Pancevo, 21 November 2024 - To ensure that all parts of Serbia are adequately equipped to combat large fires while protecting human lives, property, and the environment, Emanuele Giaufret, Ambassador and Head of the European Union (EU) Delegation to Serbia, and Yakup Beris, Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Serbia, today handed over seven fire-fighting cisterns in Pančevo to Ivica Dačić, Deputy Prime Minister of Serbia and Minister of the Interior.
Ambassador Giaufret emphasised that, thanks to EU support, Serbian firefighters and Civil Protection teams now have new equipment to better respond to crises, protect lives, and preserve the environment.
“They are strengthening resilience in their country, and through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism, they contribute to solidarity across Europe, as they did in October when they helped fight wildfires in Greece,” said Giaufret, adding: “I am deeply grateful for the efforts of all the brave men and women who regularly go to dangerous places to save lives. Today, we are helping them be better prepared to do their job – by providing them with the necessary equipment. This is a true European story of solidarity.”
The total value of the cisterns is €1.4 million, and they have been allocated to the Emergency Management Sector of Serbia’s Ministry of the Interior in Pančevo, Kragujevac, Valjevo, Užice, Jagodina, and Belgrade. Thanks to the 7,000-litre capacity of these cisterns, firefighters across Serbia will be able to respond more quickly and effectively to large forest fires and wildfires.
“This donation of seven cisterns by the European Union will further improve the efficiency of interventions in emergencies, as well as the rescue of citizens and their property. We thank the EU Delegation in Serbia and UNDP representatives for the excellent cooperation, which we will continue in the future,” said Ivica Dačić, Deputy Prime Minister of Serbia and Minister of the Interior, noting that this donation is part of broader EU and UNDP support to Serbia for strengthening disaster prevention and increasing response preparedness.
To make citizens of Serbia safer and better protected in the event of fires and other disasters, the EU has already provided 27 fire engines, 12 ambulances, 2 decontamination vehicles, and 3 vehicles for the Mountain Rescue Service, worth €3.7 million over the past four years.
“Due to climate change, the average annual temperature in Serbia could increase by as much as 5.8°C by the end of this century, meaning the risk of fires will continue to rise significantly. That is why we are helping ensure that brave firefighters are properly equipped to respond quickly and efficiently to save lives, reduce material damage, and contribute to preserving the environment,” stated Yakup Beris, UNDP Resident Representative in Serbia.
The handover of the fire-fighting cisterns was organised within the framework of the “EU for a Disaster-Resilient Serbia” project, worth €14.2 million, financed by the European Union and implemented by UNDP. The aim of the project is to contribute to reducing Serbia’s vulnerability to crises and disasters by supporting national and local institutions and organisations to strengthen preventive measures and enhance disaster response preparedness. The Ministry of European Integration has participated in programming and monitoring the implementation of this project.