Speech by Massimo Mina at the handover ceremony of EU-funded social housing building in Brčko District BiH

Dear Ministers, Mayor, colleagues, Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is a real pleasure to be with you today at the hand-over ceremony of newly constructed social housing building for 10 beneficiary families here in Brčko.

This building with 10 flats was constructed within the EU-funded project “Social Housing System” and with administrative and financial support of local authorities.

In addition to the EU funding in the amount of 1 million euro and co-funding by the local authorities in the amount of 700.000,00 euro, this was also made possible thanks to the partnership and cooperation of the implementing organisations and local authorities of Brcko District.

Our joint aim is to establish adequate social protection policies, modern social protection services, and specific support for refugees, returnees, homeless, youth and others in need.

Under the Social Housing System project, six buildings are going to be constructed in six different municipalities, including 62 housing units. This will allow supporting about 62 families in social need. Further initiatives will be implemented based on the housing policies to be developed and adopted.

In the past, substantial funding has been provided by the EU to rehabilitate properties, basic utilities and social infrastructure.

The experience from the implementation of housing projects demonstrated the need to review the housing policy to include not only displaced persons and refugees but also social cases and persons in need of overall housing care. The key to this policy is to establish a strict test to verify the eligibility of the applicants, i.e. only those families who do not have an income to provide for their housing needs (for buying or building properties, or paying the rent) would be entitled to this type of assistance.

Even though the social housing policy is not aquis-related the social housing model and policies should be focused on the profile and status of the tenant, the provision of maintenance services, and the funding modalities.

The EU is providing support to the project for the Social Housing System – Development of an Integrated Model in Theory and Practice – to assist the policy makers of this country to define and implement in practice sound policies for social housing.

This initiative is even more important considering the possible benefits which could result from the substantial allocations made by the EU. Indeed, more than EUR 100 million are currently in the pipeline for housing activities through the Regional Housing Programme, the support of implementation of Annex VII of Dayton Peace Agreement, and Roma Action Plan, phase I and II.

Also, the results achieved through this project will complement similar efforts provided by Catholic Relief Services, UNHCR, entity governments and cantons administrations, but those efforts must be strengthened, and there are challenges ahead.

In order to bring the reform processes forward, it is essential for the country to ensure a continued vertical and horizontal coordination on social protection and inclusion.

While the Directorate for European Integration is starting the process of drafting the Sector Planning Document which will address the social sector and social inclusion, I take the opportunity to stress the importance of a sound strategic framework for enabling any future allocation of financial support under the Instrument for Pre-Accession II.

This is necessary not only from IPA II perspective, but most importantly from the perspective of the citizens: children, women and people with disabilities, who deserve to receive an adequate support from their Governments.

The EU is here to assist Bosnia and Herzegovina on its road to the European Union and to ensure equal access to rights and a better future for its citizens.

I am happy to witness the hand-over of keys to beneficiaries who are really in need, and I hope that they will have a bright future in their newly built homes.

Thank you for your attention.

Mr Massimo Mina is the Head of Operations Section for Social Development, Civil Society and Cross-Border Cooperation at the EU Delegation to BiH.

Europa.ba