Press Release: Commission successfully completes Energy for Democracy in Serbia

The European Commission completed one of its most difficult projects, the Energy for Democracy scheme in favour of Serb opposition controlled municipalities. The Council of Ministers agreed in October 1999, in response to a proposal made by Serb opposition forces, to supply heating fuel to Serbian towns, which are run by democratic forces in order to alleviate harsh winter conditions. The Commission launched extremely rapidly the pilot project 'Energy for Democracy', with oil trucks arriving at the Serbian border some five weeks after the decision of the Commission of 26.10.99. In the following five months a total quantity of 17,513 tons was delivered by trucks and trains from FYROM and Bosnia. All quantities requested by the Municipalities were delivered.