Download: Seventh Annual Report of Ombudsperson in Kosovo

OSCE Mission to Serbia has issued the report "Analysis of the Access to Housing Care by Refugees and Displaced Persons, Former Tenancy Right Holders, in the Republic of Croatia in 2007" as the result of the implementation of the last phase of the Regional Legal Assistance Programme - "Supporting the return of refugees and displaced persons through legal aid" in the period from October 2005 to April 2008.

Download: Analysis of the Access to Housing Care by Refugees and Displaced Persons, Former Tenancy Right Holders, in the Republic of Croatia in 2007

For more information use the following link.

The OSCE Mission to Croatia has recognized the need for additional legal return-related information (civil and administrative) to be provided through the distribution of guidance for returnees.

The distribution of appropriate and relevant information received a special meaning after the Regional ministerial conference in Sarajevo on the issue of refugees and displaced persons in the region of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia and Serbia and Montenegro. In the Declaration signed on the 31 January 2005, the responsible Ministers committed themselves to undertake specific measures to ensure a just and permanent solution for the refugee and displaced person file by the end of 2006.

The Declaration confirms that every refugee should be able to choose between the right for a safe and dignified return or the right for local integration and that the State should undertake all necessary measures to allow the refugee to make a free and informed choice.

Download: Guidance for Returnees to Croatia

Being DRC's sub-contractor in the EAR-funded project Support to the Repatriation and Reintegration Process of Refugees Currently in Serbia to Croatia and BH, Praxis co-facilitated, together with DRC and SDF the Advocacy Campaign: Repatriation to Croatia – Solving of Remaining Housing Related Issues that took place on 7 April 2005. The participants of the campaign were the representatives of Serbian and Croatian governments, international NGOs, Embassies and NGOs from Serbia and Croatia. The successful campaign resulted with the main recommendations given by the participants to the governments of the Republic of Croatia and the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro related to the repossession of property, housing care and reconstruction of houses in Croatia, as well as on the Declaration signed at the Ministerial Conference on Refugee Return (on January 31, 2005 in Sarajevo). Some of the main recommendations were to speed up the processes of property repossession, allocation of housing care and reconstruction in Croatia in order to enable the return of refugees as soon as possible in line of the above-mentioned Ministerial Conference, as well as to establish cooperation between the governments of Croatia and Serbia and Montenegro with the aim of informing the displaced Croatian Serbs about housing issues in Croatia.

Download: Repatriation to Croatia - Solving of Remaining Housing Issue

1. What is Personal Identification Number?
Personal Identification Number is a permanent identification mark of each particular individual, used by the public authorities in keeping official records and data exchange. Personal Identification Number has been introduced and applied in the Republic of Croatia since January 1st, 2009, by coming into force of the Law on Personal Identification Number (Official Gazette 60/08).

2. How are the personal identification number digits determined?
Personal Identification Number consists of 11 digits. Ten digits are randomly chosen, while the 11th digit represents the control number calculated on the basis “Modul 11.10” ISO 7064.

3. Does personal identification number have an acronym?
Personal Identification Number has an acronym of OIB.

4. Why is personal identification number being introduced for?
Personal Identification Number is being introduced for:

• General information of public administration – to increase the effectiveness of public institutions and reduce administrative obstacles faced by the citizens;
• Networking and automatic data exchange among all public records – citizens will have easier and quicker access to their rights: less queues, less paper work, reduction of citizen’s administrative obligations;
• As the most effective tool in fight against corruption – better survey over the property of physical and legal entities, as well as over the financial income and flow, being the key precondition for transparent economy and systemic corruption eradication;
• Ensuring precondition for fairer distribution of social welfare benefits;
• Harmonizing Croatian legislative system with the legislative system of the European Union.

5. Who is eligible to personal identification number and how is it assigned?
Personal identification number is assigned to:

• Croatian citizens by birth or by acquisition of Croatian citizenship;
• Legal entities established and based in the Republic of Croatia, and
• Foreigners when there is basis for their surveillance in the Republic of Croatia (registration in public records and acquisition of tax-payer status).

After January 1st, 2009 all new individuals will be assigned with the personal identification number at the moment of birth registration or by acquisition of Croatian citizenship, upon establishment or the moment the reason for surveillance arises. Personal identification number will be assigned on the basis of information data exchange between the bodies that enter records and Tax Administration, without personal presence before Tax Administration Office needed.

