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The European Union is set to approve a plan to help two opposition-controlled towns in Serbia cope with the onset of winter. Apart from basic humanitarian aid, this would be the EU's first substantial assistance since the Kosovo war.
At their Luxembourg meeting on Monday, EU foreign ministers are expected to approve a European Commission proposal for a pilot project costing about E5m ($5.4m) to send heating oil to the south-eastern towns of Nis and Pirot, both controlled by opposition mayors.
The plan, known as "energy for democracy", was first put forward by the Group of 17 opposition Serb economists, who will organise distribution of the fuel.
If successful, the scheme may eventually be widened to include other Serb cities, regardless of political control. Mladjan Dinkic, co-ordinator of the Group of 17, hopes Krusevac, heavily bombed during the Nato campaign and controlled by Slobodan Milosevic, Yugoslav president, could be next on the list. "It's very important Milosevic doesn't use the cold to blame Nato and the opposition," he said.
Commission officials say there is general backing for the pilot project from member states, including the UK, which immediately after the war aligned itself with the US in opposing aid that could be interpreted as reconstruction assistance while Mr Milosevic remained in power. The UK has recently pushed the idea of a "Contract with Serbia" to highlight what western aid the Serbs could expect if they ousted Mr Milosevic.
The US is understood not to like the scheme. A senior US official said Washington was "very reserved" about the proposal. Madelaine Albright, US secretary of state, yesterday raised her concerns with Robin Cook, UK foreign minister, about practicalities of the scheme and the possibility of the oil falling into Mr Milosevic's hands.
"On the one hand, we want to develop imaginative ways of helping the opposition," said a senior US official. "On the other, we want to avoid anything that, even indirectly, could give comfort to the Milosevic government." He urged opposition parties to co-operate more closely and stressed that "how, when and indeed whether Milosevic leaves power" was up to the Serbian people, not outside powers.
The scheme was also criticised by experts on the field, who noted that the success of the venture hinges on co-operation from customs and police, both controlled by Mr Milosevic. The Group of 17 hopes the shipment will attract enough media attention to prevent the regime from scuppering the venture.