UNMIK/PR/1289
PRISTINA – SRSG Søren Jessen-Petersen today welcomed the European Commission’s announcement of an additional €23.9 million funding for Kosovo.
The SRSG praised this assistance, which will surpport Kosovo’s Provisional Institutions of Self-Government (PISG) in their work to implement the Standards. He hoped that other donors would be encouraged to complement efforts carried out by the PISG and financed by the Kosovo Consolidated Budget (KCB).
The SRSG noted that of these funds, nearly €13 million are earmarked for economic development. “The economy in Kosovo is in a dire situation, and the EU can play an increasing role in partnership with the PISG in creating prospects for the unemployed.”
€5 million will be added to the programmes for the returns of IDPs. The SRSG said he was confident that the PISG would make good use of the new funding to improve the conditions for sustainable returns.
The SRSG also noted that €2 million will be available for the revitalisation of religious and cultural heritage sites in Kosovo, adding to the €3.7 million from the KCB and another €500,000 allocated by the SRSG. “Even more money is now available. What we need now is the participation of the Orthodox Church in the reconstruction process.”