Minister of Agriculture and Environmental Protection Prof. Dr Snezana Bogosavljevic Boskovic informed the Committee members that the total damages caused to agriculture by the floods amount to 228 million EUR. She stressed that the rehabilitation and renewal of agricultural production calls for 154 million EUR, while agricultural recovery in the next two years requires 254 million EUR. The data was gathered via the activities of the Damage Assessment Mixed Committee, explained Bogosavljevic Boskovic.

The Minister pointed out that following the Ministry’s Action Plan in order to rehabilitate and renew agricultural production as soon as possible, would be of paramount importance in the near future, adding that all the damages suffered by agricultural producers would be reimbursed.

Following a debate, in which the Committee members asked the Ministry representatives for more detailed information on the condition of the soil after the floods, the Committee decided to accept the Report by a majority vote.

As regards the investigation into the accountability of persons who contributed to the current situation in agriculture by their own negligence, the Committee formulated the following Conclusion:

1. The Committee proposes ascertaining where the funds earmarked for irrigation and management of waterways were funnelled, to investigate the accountability of those authorised for their negligence in the last 10 years, especially water management inspectors and the authorised persons in public water management companies Srbijavode, Vojvodinavode and Beogradvode.

The sitting was chaired by Committee Chairman Marijan Risticevic.