preparatory phase and reiterated full dedication of the Ministry to address and prevent economic and social decline of return areas. UNHCR commends the adopted Strategy and the Action Plan for the Implementation and commends further achievements in implementation of the Croatia’s Program for integrated physical, economic and social reintegration of five return areas. The Minister announced the expansion of this project to other areas. UNHCR commends the efforts of the Government of Croatia to support harmonized development of socially and economically deprived areas, many of whom are hosting returnees. e) Difficulties related to private property repossession CSORHC reported that in 2017, two remaining cases of occupied properties and two pending cases of unsolicited investments have been finalized favorably for beneficiaries. UNHCR considers this recommendation point as fully met as all the remaining cases related to private property repossession in Croatia, particularly the cases of unauthorized investments by temporary occupants who were permitted by the government to use these properties, were resolved in just manner. f) Access to free legal aid The legislative framework for free legal aid provides a comprehensive basis for vulnerable beneficiaries. However, lack of available funds remains a major challenge. The Act on Free Legal Aid10 provides comprehensive basis for effective state funded free legal aid, comprised of primary and secondary free legal aid. Lack of available funds, low apportionments to primary free legal aid in comparison to secondary free legal aid and late allocation of funds to NGOs hampered the effective implementation of the State funded primary free legal aid. The Ministry of Justice has continuously been reducing the funding allocations to NGOs for primary legal aid. Additionally, in the last three years, the funds were allocated only in the third quarter of the year, which left NGOs to spend funds within very short periods. These shortcomings have had detrimental effect on reintegration of returnees. Allocated funds are not sufficient and UNHCR therefore funded three NGOs who provided free legal aid in 2017; I Want to Go Home from Knin, Civil Rights Project from Sisak and Serb National Council. In 2017, UNHCR legal aid partners assisted 4,552 beneficiaries with free legal counseling. For 2017, UNHCR notes increase of the budget in the state funded free legal aid for primary free aid from initially planned 700,000 HRK (93,000 EUR) to 1,051,454 HRK (140,193 EUR). 10 Act on Free Legal Aid, Official Gazette, no. 143/13, in force since 1 st January 2014. 11