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Regional Housing Programme Fund Publishes Annual Report 2015

20 May 2016

RHP Annual Report 2015 cover pagePARIS - The Regional Housing Programme (RHP) Fund has published its annual report for 2015. This is the fourth annual report of the multi-donor Fund, which is managed by the Council of Europe Development Bank (CEB).

In 2015, RHP partner countries Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro and Serbia reached a milestone in the implementation of the programme and stepped up the provision of housing solutions to vulnerable beneficiaries.

More specifically, over 200 families moved into new homes, either new apartments or reconstructed houses. Five new construction sites were inaugurated in Niksic (Montenegro), Glina and Knin (Croatia), Gorazde and Foca (Bosnia and Herzegovina). Six new grant agreements were signed for a total amount of €69 million. €16.6 million was disbursed for already approved sub-projects.

In addition to the concrete progress on the ground, all four partner countries continue to stress the positive impact that the RHP is having in terms of increasing regional cooperation, security and reconciliation among people who were divided by armed conflict 20 years ago.

In 2015, the donors demonstrated their continued support to the RHP by contributing additional funds and by approving one new sub-project. The EU made a fresh contribution of €11 million, thus bringing its total commitment to €121 million and consolidating its status as the main donor to the Fund. At end-2015, funds committed to the RHP Fund stood at €159 million.

Rolf Wenzel, Governor of the CEB, said: "Addressing the consequences of the displacement brought about by the 1990s conflicts in the Balkans is crucial, for what is at stake is the stability and prosperity not only of the region, but more broadly of Europe itself.”

Johannes Hahn, European Union Commissioner for European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations, stated: "The RHP will foster the cooperation between the four partner countries. It will also help governments and communities leave the past behind and focus on a common future.”

The 2015 RHP Fund Annual Report is available to download at www.regionalhousingprogramme.org


Set up in 1956, the CEB (Council of Europe Development Bank) has 41 member states. Twenty-two Central, Eastern and South Eastern European countries, forming the Bank's target countries, are listed among the member states. As a major instrument of the policy of solidarity in Europe, the Bank finances social projects by making available resources raised in conditions reflecting the quality of its rating (Aa1 with Moody's, outlook stable, AA+ with Standard & Poor's, outlook stable and AA+ with Fitch Ratings, outlook stable). It thus grants loans to its member states, and to financial institutions and local authorities in its member states for the financing of projects in the social sector, in accordance with its Articles of Agreement.

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