On 23 June 2018, keys were handed over to the 2000th beneficiary family of the Regional Housing Programme in Serbia. In Backa Palanka, the family of Zoran Mileusnic, a refugee from Croatia, received a pre-fabricated house, constructed under the RHP sub-project SRB2.

The keys were handed over by Ivica Dacic, First Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Chairman of the Commission for Coordination of the Process of Permanent Integration of Refugees.

„Many of you are well aware that I have continuously participated in all events relating to the implementation of the RHP. Over the last several years, since the Programme reached the phase of intensive implementation, I have visited many places, towns and municipalities across Serbia and witnessed the extent of effort invested in the entire process, along with its effect“, said Minister Dacic.

„Having pledged EUR 232 million, the European Union is the largest donor to the Regional Housing Programme. Together with our Serbian partners, we support refugees in rebuilding their lives and thereby rebuilding the future for them and their children“, said Mr Engstroem, Head of Cooperation at the Delegation of the European Union to Serbia.

„The largest part of the refugees in Serbia have integrated into our society and that is something we should be particularly proud of. The very aim of the Regional Housing Programme is to assist these people in finding a permanent place of residence for themselves and their children by helping them resolve the housing issue, which is the single most important issue in the lives of any man and any family“, said Ms Velimirović, Deputy Commissioner, Serbian Commissariat for Refugees and Migration.

Thanks to the Regional Housing Programme in Serbia, thus far, 860 village houses have been purchased and 713 packages of building material handed over, in addition to the construction of 235 apartments and 192 pre-fabricated houses throughout the country.

RHP info desk:  Secretariat of the Regional Housing Programme ceb-rhp@coebank.org