In September 2002, the Government of Italy has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with UN-HABITAT for the formulation and implementation of a Euro 15 (fifteen) million project entitled “Settlement and Integration of Refugees Programme in Serbia – SIRP”.

The Project is rooted in the 2001 pledge from the Government of Italy to support the sustainable resettlement of vulnerable refugees in Serbia together with the assistance for developing strategic approach and policy instruments at national level and implementing capacity of the local self-government in Serbian Municipalities.

The Memorandum of Understanding also stipulated that the implementation of the preparatory phase would last 6 months for the formulation of feasibility studies of the different project’s components.
The implementation phase of the Programme started upon receipt by UN-HABITAT of the first instalment of funds by the Government of Italy in January 2005.

>> Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Italy – Development Cooperation official web site