South-Eastern Europe

Operational information on the South-Eastern Europe subregion is presented below. A summary of this can also be downloaded in PDF format. This subregion covers the following countries:
 

| Albania | Bosnia and Herzegovina | Montenegro | North Macedonia | Serbia (and Kosovo: Security Council resolution 1244 (1999)) |
For detailed information, see Regional Office in South Eastern Europe.

Subregion: South-Eastern Europe

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The boundaries and names shown and the designations used on this map do not imply official endorsement or acceptance by the United Nations.

 


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Budgets and Expenditure in Subregion South-Eastern Europe

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2019 {"categories":[2014,2015,2016,2017,2018,2019],"budget":[45.64091543,61.005667061,68.10731265999999,61.208116593,45.123828406,31.50136019],"expenditure":[26.531689,34.31168599,40.20730776,35.435352789999996,26.13463161,23.117649700000005]} {"categories":[2014,2015,2016,2017,2018,2019],"p1":[16.93969595,28.612472566,40.97210448,36.436015723,39.690538476,26.70818617],"p2":[4.82053671,3.844207253,3.55188212,3.27451216,5.43328993,4.7931740199999995],"p3":[5.59562774,5.793305568,3.8070055,3.81259232,null,null],"p4":[18.285055030000002,22.755681673999998,19.77632056,17.684996390000002,null,null]} {"categories":[2014,2015,2016,2017,2018,2019],"p1":[9.44952232,20.24093268,27.853020219999998,24.1738277,22.97823708,20.180273170000003],"p2":[3.3346467599999996,2.32336862,2.35699038,2.40666505,3.1563945299999996,2.93737653],"p3":[4.21210709,2.02776035,1.7993933999999998,1.89969319,null,null],"p4":[9.53541283,9.71962434,8.197903759999999,6.9551668499999995,null,null]}
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People of Concern - 2019

[["Refugees",33595],["Refugee-like situation",145],["Asylum-seekers",2047],["IDPs",311117],["Returned IDPs",165],["Returned refugees",52],["Stateless",9308],["Others of concern",76018]]
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Response in 2019

Countries and territories in South-Eastern Europe continued to progress toward solutions for those who remained displaced following the conflict in the 1990s. At the same time, the sub-region grappled with increasing pressures from mixed movements, with asylum-seekers and migrants transiting through the sub-region hoping to reach other parts of Europe.  
 
Within this context, UNHCR prioritized: capacity-building of national asylum systems, including identification of and access for people in need of international protection; promotion of solutions for people displaced during the 1990s; as well as addressing and preventing statelessness. The overarching strategic objective of UNHCR in 2019 was, and will continue to be in the years ahead, to support South-Eastern Europe to gradually shift from being a transit route for asylum-seekers and refugees, to a region offering both protection and viable prospects for solutions.
 
The already limited protection and response capacities in the region were overwhelmed by large numbers of migrants and asylum-seekers from North Africa, the Middle East and Asia who, despite having transited through countries where they could have sought international protection, continued their journeys through South-Eastern Europe in order to reach western Europe. A significant number of people expressed their intention to apply for asylum in South-Eastern Europe, before moving on.
 
National asylum laws in several States require a declaration of intention to seek asylum as a precondition to accessing reception centres, temporary accommodation, and/or humanitarian assistance. The focus of frontline asylum authorities was therefore on addressing immediate needs, rather than assessing international protection considerations, with the prevailing perception that people were merely transiting, and unlikely to remain - even if formal asylum was granted. 

Against this backdrop, UNHCR assisted national authorities to identify those in need of international protection, as well as other vulnerable individuals, ensuring access to the asylum procedure, and provided support throughout the process. At the same time, with a view to strengthening asylum systems and building national capacity in the context of mixed movements, UNHCR implemented the EU-funded Regional Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA II) project on protection-sensitive migration management.
 
