Former holders of tenancy rights outside of areas of special state concern will be able to submit applications for housing until 31 August, the government decided at its session on Thursday and Foreign Minister Vesna Pusic explained that the decision was aimed at removing Croatia off the list of countries with extended refugee status before the year's end.
The deadline for applications to settle housing problems for former holders of tenancy rights expired on 30 April last year and Deputy Prime Minister Branko Grcic explained that the new deadline was set to facilitate the implementation of a regional programme to permanently house refugees and internally displaced persons which is being conducted in Croatia but also in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and Serbia.
The programme aims at finding housing for around 74,000 people.
The programme is being conducted in cooperation with international institutions and is estimated to cost around EUR 584 million and EUR 260 million was secured at a donor conference held in Sarajevo last year.
He informed that 5,843 applications had been submitted to resolve housing problems for former tenancy right holders.
"Refugees are being offered an opportunity to choose where they wish to permanently settle down and receive financial aid either in the country from which they fled or the country they took refuge in", said Pusic.
The extended deadline was aimed at having those people who fled from Croatia to return and receive financial assistance so that Croatia's refugee status can be removed, she said.
(Hina)
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