EU support to refugees – houses and apartments

EU continues to support the process of finding solutions for refugee related issues in Serbia. A housing block with 12 new flats has been built in Šabac. In Kraljevo and Kragujevac, 5 prefabricated houses and 29 packages of construction material have been distributed.

Within the framework of “Support to Refugees and IDPs in Serbia” project, International Organization for Migration in cooperation with the Delegation of the European Union to Serbia, Commissariat for Refugees and the City of Šabac, has implemented the construction of a social housing block in supportive environment.

The project was funded by the EU, which contributed EUR 185,000 and co-financed by the Republic of Slovenia with additional EUR 25,000, while the City of Šabac donated the land and utility connections. The goal of the project has been to contribute to the efforts of the Serbian Government and the Commissariat for Refugees of the Republic of Serbia to close down collective centres, improve living conditions and resolve the housing issues of refugees and IDPs, in accordance with the National Strategy for resolving the problems of refugees and IDPs.

On Wednesday, Deputy Head of the Delegation of the European Union to Serbia, Adriano Martins, and Serbian Minister of Labour and Social Policy, Rasim Ljajić, handed over the keys of the flats to ten families of refugees and IDPs and two socially vulnerable families.

Adriano Martins, Deputy Head of the Delegation of the European Union to Serbia, said that 7,500 refugees and IDPs have been accommodated in new flats so far, and added that the projects of this type will continue in the future.

Kraljevo and Kragujevac

Under the EU-funded “Support to Refugees and IDPs in Serbia” project, the European Union has financed the construction of several prefabricated houses for the citizens of Kraljevo and Kragujevac. The Project is implemented by the German non-governmental relief organisation HELP - Hilfe zur Selbsthilfe e.V.

Marcia Palota, representative of the Delegation of the EU to Serbia, said that the project in Kraljevo, apart from improving the housing situation of refugees, IDPs and local socially vulnerable population, has supported the creation and development of 40 small enterprises.

"It is a great pleasure for me to be in Kraljevo today, on behalf of the Delegation of the European Union to Serbia. The EU funds have made it possible to donate 5 prefabricated houses, 29 packages of construction material and support 40 income generation activities in this region. The Project is part of an overall EU-funded grant worth EUR 970,000", Palota said.

In addition to this activity, the EU has allocated almost 13 million EUR for similar projects in several municipalities. EUR 7 million have been earmarked for future projects to be implemented in 2012.