STRASBOURG/PARIS – The Council of Europe Development Bank (CEB) has signed an additional grant agreement with the Czech Republic for a CZK 1 200 000 (EUR 45 000) contribution to the Regional Housing Programme (RHP).

This is the second contribution by the Czech Republic to the RHP, following a CZK 1 000 000 (approximately EUR 39 000) commitment in June 2013. The first contribution has been fully and successfully disbursed. The second grant may be used for sustainability measures, complementary to the infrastructure investments undertaken under the RHP, and for selected communication activities.

Emil Ruffer, Ambassador of the Czech Republic to the Council of Europe, maintained: “The Czech Republic greatly appreciates the success of the Regional Housing Programme in securing housing for vulnerable displaced persons and thus contributing to building sustainable communities in the participating countries. The cooperation with and support for the Western Balkans region is a longstanding priority of the Czech foreign policy, and the RHP plays an important role in the wider context of reconciliation between states and the peaceful coexistence of different communities.”

Governor Rolf Wenzel and Ambassador Emil Ruffer

Rolf Wenzel, CEB Governor, said: “Donors are key partners for the CEB. The grants they entrust to the Bank, regardless of size, enable the implementation of highly social projects. In this context, we warmly welcome this additional contribution to the RHP as it confirms the Czech Republic’s steadfast commitment to the programme and, in general, to the CEB’s social mandate.”