(ANSA) - ROME, NOV 29 - The first phase of the project promoted by UNHCR, co-funded by the Italian ministry for foreign affairs and international cooperation and the Italian embassy in Belgrade, aimed at promoting an exchange of good practices between Italian and Serbian authorities in managing migrations flows ended last week. The Italian embassy in Belgrade said in a statement on Monday that the mission - which was successful - allowed Serbian representatives to better understand the functioning of the Italian system of asylum and integration, marked by the decentralization of procedures to examine asylum applications and the hosting system, which counts on the important support of organizations of civil society and UNHCR.

Along with the opportunities of confrontation offered by meetings with the central departments with jurisdiction and local departments of the interior ministry, very appreciated were visits to some hosting facilities as well as talks with the National commission for asylum rights and SAI (asylum and integration system), that offered the occasion to get to know the organization and management of the hosting system. The delegation finally met the organizations of civil society that provide support to refugees and asylum seekers like Sant'Egidio (which works on humanitarian corridors), SAMIFO (a center that provides psychological and social support to asylum seekers and refugees) and "Difference Woman" (that works on the protection of women who are victims of trafficking and violence). (ANSA).