On Thursday the 25th of November 2010, the ceremonial opening of a newly constructed housing complex, intended towards resolving the housing concerns of some 20 families of internally displaced Roma, constructed by means of the resources allocated through the IPA Funds, was conducted in the city of Požarevac.

The ceremony was attended by: Mr. Božidar Đelić, deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Serbia for matters concerning European Integration and Minister of Science and Technological Development, His Excellency the Ambassador Mr. Vincent Degert, Chief of the Delegation of the European Union to the Republic of Serbia, Mr. Vladimir Cucić, Commissioner for Refugees, Mrs. Edith Wallmeier, Director for International Assistance of the German non-governmental organization ASB and Mr. Miodrag Milosavljević, the Major of the city of Požarevac.

The constructed housing units are intended for resolving the housing concerns of some 20 families of internally displaced persons which, up till now, have been residing under extremely arduous living conditions within a collective settlement in the city of Požarevac.  The establishment of the new housing complex which is comprised of 20 housing units is part of the EU Project, “Support to Refugees and Displaced Persons in the Republic of Serbia,” which in turn is being implemented through the German, non-governmental organization ASB in cooperation with the Commissariat for Refugees of the Republic of Serbia and the city of Požarevac.

The Commissariat for Refugees, in cooperation with the Ministry for Labour and Social Policy and in adherence to the National Strategy for resolving the concerns of refugee and internally displaced persons, has created a program aimed at assisting the most vulnerable persons associated with the aforementioned groups. The construction of the new housing settlement is but one of the means by which the problems associated with these categories of persons might come to be resolved successfully.

The total value of the donation which has been bequeathed on behalf of the European Union in support of this part of the project amounts to 260,000.00 euros and includes the resources set aside for the conceptual development and construction of 20 housing establishments. The city of Požarevac, aside from the aforementioned resources has contributed an additional 130,000.00 euros set aside from the city’s budget and intended for the construction of the foundations of the housing establishments as well as for providing infrastructural equipment for the same.

20 families, expected to assume ownership of their new homes and in this way solve their housing concerns, have been selected by a joint commission for the selection of beneficiaries comprised of the representatives of the ASB in cooperation with the city of Požarevac, the Commissariat for Refugees and the UNHCR.