Local integration remains the only durable solution for the large majority of refugees in Albania and presents some considerable challenges. While the Asylum Law enshrines basic rights such as access to services and the right to work, availability of services and paid employment is scant and bureaucratic hurdles often make access difficult in practice. Self-reliance, together with documentation and decent housing, is the most pressing concern expressed by all refugees, independently of age, gender and nationality.
Despite low number of people granted international protection in Bosnia and Herzegovina and lack of integration prospects, it is important to improve implementation of the existing legislation and access to rights of PoC, including naturalization of refugees and development of government programs and budgets for their cultural and socio-economic empowerment.
Overall precarious economic situation in Kosovo (S/RES/1244(1999)) does not offer adequate conditions for the sustainable integration of those granted with international protection but nevertheless UNHCR will continue advocating for systemic changes and adequate implementation of asylum legislation which should contribute towards increased recognitions and integration prospects.
It is expected that up to additional 400 people will need protection and integration support in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia for a longer period in 2017.
Existing Montenegro local integration strategy (2009-2015) is under revision as it is not differentiating between people granted asylum from or outside the Western Balkans countries. As a part of the comprehensive response, UNHCR in Montenegro shall increase number of interventions for realization of the Convention rights thus creating more opportunities for local integration of the asylum-seekers that were granted protection.
In Serbia, UNHCR will focus on operational activities in 3/5 Serbian municipalities with comprehensive solutions for Roma IDPs for the most vulnerable IDPs. The comprehensive solutions will cover areas of shelter, income generation, access to education, access to employment, capacity building directed at facilitating cooperation between the local communities and the IDP beneficiaries. These comprehensive solutions should represent a series of best practices on which the government should in the future base its durable solutions activities.