EUR 8.6 Million Worth Grant Contract Signed



Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers and Minister of Finance and Treasury Vjekoslav Bevanda and Deputy General Manager of the Council of Europe Development Bank (CEB) Stephan Sellen signed today a Grant Agreement worth EUR 8.6 million, as a part of the Regional Housing Programme.

The Agreement secures EUR 8.569.651 CEB grant, or 89 per cent of the project value, while BIH contribution is EUR 1,050,720, or 11 per cent of the project value.

Minister Bevanda emphasised that several institutions are engaged in the project, whereas at the BIH level the key role is to the Ministry for Human Rights and Refugees of BIH and Fund for Return, with included Entity sector Ministries.

He added that today’s signing of the Agreement for “BIH 4” Sub-Project enables reconstruction of 435 family houses for return of the internally displaced persons and refugees to BIH, who currently life in Croatia, including construction of 45 family houses for local integration of the internally displaced persons in BIH.

“The construction of new buildings will take place on the both Entities and Brčko District, so that the project is accessible for all those waiting for years to get their homes Therefore, we are thankful to the CEB for its support to the most vulnerable categories of the society”, Minister Bevnda said.

A deadline of 36 months was set for the completion of the housing reconstruction project under Sub-Project “BIH 4”.

The Deputy Director-General of the CEB said that beside concrete assistance extended through the programme to refugees and displaced persons, its special relevance is in the spirit of regional cooperation, as the project unfolds simultaneously in both Croatia and Serbia.

The signing ceremony was attended by Minister for Human Rights and Refugees of BIH Semiha Borovac and donor representatives.

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