On 13 April, Jadranka Joksimović – the Minister of European Integration and National Coordinator for the Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance – signed on behalf of the Republic of Serbia the Trust Agreement by which the European Union is providing the country a grant of around €12 million. The funding comes from the EU Solidarity Fund and is for financing urgent activities in the fight against Covid-19, as well as for implementing other measures to help the Serbian health system recover by covering some of the costs incurred during the public health crisis resulting from the pandemic.

EU Ambassador to Serbia, Emanuele Giaufret, described the grant as “another expression of our commitment to supporting Serbia to fight the pandemic”. He said: “In the fight against Covid, the EU has stood side by side with Serbia from the beginning. We financed cargo flights to transport medical goods; we financed medical workers, and significantly helped Serbia to buy vaccines; and Serbia received ambulances and protective masks. For over 20 years, the EU has invested more than €516 million in Serbia’s health sector. Many of the hospitals around the country are financed by the EU.”

Following a 2021 European Commission decision, the European Union Solidarity Fund has provided €530 million for the fight against Covid-19. The money has gone to 17 member states and three countries with candidate status. Serbia was provided with funds for the purchase of disinfectants, personal protective equipment and medical equipment at the beginning of the pandemic.