Annex
THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION'S RECONSTRUCTION
PROGRAMME IN KOSOVO (OBNOVA)
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Activity | Budget in
million
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Procurement for the Rehabilitation of Dwellings and Public Buildings
| 14.00 |
The current work being carried out by humanitarian organisations by way of providing shelter consists of "soft" measures, such as the provision of plastic sheeting for windows and roofs. An urgent need exists to complement this immediate short term measure with more durable and sustainable repairs. This project will ensure that a minimum of dwellings in each municipality will be rendered habitable in a long-term perspective, which can then be shared by those in precarious shelter situations.
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Support to Public Utilities | 9.00
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KFOR brigades are currently solely responsible for allowing a comparative return to normality of living conditions in most areas of Kosovo, and is currently maintaining the province's power and water supply grids and carrying out duties in the realm of health care, fire services and garbage collection, although this goes beyond its mandate. It is essential that the local capacity to carry out these functions is re-established as quickly as possible, and by doing so, that employment and income for the local population may be generated with a view to stimulating the local economy. The most pressing task where KFOR is desperate for support is in the rehabilitation and running of the power and water grids. Therefore, assistance will be provided for the repairs and regeneration of the power and water utilities; the provision of salaries for a three month period for the relevant utilities staff (until an interim central budget is established); vehicles and equipment for the utilities distribution repair teams; spare parts for all geographical sectors of the utilities; and chemicals for the main power stations.
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Demining | 4.00
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An integrated and coordinated approach to the mine/UXO problem is necessary to achieve maximum efficiency, to reduce risk and achieve increased security in the face of uncleared mines/UXOs. A critical first step for any mine action programme is therefore the establishment of an effective co-ordination mechanism capable of co-ordinating the various activities of the host Government, military organisations, aid agencies, various international and local non-government organisations, and bi-lateral aid missions. The United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) has assumed the responsibility for establishing a Mine Action Co-ordination Centre (MACC) in Kosovo, as part of the UN interim administration in Kosovo. The European Commission proposes to support the MACC with a contribution to its administrative and operational budget.
In addition, the EC will to dispose of a fund for mine clearance in the context of specific rehabilitation projects.
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Customs | 3.00
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The principal objective is to restore a Customs Service of an emergency basis in the main international border posts and inland clearance depots whilst ensuring that there are no discriminatory practices directed towards customs officers of travellers (including refugees and displaced persons). The immediate objectives of the restoration of customs will be to assist in restoring the ability of Kosovo to collect customs revenue; provide assurance that revenue has been collected in full and transferred promptly to the UN escrow account; ensure the efficient delivery of humanitarian aid entering Kosovo; build confidence to encourage and facilitate the return of the displaced persons and refugees. The long term needs for the re-establishment of all other customs tasks in assuring the protection of citizens and economic interests (ie phyto-sanitary and veterinary controls on imports, fight against fraud, etc) will also be carried out.
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Village Employment and Rehabilitation
| 4.50 |
The Village Employment and Rehabilitation Programme for Kosovo is an initiative which will simultaneously address the high level of unemployment and the effects of the war on the living conditions of the population and public infrastructure. This will be done through the implementation of labour based intensive small public works projects (war-rubble removal, garbage removal, rehabilitation of water supply, electric lines, sewage system repairs, local road repairs, cleaning parks, green areas and river beds). This project will make an important contribution to the generation of temporary employment for unemployed, vulnerable war-affected population, demobilised soldiers, the youth; and the restoration of basic services and infrastructure, thereby laying the foundation for the future economic and social development of Kosovo.
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Small Scale Operations | 1.00
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This component is designed to enable the EC Task Force to provide a flexible and rapid reaction to urgent small scale actions identified in the field. Under this component, actions will be financed which support refugee/idp return, reconciliation measures, revitalisation of the economy and actions to promote a functioning market-oriented democracy.
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Rehabilitation of Mitrovica Hospital
| 1.00 |
Support for essential rehabilitation of the hospital of Mitrovica to provide basic health care to the population. This project is significant as a confidence-building measure, given that the city of Mitrovica is divided. A cornerstone of the EC's support for the hospital is the participation and cooperation of both communities in the project.
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Support for Local Administration and Transport Infrastructure
| 2.40 |
Support to UNMIK for the re-establishment of a local administration through the secondment of experts from local administrations in EU Member States, to administer the municipalities in Kosovo. Emphasis is placed on identifying experts with relevant practical experience in order to help re-establish the local administration as quickly as possible.
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Support for Transport Infrastructure
| 3.60 |
The project aims to carry out key repairs to the transport infrastructure before the onset of winter. This is essential in order not only to prevent the further degradation of, in particular, road networks which were already in a very poor state of repair prior to the conflict; but also to avoid major problems for the increased traffic flow (due to KFOR presence and aid convoys). Work will also be carried out for the repair of two key bridges and the construction of a multi-modal platform at Kosovo Polje railway station.
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Total | 42.50
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The programme will be implemented by the Task Force in Pristina,
under the directorship of Marc Franco.
In addition to this integrated rehabilitation programme,
the Commission has earlier committed funds to the following two
projects:
A damage assessment mission, carried out by the
International Management Group on behalf of the European Commission
to assess the physical damage in the province of Kosovo (
3.5 million).
An administrative and technical assistance programme,
to support the European Commission and the beneficiaries in the
implementation of the projects under the integrated rehabilitation
programme (
6 million).
Thus the total budget of the EC's support to Kosovo under
the Obnova reconstruction programme is currently
52 million under the 1999 budget.
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