Minister of Foreign Affairs Ivica Dacic stated today that Serbia might be granted a few dozen million euros from the EU Solidarity Fund

We may expect the funds in September at the earliest. Serbia should seek support for the country's recovery from all around the world.

"European funds operate on very clear principles- Serbia should assess damage and submit an application, in no later than 10 weeks. The European Commission will subsequently review the information provided, followed by the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union", Mr. Dacic said on Pink TV.

The Minister specified that if Serbia submitted the application for EU Solidarity funds in July, the procedure might end in September.

Nevertheless, Mr. Dacic stressed that Serbia might also be granted IPA funds, both on bilateral basis, from different states, and from international organizations such as the United Nations.

"I think that all these means combined will make a substantial source of funds", Dacic pointed out.

Talking about the ways of mobilizing the Solidarity Fund, Dacic said that the resources could not be used for the reconstruction of private homes, but for the "public efforts of the recipient state", such as mending infrastructure, water supply system, energy network, schools, hospitals...

The Minister also stated that the allocation of funds would be centralized, so as to avoid misuse, recalling that the Serbian Government had established an office tasked with preventing manipulation.

According to Dacic, Serbia is slowly entering the stage of recovery after the evacuation and rescue process of the affected population, and hence it is important for the Government to be as well-organized as possible, to make everything transparent, and to meet the most urgent and the most pressing needs.

Dacic said that Serbia should ask for the recovery aid in different parts of the world, both in Europe and elsewhere, adding that he did not find the foreign support and aid surprising, having in mind that the "disaster was of such a large scale that it was impossible to turn a blind eye to it".

The fact, as Mr. Dacic pointed out, affirmed that Serbia's international position had altered significantly, and that Serbia was an appreciated member of the international community, worthy of respect.

Asked to comment on the proposal put forward by his Croatian counterpart, Ms. Vesna Pusic that Serbia and Croatia jointly apply for the EU funds following the natural disaster, Dacic responded that the proposal had not been not further elaborated upon, but that the situation would be analyzed.

Mr. Dacic assessed that the floods were an important test for the Government and all the state authorities, and that a single emergency management system was necessary in overcoming difficult situations.

"It was proved that the people want and are willing to help their neighbours and the state at difficult times", Dacic concluded.