The 2000th beneficiary of the Regional Housing Program (RHP) in the Republic of Serbia, Zoran Mileusinic, a refugee from Croatia, received keys to a new home in Backa Palanka. The Mileusnic family will now live in a prefabricated house from sub-project 2 of the RHP.

First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and President of the Commission for Coordination of Permanent Integration of Refugees of the Government of the Republic of Serbia, Ivica Dacic, handed over the keys, wishing the family a lot of joy, success and celebration in their new home. The event was also attended by Ingve Engstrom, Head of Cooperation at the EU Delegation to Serbia, Branislav Susnica, Mayor of Backa Palanka, Svetlana Velimirovic, Deputy Commissioner for Refugees and Migration, Dusko Cutilo, Director of the Fund for Assisting Refugees, Expelled and Displaced Persons, representatives of international institutions OSCE and UNHCR and many others.

"Many of you already know that I continuously participate in all events related to the implementation of the Programme. Throughout the years since the Programme entered the phase of intensive implementation, I have visited many cities, towns and municipalities in Serbia and witnessed how much effort has been invested in the whole process and what its true effects are," said Minister Dacic.

Deputy Commissioner Svetlana Velimirovic emphasized that the Regional Housing Programme proved that Serbia did not forget about these people, regardless of the fact that so much time has passed since they came to Serbia.

"Most refugees have integrated into our society and we should be very proud of that. The regional housing programme aims at solving the most important life issue of every human being and every family. Therefore, helping these people to build a permanent home for themselves and their children is a true concern of RHP," Velimirovic said.

"With 232 million euros, the European Union is the largest donor in the Regional Housing Programme. Together with Serbian partners, we support refugees to rebuild their lives and thus rebuild the future for them and their children, "said Ingve Engstrom, Head of Cooperation at the EU Delegation in Serbia.

Up to now, 713 packages of building materials have been awarded to refugee families throughout Serbia, while 192 prefabricated houses were built, 860 village houses purchased and 235 refugee families moved in into the apartments in Ovca.