The meetings focused on concluding the two exercises carried out in the second half of 2015, namely the RHP Mid-Term Review and the RHP Mid-Term Evaluation, as well as the resulting Donors’ Recommendations which identify a number of measures to be taken to further improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the RHP. All stakeholders endorsed the Recommendations and agreed on the way forward regarding implementation.

The Partner Countries, Donors and international stakeholders UNHCR, OSCE and the CEB also discussed the RHP’s progress in depth, acknowledging that 2016 will be a crucial year for the Programme, as over 1 700 housing units are scheduled to be delivered to eligible beneficiaries. The Partner Countries underlined their strong willingness to continue to intensify the successful regional cooperation that has been developed thanks to the RHP.

Referring to the refugee and migrant crisis, which Europe is currently facing, CEB’s Governor Rolf Wenzel underlined: “While the Balkan countries must be supported in addressing the current inflow of migrants and refugees from the Middle East and Africa, we should also continue to improve the situation of the displaced persons and refugees still remaining from the conflicts of the 1990s”.

Morten Jung, Head of Unit for Western Balkans, Regional Cooperation and Programmes at the European Commission stated: “The completion of the two reviews on the RHP – the Mid-Term Evaluation and the Mid-Term Review – marks an important step for the RHP, as we now have an informed basis to act on in the immediate future, to clarify the remaining needs and hence give better steer to the RHP in the coming years. The Partner Countries have made a remarkable effort to bring the RHP into full implementation speed. They deserve the donor community’s full support, and, to demonstrate this, the Commission has agreed to contribute an additional EUR 11.3 million to the RHP Fund before end-2015.”

Key figures (1st December 2015):
Pledged to the RHP: EUR 268 million
Paid into RHP Fund: EUR 120 million
Grants approved: EUR 133 million
Grants disbursed: EUR 22 million