Contacts: In Belgrade- Vesna Kostic (11) 302-3723 vkostic@worldbank.org in Washington DC: Merrell Tuck-Primdahl (202) 473-9516 E-mail: Mtuckprimdahl@worldbank.orgÂ
WASHINGTON, May 12, 2005—The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors yesterday approved a Danube River Enterprise Pollution Reduction Project for the Republic of Serbia. The project will be funded by a grant from the Global Environmental Facility (GEF) of US$9.0 million, with expected contributions from beneficiary enterprises, other donors and the Government of Serbia of about US$13 million equivalent.
The project will reduce the contamination of the Danube River and its tributaries in Serbia by introducing to selected enterprises modern, environmentally friendly practices that are compliant with European Union rules and regulations. It will help Serbia and Montenegro in meeting its international commitments on the protection of the Danube River. It will also help Serbian farmers increase their profits by recycling manure into soil rather than using artificial fertilizers. Â
Furthermore, compliance with European Union environmental directives will enhance Serbia’s potential to export its livestock products. Importantly, thanks to reduced pollution run-off, the groundwater quality will improve, which is important for households who derive drinking water from wells. Last but not least, the reduced pollution of the river will help save aquatic life and provide for better recreational opportunities, such as swimming and fishing. The project will support: ·        Investments in livestock farms and slaughterhouses, which will help to reduce pollution run-off and discharge into the Danube River and its tributaries. These investments will be carried out in Požarevac, Vrbas, Novi Sad and Šabac as well as in surrounding municipalities. Slaughterhouses from around the Danube basin in Serbia will be eligible for project investments; ·        Improvements in the agricultural advisory service’s capacity to extend knowledge on these technologies; ·        The preparation of a Code of Good Agricultural Practices, which will promote environmentally friendly farming and will help to harmonize Serbian legislation with EU directives; and ·        Raising of public awareness on the benefits of water pollution reduction for the public, the economy, and Serbia’s natural resources. ***
The Global Environment Facility (GEF) is a mechanism for providing new and additional grant and concessional funding to meet the agreed incremental costs of measures to achieve agreed global environmental benefits in four focal areas:Â climate change, biological diversity, international waters, and ozone layer depletion. GEF also supports the work of global agreements to combat desertification and eliminate persistent organic pollutants.
The World Bank Group is one of GEF’s implementing agencies, and it supports countries in preparing GEF co-financed projects and supervises their implementation. It plays the primary role in ensuring the development and management of investment projects. The Bank draws upon its investment experience in eligible countries to promote investment opportunities and to mobilize private sector, bilateral, multilateral, and other government and non-government sector resources that are consistent with GEF objectives and national sustainable development strategies.Â
Since 1991, the World Bank Group has committed $1.972 billion in GEF resources and $3.037 billion in Bank group co-financing for GEF projects in 80 countries. In addition to GEF and Bank resources, it has mobilized additional co-financing of $6.952 billion from other donors.
For project information documents, please visit: http://web.worldbank.org/external/projects/main?pagePK=104231&piPK=73230&theSitePK=40941&menuPK=228424&Projectid=P084604 For further information on Bank’s GEF program, visit http://www.worldbank.org/gef . For further information on GEF, visit http://www.gefweb.org. For more information on the World Bank’s work in Serbia and Montenegro, please visit http://www.worldbank.org.yu |
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