UNHCR also remained committed to facilitating durable solutions for populations displaced in the region during the 1990s, most notably in the context of the Sarajevo Process and the Regional Housing Programme (RHP) which was extended until 2022. Since the launch of the RHP, housing solutions have been provided to nearly 6,300 vulnerable displaced people across the four partner countries - including some 2,400 in 2019 (the highest number of beneficiaries since the launch of the programme).
 
The number of people at risk of stateless in the region decreased by 15% (from more than 4,440 to under 3,800).

Operations in South-Eastern Europe in 2019

In Albania, UNHCR and partners continued border monitoring activities and assistance to new arrivals, as well as advocated for strengthened identification and referrals of people with specific needs. Progress was also made in relation to the integration of refugees; for example, the issue of incompatible refugee identification numbers which had previously hindered access to public services was resolved. Also in 2019, six by-laws were drafted and approved for the implementation of amendments made to the 2018 Law on Civil Status, following advocacy by UNHCR for legislative changes. Over 350 people had their nationality confirmed through administrative and/or court procedures, out of some 500 people who were assisted by UNHCR.
 
In Bosnia and Herzegovina, UNHCR supported the improvement of access to asylum systems and reception conditions through capacity-building, outreach and advocacy interventions. Regular monitoring visits were undertaken to the eight reception centres in the country. UNHCR also developed and used a new profiling tool. Legal aid was provided to more than 13,600 people, psychosocial support to some 4,800, and guardianship processes conducted for over 100 unaccompanied and separated children (UASC). Three asylum-seekers were granted refugee status, some 40 people received subsidiary protection, and four refugees were naturalized. Birth registration for undocumented foreign children increased as a result of UNHCR advocacy.

In Montenegro, some 1,900 people applied for asylum – only 24% of those who had expressed an intention to seek asylum. Overall arrivals within mixed movements increased by 69% compared to 2018, and 457% compared to 2017. The introduction of the safe third country concept from mid-2019 resulted in only six (0.3%) positive asylum decisions, and delays at every stage of the asylum procedure. At the end of 2019, 26 people were granted international protection, while 20 left during the year. Some 60% of working age refugees had found employment and all school-aged children regularly attended school. Three people were recognized as de jure stateless through the new statelessness determination procedure, which provided a legal channel to regularize their status.
 
In North Macedonia, reception conditions improved significantly, particularly children’s access to formal education and foster guardianship for UASC. Free legal aid was provided to all asylum-seekers (nearly 500 people). The deportation of a person in need of international protection in detention was prevented as a result of a request for application of interim measures (Rule 39) by the European Court of Human Rights. After years of advocacy, the Government ratified the law to accede to the 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness and drafted a law to temporarily register nearly 600 unregistered people and provide them access to several rights.

In Serbia, UNHCR continued to support the authorities in strengthening the asylum system through capacity-building of national structures and free legal aid to asylum-seekers. Some 30,200 asylum-seekers and migrants were counselled, including some 3,800 UASC. Some 66% of the 250 people who submitted asylum claims in 2019 were represented in asylum procedures (including 20 UASC), of which 14 were granted refugee status (including one UASC) and 12 were granted subsidiary protection. UNHCR trained asylum authorities on European Court for Human Rights jurisprudence and on airport asylum procedures. UNHCR continued to advocate for the introduction of statelessness determination procedures and to support vulnerable IDPs in accessing social and economic rights.
 
In Kosovo (S/RES/1244 (1999)), UNHCR monitored refugee status determination (RSD) procedure, ensured a presence in the asylum centre and advocated for the strengthening of the asylum system. Guidelines on accelerated RSD procedures were adopted. Some 30 asylum-seekers were granted refugee status. All refugees were issued refugee identification cards. UNHCR conducted trainings for RSD officials, the judiciary and the legal clinic associated with the Faculty of Law. The Office also provided legal aid, counselling and in-court representation to over 300 unregistered individuals. UNHCR facilitated the registration and provision of identification documents to unregistered and undocumented displaced persons from Kosovo (S/RES/1244 (1999)) in Montenegro, decreasing the number of unregistered and undocumented displaced people from 1,400 to just under 60, and also registered some 12 returnee children. Most of the displaced people belonged to the Roma-Ashkali-Egyptian minority.
 

