In the premises of Serbian National Theatre in Novi Sad, contracts were handed over to the representatives of 61 municipalities/cities, where, under the second, fourth and fifth sub-project of the Regional Housing Programme of the Republic of Serbia, will be constructed apartments, delivered packages of construction materials and provided housing solutions for refugees from Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia through provision of rural households. In total, more than2,000 durable and sustainable housing solutions will be provided with total value of 47,5 million EUR.

The contracts were officially handed over by Mr. Ivica Dačić, Minister of Foreign Affairs, First Deputy Prime Minister and President of the Governments Comission for Coordinating the Process of Durable Integration of Refugees.

Also, the ceremony was attended by Vladimir Cucić, Commissioner for Refugees and Migration, Ambassador Michael Davenport, Head of the EU Delegation to Serbia, Michael D. Kirby, U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Serbia, Mehmet Kemal Bozay, Ambassador of Turkey, Stefan Selen, CEBs Deputy Director General for Loans and Social Development, Hans Friedrich Schodder, the UNHCR Representative in Serbia, Michael Uyehara, Acting Head of OSCE Mission to Serbia, Goran Kvrgić, Director of Project Implementation Unit Research and Development Ltd. Belgrade, Milos Vucevic, Mayor of Novi Sad and high ranked representatives of the international organizations and the representatives of the diplomatic core.

Regional Housing Programme of four countries has a huge role and aim to close the chapter of the protracted displacement in the region, said Minister Ivica Dačić.

"Regional Housing Programme is a result of renewing of the Sarajevo process and enhancing of trust and cooperation in the Region. Every housing solution brings us closer to final goal and closure of refugee chapter. We will continue to ensure access to rights and decent living conditions for refugees", Minister Dacic was quoted as saying.

Commissioner Vladimir Cucic highlighted that Commissariat for Refugees and Migration, along with local municipalities, Project Implementation Unit and Technical Assistance, is currently working on providing 1,492 housing solutions financed from the RHP Donors fund.

"We have a task to move in 2,083 families in the next year or two and justify trust of those who supported us since the start of the process of regional cooperation. I am expressing gratitude to present donors who helped us to fulfill at least one part of our plan", said Commissioner Cucic.

Michael Davenport, head of EU delegation to the Republic of Serbia, stressed that today’s event marks important step towards realization of the RHP.

"I am very pleased to witness improvement in Project implementation and to meet new results in the form of 2,000 new housing solutions for people who have been waiting for it more than 20 years. EU will continue to help as a main partner and donor to the Republic Serbia and other countries of the Western Balkans in solving issues of the refugees and displaced persons", said Mr. Davenport.

Michael D. Kirby, U.S. Ambassador of the Republic of Serbia, said that the US Government has allocated 20,000,000 USD and expressed the hope that if successful implementation proceeds, such assistance will be continued.

"I hope that this Program will take care of all vulnerable refugee families and that we will be able to put an end to many years of people’s displacement", said Mr. Kirby.

Regional Housing Programme is the joint initiative of the Republic of Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and Republic of Croatia, with the aim to provide housing solutions for 27,000 most vulnerable refugee families, i.e. around 74,000 people in the Region. Out of this number, 16,780 families, around 45,000 people are in Serbia. Regional Housing Programme in Serbia will be implemented through several sub-projects.

Regional Housing Programme in Serbia is worth 335 million euros and the overall amount in all four countries is 584 million euros. The Programme is financed by the European Union, as the biggest donor, the U.S., Germany, Italy, Norway, Switzerland, Denmark, Turkey, Luxemburg, Cyprus, Romania, Check Republic, Slovakia and Hungary.