Memo: Conclusions of Donors conference for Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina “Rebuilding Together”

In May 2014, severe weather and damaging floods hit entire regions of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia, resulting in several dozens of casualties in both countries, causing the destruction of public and private infrastructures, as well as hitting hundreds of thousands of households, many of whom, mostly vulnerable groups, still remain without proper shelter. Damages and economic losses amount to around €2 billion in Bosnia and Herzegovina and €1.5 billion in Serbia.

The European Commission, France and Slovenia took the initiative to convene an International Donors’ Conference under the motto "Rebuilding Together". Delegations of over 60 countries and 23 international organisations, as well as representatives from the civil society and private sector gathered in Brussels on 16 July 2014. The conference once again illustrated the great solidarity for Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia and managed to overall mobilise pledges of €809.2 million for Bosnia and Herzegovina and €995.2 million for Serbia to face the financial needs for 2014 of 650M€ and 830 M€ respectively. €41.4 million were pledged for cross-border activities.

ESO: Background information: EU gives €65 million to help Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina with the aftermath of floods http://www.europeansources.info/record/press-release-eu-gives-e65-million-to-help-serbia-and-bosnia-and-herzegovina-with-the-aftermath-of-floods/

ESO: Background information: EU assistance underway for flood victims in Serbia and in Bosnia and Herzegovina http://www.europeansources.info/record/press-release-eu-assistance-underway-for-flood-victims-in-serbia-and-in-bosnia-and-herzegovina/

European Commission: RAPID: SPEECH/14/551: Rebuilding together http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_SPEECH-14-551_en.pdf

---