EUROPEAN UNION TO RECONSTRUCT GRACAC & DONJI LAPAC

ZAGREB, June 24 (Hina) - The municipalities of Gracac and Donji Lapac on Thursday signed a Letter of Understanding with a European Commission partner organisation, the Working Samaritan Association (ASB). The Letter of Understanding relates to the reconstruction of family homes and the infrastructure which is to be financed by the EU, the Office of the EC's special envoy reported. The reconstruction project intended for Donji Lapac and Gracac is in support of return programmes being financed by the EU and implemented by the ASB, a German non-government organisation. The EU has ensured 750,000Euros for the reconstruction of 120 homes in Gracac and 600,000Euros for 55 homes in Donji Lapac. The EC has ensured 150,000Euros for the reconstruction of the infrastructure in these municipalities to ensure water, electricity and sewage. Since 1991, the EU has invested 320 million Euros for humanitarian aid and over 32 million Euros for reconstruction projects in Croatia, special EU envoy Per Vinter said. The statement recalled that the intended reconstruction of six bridges between Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina are also to be financed by the EU. (hina) sp