EU to donate up to EUR 1 billion in aid to Serbia

(Photo: I.Vukša)

Set up in the wake of the massive floods that hit central Europe in the past decade, the fund provides aid in case flood damage exceeds 0.64 percent of the afflicted country's GDP, Tanjug news agency reports.

- Besides, Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fule is looking for a way for additional funds to be provided from IPA funds - Georgieva said.

Access to funds is more complicated for Bosnia-Herzegovina, which has not been granted candidate status, Georgieva noted.

She stressed that they had reacted the moment they had received the requests from Serbia and Bosnia-Herzegovina, adding that high-capacity pumps, helicopters and boats had been sent immediately, and that a total of 450 volunteers from EU member states had also been sent in the meantime.

That is more than Serbia and Bosnia-Herzegovina had asked for, but we stepped up the assistance due to the dramatic situation, she said.

Georgieva said that Serbia can also count on bilateral aid from EU member states.