6. How will I be assigned a personal identification number?
All entities (physical entities born before January 1, 2009, legal entities based in the Republic of Croatia established before January 1, 2009, all foreign physical and legal entities with a reason for surveillance set before January 1, 2009, will be determined and assigned a personal identification number by Tax Administration, Ministry of Finance.

Certificate on Personal Identification Number will be snet to home addresses by mail in an easy-identified envelope. Delivery procedure: certificate on personal identification number for all registered entities will commence on January 12, 2009. Precondition for proper Certificate delivery is a correct address of the permanent residence, i.e. the residence stated in the competent registries.

If a person needs data on his/her personal identification number prior to receiving the Certificate to his/her home address, after January 1, 2009, he/she also can:

• Send an SMS to 61642 (61OIB) stating it’s  citizen’s unique personal number (JMBG) or master citizen’s number (MB);
• Inquire via web application at web page  www.oib.hr and
• Ask for the Certificate at the Tax Administration Office.    

7. What will happen with JMBG and MB?

Introduction of personal identification number is a gradual process in which, in the first phase, OIB will be designated and assigned, and, in the second phase, OIBs will be registered in all public records. For the purpose of gradual introduction of personal identification number, during 2009, all new individuals will be assigned citizen’s unique personal number and master citizen’s number along with personal identification number. During 2009, JMBG and MB will be used in all forms and financial flows. As of 1st January 2010, OIB will be used in tax forms and financial flows.

8. Do I need to change personal documents?
It is not necessary to change personal documents. Those documents will be replaced gradually, for common reasons, e.g. when they expire. Until the OIB is registered on the ID card, a Certificate on OIB will be used as evidence on OIB.

9. Why OIB, and not MB?
All EU member states use certain identification numbers. The Republic of Croatia introduces personal identification number which satisfies two basic conditions: takes care of privacy protection – OIB contains digits which are randomly chosen and do not connect data to a person assigned (not an identifying number), and is in compliance with the criteria of the European Union for the purpose of international data exchange, as it contains less than 12 digits.

10. Who has insight into my OIB?
Personal identification number will be used by all authorized bodies and legal entities with public authority which for keep official records (register, record files, index, registries and other files and archives) on individuals and property, so the official records could be inter-connected to a network. Insight into OIB will be allowed only to authorized persons and institutions, with restricted access only to data they are authorized to. Central registry, which will contain all data on the basis of OIB, will be available only to specific officials of Tax Administration, with maximum data security measures taken.

Text has been taken from the web site www.oib.hr. 

PRISTINA – Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General in Kosovo (SRSG) Soren Jessen-Petersen welcomed the signing of the Protocol on Voluntary and Sustainable Return between Pristina and Belgrade. The Protocol was signed today by the SRSG, the Head of the Pristina Delegation of the Direct Dialogue Working Group, Dardan Gashi, and the Head of the Belgrade Delegation of the Direct Dialogue Working Group, Milorad Todorovic, as part of ongoing efforts to intensify the return process.

On this occasion, the SRSG said: “Today’s signing of the Protocol by Pristina and Belgrade is an important moment. It shows that we are all committed to put the rights of the displaced persons on the forefront.”

The Protocol seeks to improve the conditions for return and enhance capacity for implementation of the return process through provisions that range from providing access to basic services for the returnees to promoting integration of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs). The Protocol acknowledges that successful return of IDPs is based on three elements: ensuring safety of returnees; returning property to the displaced and rebuilding their houses; and creating an environment that sustains returns.

“The Protocol confirms that in spite of differences on various issues, there is a will to cooperate to end the situation of displacement while duly respecting the right of the internally displaced to return to their homes and to freely choose their places of residence,” said the SRSG.

