EU Donation for the Interior Ministry

11.05.2021

Spitz: Montenegro needs to improve the implementation of civil protection laws

 

The EU donated equipment worth €160,000 to the Interior Ministry for rescuing those endangered in natural disasters. According to the Ministry, these are six off-road vehicles with roof racks and towing hooks, two vans with cargo space, and two drones with thermal imaging cameras.

After the donation hand-over, the Head of the Cooperation Section at the EU Delegation Hermann Spitz said that, under Chapter 27, civil protection is an important part of the EU accession negotiations. Spitz said that on its path to a full EU accession, Montenegro needs to improve the implementation of civil protection laws and its operations, while increasing civil protection capacities.

Man wearing sunglasses holding a paper

 

“The European Union has granted another €5 million to help Montenegro with environmental protection over the next years. This will include the procurement of additional equipment for upgrading the system for emergency response at sea. The EU and its member states will continue to work side by side with Montenegrin authorities to improve civil protection both when it comes to prevention as well as protection for the well-being of all Montenegrin citizens.” pointed out Spitz.

The State Secretary at the Interior Ministry Zoran Miljanic said that the vehicles and equipment they received would provide better working conditions for the Directorate for Emergency Management.

Two men talking wearing suits and masks

 

“I want to thank the delegation of the European Union for this valuable donation. Saving the lives and property of Montenegrin citizens is something that is of paramount importance for Montenegro and the European Union, which is why I expect that in the future we will continue cooperation with the European Union at this level,” said Zoran Miljanic, State Secretary at the Ministry of Interior.

In accordance with the needs of the Directorate for Protection and Rescue and bearing in mind the fact that the earthquake is the most dominant hazard in Montenegro, within the project funded by the European Union, the procurement of equipment and means for search and rescue from the ruins was performed for three light USAR (urban, search and rescue) teams.

The equipment was provided through the IPA project “Supply of Equipment for Support to the Implementation of the European Civil Protection Mechanism” from the annual action programme for 2016.