By decision of the Government of the Republic of Serbia, based on the proposal of Minister of European Integration Jadranka Joksimović, a Special Working Group for the preparation of the application for the EU Solidarity Fund has been formed. The application will be submitted for the purpose of receiving support for public expenditure incurred as a result of responding to the health crisis caused by the COVID-19 epidemic. The task of the Working Group will be to prepare a comprehensive application in accordance with the EU’s deadlines, forms and rules, which will enable covering a part of funds the Republic of Serbia has allocated in the past months in response to the emergency situation caused by the epidemic.
After the outbreak of the health crisis, the European Commission adopted a decision to support member states by widening the scope of the Solidarity Fund to public health crises, in addition to its previous purpose of supporting recovery after natural disasters. Another important change referred to the solidarity with candidate countries, which were allowed to use these funds previously reserved only for member states.
Following these decisions of the European Commission, Minister of European Integration Jadranka Joksimović announced that the Republic of Serbia would apply for funds from the EU Solidarity Fund so as to unburden the budget of the Republic of Serbia, and that it would urgently mobilise its institutions for the preparation of the said application. Given the complexity of the entire process, the formation of the Working Group will enable putting together an accurate list of all costs of the Republic of Serbia incurred as a result of preventing the spread of the crisis, as well as preparing other elements of the application. After they receive all applications, the European Parliament and the European Council will make a decision, at the EC’s recommendation, on the amount of support for each country.
The Republic of Serbia used funds from the EU Solidarity Fund for flood relief in 2014, when it received EUR 60.2 million.
Source: Tanjug