Download: SRSG Welcomes Signing of Protocol on Returns

Download: HERE

Praxis' legal mobile teams visited the following:

December

• 13 December - Collective Centre “Zlatibor Standard”, Uzice
• 12 December - Red Cross Office, Zemun
•   7 December - Roma settlement “Reva”, Borca
•   6 December - The Trustee's Office, Barajevo
•   6 December - Collective Centre “Trmbas”, Kragujevac
•   5 December - Roma settlements “Stari Kostolac” and “Meminac”, Pozarevac

 November

• 23 November - Collective Centre “Karadjordjev dom”, Raca
• 20 November - Roma settlement “Meminac”, Pozarevac
• 15 November - Collective Centre “Mostogradnja”, Doljevac
• 14 November - Collective Centres “Novi put” and “Gradjevinar”, Grocka
•   8 November - Collective Centre “PIM Standard”, Krnjaca
•   8 November - The Trustee's Office, Sjenica
•   6 November - Roma settlement “Surducka III deo”, Zrenjanin
•   3 November - Roma settlement “Veliki Rit”, Novi Sad

October

• 18 October - Collective Centre Elementary School “Vitko i Sveta”, Gadzin Han
• 18 October - Collective Centres “Hotel Srbija”, Niska Banja, “Odmaraliste Trem”, Sicevo and Dom Omladine, Nis
• 17 October - Collective Centre “Motel Morava”, Aleksinac
• 17 October - Collective Centres “Izvor” and “Hotel Svrljig”, Svrljig

September

•  27-29 September - Collective Centre “Salvatore”, Bujanovac
•  12 September - The Trustee's Office, Velika Plana
•    7 September - Collective Centre “Hotel Srbija”, Bor
•    6 September - Collective Centre “Hotel Krajina”, Negotin

 August

•  23 August - The Trustee's Office, Arandjelovac
•  22 August - Collective Centre “Odmaraliste Miodrag Sibinovic Zoran”, Boljevac
•  10 August - Collective Centre “Gamzigradska Banja”, Zajecar
•    9 August - Collective Centre “Grljan”, Zajecar

 July

•  19 July - Collective Centre “Vila Maricic”, Mataruska Banja
•  18 July - Roma settlement, Mirijevo, Belgrade
•  13 July - Collective Centre “MDX Bresnica”, Kragujevac
•    5 July - Roma settlement “Veliki Rit”, Novi Sad

June

•  26 June - Collective Centers “Psychiatric Clinic Avala” and “Belgrade Camp Avala”, Vozdovac, Belgrade
•  15 June - Collective Centre “ORA Sartid”, Radinac, Smederevo
•  14 June - Collective Centre “Motel Atina”, Leskovac
•    8 June - Collective Centres “Deciji vrtic”, “Motel Kamping”, “Salvatore” and “Stara ciglana”, Bujanovac 

May

•  23 May - Collective Centres “Branko Krsmanovic” and “Health Centre Popovac”, Paracin
•  23 May - Collective Centres “Zitoradja”, Donje Crnatovo
•  18/19 May - The Office of War Affected Persons’ Relief and Protection Committee, Subotica
•  18 May - Collective Centres “Gamzigradska Banja” and “Grljan”, Zajecar
•  17 May - Collective Centre “Karatas”, Kladovo
•  12 May - Municipality Building, Strpce
•  10 May - Centre for Accommodation of Refugees, Pancevo
•    9 May - Roma settlement, Cukaricka padina, Belgrade

 April

•  26 April - Red Cross Office, Pozarevac
•  25 April - Association of Roma Students Office, Novi Sad
•  25 April - The Trustee's Office, Prokuplje
•  20 April - The Trustee's Office, Bor
•  18 April - Red Cross Office, Becej
•  18 April - Collective Centre “MDX Bresnica”, Kragujevac
•  12 April - Red Cross Office, Pozarevac
•  11 April - Collective Centre “Selova”, Kursumlija

 March

•  29 March - Collective Centre “Omladinsko naselje Cardak”, Kovin
•  29 March - Collective Centre “Ratko Mitrovic Baraks”, Pozega
•  28 March - The Association “Romski zivot”, Cukarica, Belgrade
•  21 March - The Association “Romski zivot”, Cukarica, Belgrade
•  20 March - Collective Centre “Napred”, Mladenovac
•  16 March - Collective Centre “ORA Sartid”, Radinac, Smederevo
•  15 March - Collective Centre “Trmbas”, Kragujevac
•    1 March - Collective Centre “Vile Sijarinske Banje”, Medvedja

 February

•  22 February - Roma settlement “Veliki Rit”, Novi Sad
•  22 February - Roma settlement, Sjenica
•  22 February - Roma settlement “Adice”, Novi Sad
•  16 February - Roma settlement, Obrenovac
•  16 February - Collective Center “TENT B Usce”, Obrenovac
•  15 February - Collective Center “Agricultural Cooperation Blagaja”, Pozega
•    9 February - Collective Center “Kolare”, Jagodina

