Jadranka Joksimovic, Minister without portfolio responsible for European integration and Jean-Eric Paquet, Director at the Directorate-General for Enlargement of the European Commission have signed the Financial Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Serbia and the European Commission for 2013. Total allocation of 197.2 million euros will be available to Serbia for IPA component I 2013. This grant will be used for projects which will help Serbia implement reforms in key areasnecessary for future EU membership: rule of law, public administration reform, social and economic development, environmental protection, agriculture etc. Serbian citizens will directly benefit from these reforms.
Support is directed to the following sectors: public administration reform, justice, internal affairs, private sector development, transport, environment and climate changes, energy, social development, agriculture and rural development and projects in the area of education, health, science, culture, entrepreneurship, innovations and preparation of infrastructure projects.

The total amount of funds allocated for IPA component I 2013 equals 197.2 million euros. Out of this amount 145.6 million euros will be managed by the Republic of Serbia, 33.1 million euros will be managed by the Delegation of the European Union to the Republic of Serbia and approximately 18 million euros is intended for organizations of the civil society, solving housing problems of the refugees, science, research and education. With the signing of this Agreement the pre-accession assistance to Serbia has reached 2.6 billion euros since 2001.

One of the topics discussed at the event was the usage of unallocated funds from IPA 2012 in the amount of 30 million euros which will be directed to the flood remediation in Serbia.
The conclusion of this Agreement also includes the adoption of the part of the National Programme which will be implemented under decentralised management by competent institutions of the Republic of Serbia. National Programme for IPA 2013 is a milestone and a special challenge since the Serbian public administration has obtained Conferral of Management Powers after many years of preparation and examination, and these powers will be executed for the first time for the implementation of this Programme.