipalities, with around EUR 5 million for the development of an initial sewage treatment and disposal programme to improve the environment and well-being of the people of Kosovo.
The press release adds that this additional aid brings the total amount of Community Assistance for Reconstruction Development and Stabilisation (CARDS) programme in 2003 to a total amount of over EUR 76 million devoted mostly to the support of institution building and socio-economic development of Kosovo. This complemented by the participation of Kosovo in the 2003 CARDS Regional programme which has been allocated EUR 31.5 million for the Western Balkans Since 1999, the European Union has been the largest assistance donor to Kosovo, providing over EUR 1.6 billion. In February 2000, the European Agency for Reconstruction was entrusted by the Commission with the responsibility of implementing CARDS in Kosovo.