Praxis' legal mobile teams visited the following:

December

• 18 December - Collective Centre "PIM Standard", Krnjaca
• 18 December - Roma settlement, Kragujevac
• 14 December - Private accommodation, Subotica
• 13 December - Roma settlement "Rasadnici", Krusevac
• 13 December - Private accommodation, Subotica
• 12 December - Collective Centre "Stara Ciglana", Vlasotince
•   6 December - Private accommodation and Collective Centre "PIM Usce", Obrenovac
•   5 December - Collective Centre "Trmbas", Kragujevac
•   4 December - Private accommodation, Novi Pazar

November

• 27 November - Roma settlement, Kragujevac
• 26 November - Roma settlement "Veliki Rit", Novi Sad
• 22 November - Collective Centres "GIK Banat", "Gradjevinar" and "Novi autoput", Grocka
• 21 November - Collective Centre "Salvatore", Bujanovac
• 20 November - Collective Centre "Selova", Kursumlija
• 20 November - Collective Centre "Karadjordjev dom", Raca
• 15 November - Collective Centre "Bosko Buha Jabuka", Prijepolje
• 14 November - Private accommodation, Sjenica
•   8 November - Collective Centre "Varna", Sabac
•   7 November - Private accommodation, Novi Pazar
•   5 November 5   - Private Accommodation, Pozarevac

October

• 19 October - Collective Centre "Rasadnici", Vranje
• 19 October - Collective Centre "Sijerinska banja", Medvedja
• 18 October - Collective Centre "Dom ucenika", Vranje  
• 18 October - Collective Centre "Mostanica", Vranje  
• 18 October - Collective Centre "OS P. Devedzic", Vranje 
• 18 October - Collective Centre "OS 1. Maj Vrtogos", Vranje
• 10 October - Collective Centre "Zadruzni dom Donje Crnatovo", Zitoradja
•   1 October - Roma settlement "Veliki Rit", Novi Sad

September

• 28 September - Collective Centre "Mostogradnja", Doljevac  
• 27 September - Collective Centre "OS Vitko i Sveta", Gornji Barbes, Gadzin Han
• 19/20 September - Private accommodation, Subotica
• 18 September - Collective Centre "Barake Ratko Mitrovic", Pozega
• 18 September - Collective Centre "ZZ Blagaja", Pozega
• 12 September - Red Cross, Novi Pazar
•   5 September - Collective Centre "Vile Gamzigradske Banje", Zajecar
•   4 September - Collective Centre "Karatas", Kladovo

August

• 23/24 August - Collective Centre "Salvatore", Bujanovac
• 21 August - Roma settlement, Zrenjanin
• 16 August - Collective Centre "Grljan DP Romulijana", Zajecar
• 15 August - Collective Centre "Hotel Krajina INEX", Negotin
• 15 August - Collective Centre "ORA Sartid", Smederevo 
•   9 August - Collective Centre "Odmaraliste Rtanj", Boljevac
•   8 August - Collective Centre "Hotel Srbija", Bor
•   7 August - Roma settlement "Reva", Krnjaca, Belgrade
•   2 August - Collective Centre "Napred", Mladenovac

July

• 24 July - Collective Centre "Motel Ras Pazariste", Novi Pazar
• 24 July - Private accommodation, Loznica
• 18 July - Collective Centre "PKB Bresnica", Kragujevac
• 12 July - Collective Centre "Motel Atina", Leskovac
• 11 July - Private accommodation, Lapovo
• 10 July - Collective Centre "Kolare", Jagodina
•   5 July - Private accommodation, Grocka
•   5 July - Collective Centre "Hotel ES i Remizijana", Bela Palanka

June

• 27 June - Private accommodation, Vrsac
• 26 June - Collective Centre "Beranovac", Kraljevo
• 21 June - Private accommodation, Sjenica
• 20 June 20 - Private Accommodation, Obrenovac
• 19 June 19 - Collective Centre "Zadruzni dom Donje Crnatovo", Zitoradja
• 11 June 11 - Private Accommodation, Svilajnac
•   7 June 7 - Collective Centre "Dibrava-Prilicki kiseljak", Ivanjica
•   7 June 7 - Collective Centre "Satorsko naselje Stari Aerodrom" Kraljevo
•   6 June 6 - Collective Centre "Barake Planum", Cajetina
•   6 June 6 - Collective Centres "GP Zlatibor Standard" and "Zabucje", Uzice
•   5 June 5 - Collective Centre "DO Trmbas", Kragujevac
•   1 June - Private accommodation, Novi Pazar
 