Operational Environment

Following the closure of the so-called Western Balkans (WB) route in March 2016, the stricter border policies have resulted in the fragmentation of the movement of refugees/migrants through South-Eastern Europe (SEE), opening new smuggling pathways in certain parts of the WB that had not been affected so far. Similar to previous years, the overwhelming majority of new arrivals still show no interest in remaining in the region. However, the increase in number of arrivals and asylum-seekers in the sub-region will likely sustain in 2019, and therefore UNHCR will intensify its advocacy for necessary legislative amendments and its work with the governments, and partners, to expand reception capacities for vulnerable categories, enhance asylum procedures and coordinate efforts to promote solutions for those willing to remain in the region.
 
In spite of a certain progress achieved compared to 2017, the region still hosts some 5,000 persons at risk of statelessness. Protection environment for persons at risk of statelessness in the region has improved with the introduction of new legislative provisions, partly thanks to UNHCR cooperation with the EU, CoE, the OSCE and Ombudspersons’ offices. The positive trend is likely to continue with the adoption of new legislation for late birth and residence registration (i.e. in Serbia). The consequent lack of personal documents, as well as, in some countries, collecting comprehensive data on persons at risk of statelessness will remain a challenge. UNHCR and partners will continue to provide legal assistance to people at risk of statelessness in the region.
 

2019 Budget and Expenditure in South-Eastern Europe | USD

Operation Pillar 1
Refugee programme
Pillar 2
Stateless programme
Pillar 3
Reintegration projects
Pillar 4
IDP projects
Total
Bosnia and Herzegovina Regional Office Budget
Expenditure
26,708,186
20,180,273
4,793,174
2,937,377
0
0
0
0
31,501,360
23,117,650
Total Budget
Expenditure
26,708,186
20,180,273
4,793,174
2,937,377
0
0
0
0
31,501,360
23,117,650

2019 Voluntary Contributions to South-Eastern Europe | USD

Earmarking / Donor Pillar 1
Refugee programme
Pillar 2
Stateless programme
All
pillars
Total
South-Eastern Europe overall
European Union 284,09100 284,091
United States of America 004,000,000 4,000,000
South-Eastern Europe overall subtotal 284,09104,000,000 4,284,091
Regional Office in South Eastern Europe
European Union 507,26600 507,266
International Organization for Migration 1,042,35800 1,042,358
Montenegro 0082,745 82,745
Russian Federation 0100,0000 100,000
Serbia 00115,942 115,942
Spain 164,11300 164,113
Switzerland 136,60300 136,603
United States of America 51,18305,800,000 5,851,183
Regional Office in South Eastern Europe subtotal 1,901,523100,0005,998,687 8,000,210
Total 2,185,614100,0009,998,687 12,284,301
Note:
Latest contributions
  • 01-JUL-2020
    Finland
    $145,806
  • 30-JUN-2020
    Japan

    private donors

    $300,000
  • Malaysia

    private donors

    $213,955
  • Brazil
    $95,557
  • Switzerland
    $354,521
  • Norway

    private donors

    $225,521
  • Canada
    $141,859
  • Spain

    private donors

    $6,910,816
  • Thailand

    private donors

    $477,555
  • Germany

    private donors

    $1,776,035
  • Germany
    $42,561,000
  • 29-JUN-2020
    Romania
    $53,397
  • Sweden

    private donors

    $291,895
  • United Arab Emirates
    $415,000
  • Argentina
    $53,550
  • Norway

    private donors

    $1,445,000
  • United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
    $105,500
  • Switzerland
    $581,000
  • Sweden
    $744,500
  • Ireland
    $115,500