Serbia to have full EU protection in emergencies as of today

BELGRADE - Serbia has become 33th state to accede to the EU Civil Protection Mechanism on Thursday, thus becoming entitled to the assistance in the case of emergency situations that EU member states have access to.

The agreement on Serbia's accession to the EU Civil Protection Mechanism was signed by Director of the EU Directorate-General for Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection Claus Sorensen and Serbia's Interior Minister Nebojsa Stefanovic.

"This is a very important opportunity for Serbia to develop better protection strategies for all emergency situations, but also to have access to various forms of assistance if such situations do happen here," Stefanovic said.

The interior minister thanked EU Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management Christos Stylianides and the EU for the prompt reaction concerning Serbia's speedier accession to the Mechanism.

Photo Tanjug/O.Toskic