May
• 30 May - Collective Centres "Fabrika stofova " and "Ambulanta Popovac", Paracin  
• 23 May - Collective Centre "Montazna baraka Kablar ", Kraljevo 
• 23 May - Collective Centre "Hotel Vrelo", Bajina Basta
• 22 May - Collective Centre "Stara bolnica", Ljubovija
• 17 May - Private accommodation, Krusevac
• 15 May - Collective Centre "Radnicko naselje Selova ", Kursumlija
• 10 May - Private accommodation, Trstenik
• 8/9 May - Private accommodation, Subotica
•   8 May - Collective Centre " Stara Ciglana", Vlasotince
•   3 May - Collective Centre "Vila Morava", Kraljevo

April

• 20 April - Collective Centres "Mostanica", "OS Prvi Maj Vrtogos", "OS P. Devedzic", "Dom ucenika", Vranje 
• 19 April - Collective Centre "Salvatore", Bujanovac and Collective Centre "Rasadnici", Vranje
• 18 April - Collective Centres "Motel Kamping", "Stara Ciglana", "Deciji Vrtic", Bujanovac  
• 12 April - Red Cross, Novi Pazar

March

• 28/29 March - Roma settlement "Beograd Mahala", Nis
• 27 March - Collective Centre "Kasarna", Petrovac
• 22 March - Roma settlement "Surducka III deo", Zrenjanin
• 22 March - The Trustee's Office, Bor
• 21 March - Collective Centre "Karatas", Kladovo
• 20 March - Collective Centre "Grljan", Zajecar
• 14/15 March - Collective Centres "Hotel Serbia", Niska Banja, "Odmaraliste Trem", Sicevo, "Dom Omladine", Nis and Roma settlement "Beograd Mahala", Nis
• 13 March - Collective Centres "Izvor" and "Hotel Svrljig", Svrljig
• 13 March - Collective Centre "Motel Morava", Aleksinac
•   8 March - Collective Centres  "Hotel Kastrum DP Romulijana", "Vile DP Romulijana" and "Vila Kopaonik", Gamzigradska Banja, Zajecar
•   7 March - The Trustee's Office, Pirot
•   6 March - Collective Centre "Hotel Krajina", Negotin
•   6 March - Collective Centre "Karadjordjev dom", Raca

February

• 21 February - The Trustee's Office, Smederevo
• 21 February - Collective Centre "Hotel Park", Prijepolje
• 21 February - Collective Centre "Bosko Buha Jabuka", Prijepolje
• 20 February - Collective Centre "Hotel Karadjordje", Topola
• 20 February - Red Cross, Sjenica
• 15/16 February - Roma settlement, Subotica
• 14 February - The Trustee's Office, Arandjelovac
• 14 February - Collective Centre "Kolare", Jagodina
• 13 February - Collective Centre "PKB Bresnica", Kragujevac
• 13 February - The Trustee's Office, Lazarevac
•   8 February - Collective Centre "GP Napred", Mladenovac
•   8 February - Collective Centre "Miodrag Sibinovic Zoran", Rtanj
•   7 February - Collective Centre "Hotel ES i Remizijana", Bela Palanka
•   6 February - Collective Centre "Hotel Serbia", Bor
•   6 February - Collective Centre "Varna", Sabac
•   1 February - The Trustee's Office, Smederevska Palanka

January

• 29 January - Collective Centre "ORA Sartid - Radinac", Smederevo
• 25 January - Red cross, Pancevo
• 24 January - Collective Centres "Barake Ratko Mitrovic" and "ZZ Blagaja", Pozega
• 23 January - Collective Centres "Motel Atina" and "Dom kulture Pecenjevce", Leskovac
• 22 January - Collective Centre "7.juli", Zemun
• 18 January - Collective Centre "Vila Maricic", Mataruska Banja
• 17 January - Collective Centre "Hotel Zica", Mataruska Banja
• 17 January - Collective Centre "Psihijatrija Avala", Vozdovac, Belgrade
• 16 January - Roma settlement, Zemun Polje, Zemun