Under the auspices of the Commissariat for Refugees and Migration of the Republic of Serbia and with the support of the Council of Europe Development Bank, the 13th General Trustees’ Meeting was held from November 6 to November 8, 2017 in the town of Kladovo. The central theme was the Regional Housing Programme - progress in implementation and deadlines for the implementation of the RHP. The second day of the meetings was dedicated to the asylum and the work of the trustees in Kosovo and Metohija.

The Meeting was attended by more than 450 participants - representatives of international organizations, institutions and embassies (the Delegation of the European Union in Serbia, the Council of Europe Development Bank, the US Embassy, UNHCR), numerous guests from the region (Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and Macedonia), OSCE, IOM, DRC, UNDP, Ministry of Public Administration and Local Self-Government and the Municipality of Kladovo.

Prior to the opening ceremony, a film on the activities of the Commissariat for Refugees and Migration in 2017 was presented - in the field of care for migrants (asylum), the closure of collective centers and the care for refugees from Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia through the RHP (featuring the progress of the Programme in the region), along with the activities in the field of readmission, the work of the Commission for Missing Persons, and trustees in Kosovo and Metohija.

During the opening of the 13th Working Meeting, Commissioner for Refugees and Migration Mr. Vladimir Cucić asked the Trustees and other parties involved in the implementation of the RHP to maximize their efforts in order to ensure that the funds allocated by the donors for the housing care of refugees are spent and that all persons in a need of housing are taken care of. The Commissioner emphasized that the deadlines are limited.

"I would like to thank all donors, especially the European Union, who is not only the largest donor for the RHP, but it also provides significant funding in the field of asylum," said Commissioner Cucić.

On behalf of the European Union Delegation to Serbia, Ms. Brigit Kuchar addressed the meeting.

"Your contribution is greater than the allocation of municipal land or the choice of beneficiaries. Your contribution is in the integration of refugees into local communities, which I thank you for, "Kuchar said addressing the delegates in the large hall of the Cultural Center in Kladovo.

Kladovo Mayor Mr. Radisav Čučulanović stressed that homeless persons are counting on the Trustees and expressed sincere wishes that all the activities pertaining to the care for refugees are completed as soon as possible. Mr. Radovan Arežina, on behalf of the Ministry of State Administration and Local Self-Government, told the gathered attorneys that he would inform the Minister Ružić about the problem some of the commissioners have with the extensive number of reports.

Melita Mihajlovska from the Council of Europe Development Bank said that Serbia is the biggest beneficiary of the RSP and that the donations should be used within the next three and a half years. Ms. Mihajlovska emphasized that Serbia is not alone in this endeavor, but will have the maximum support of the CEB and other international institutions involved in RHP.

Participants were also addressed by Sam Healy (US Embassy), Jan Lueneburg (OSCE), Andrej Kazakov (UNHCR), Dušan Kozarev (Office for Kosovo and Metohija), Nina Miskovic (BiH), Davor Čordaš (Republika Srpska), Željko Božic (Croatia) and many others.

During the second working day, a parallel regional event dedicated to the exchange of experience in the field of asylum was organized within the project Support to the Migration Management System in the Republic of Serbia, financed by the State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) of the Swiss Confederation, and with the additional support of the Danish Migration Board.

The event brought together officials from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia and Serbia dealing with asylum and migration issues who exchanged experiences and models of good practice regarding migrants and asylum seekers. The main challenges were also considered, as well as the latest trends and statistics on the number of migrants and asylum seekers.