On 30 July, a Regional Housing Programme (RHP) event in Serbia marked the delivery of contracts for construction materials for 40 refugee and displaced families in the city of Sombor. In a subsequent event, a further 75 refugee and displaced families identified as being most vulnerable were handed the keys to new homes in Niš, courtesy of the RHP. The event was attended by Nikola Selaković, the Serbian Minister of Foreign Affairs; Gerhard Salzer, Programme Manager at the Delegation of the European Union to Serbia, other officials and beneficiary families.

On behalf of the European Union, Mr Salzer observed that the EU had long been engaged in efforts in the region to provide housing for refugees following the conflicts in the former Yugoslavia, and would continue to support the RHP until the close of the Programme. He paid tribute to the Commissariat for Refugees and the city of Niš for their exceptional efforts, and thanked the beneficiaries in particular for their patience over the years. “This is an emotional occasion for all of us, but especially for you, who have waited for this moment for so long,” he said. “You have invested a lot of effort in rebuilding your lives, and we are happy to be able to contribute a little bit to that.”