Agreement signed on allocation of 100m EUR worth of aid from IPA funds to budget of Serbia

Božidar Đelić (Photo: ekapija)

- The Deputy Prime Minister of Republic of Serbia for European integrations, Božidar Đelić, signed the finance agreement yesterday (September 17, 2009) with Oli Rehn, the EU Enlargement Commissioner, on allotment of 100m EUR worth of aid from the EU's IPA funds to the budget of Serbia - the Government of Serbia announced.

Đelić, who is currently in the working visit to the institutions of European Union in Brussels, said that it was the budget support to the Government of Serbia for the priority needs of payment of pensions, investments in infrastructure and subventions for residential development.

He explained that the conditions for allotment of such budget support to Serbia were further application of macroeconomic programme that our country and the International Monetary Fund had agreed on, and continuation of work on European integrations.

The Deputy Prime Minister pointed to the fact that, when it comes to European integrations, part of those funds would be used for maintenance and stimulation of people's skills and readiness for achievement of that goal.

Đelić also said that Rehn told him at today's meeting that the European Commission was of the opinion that the time had come for application of Transient trade agreement because of the progress that Serbia had achieved in the domain of European integrations and cooperation with the Hague Tribunal.

- The first moment when unblocking of that agreement will be tried is October 2009. In case of unsuccessful attempt, the next opportunity will be the EU summit in December - said Đelić and added that the new report of the Chief Prosecutor in the Hague Tribunal, Sergio Bramerc, on cooperation between Serbia and that court would be taken in consideration at that meeting.