The renovation works were part of the CARDS 2003 project "Capacity building in the area of illegal migration", which amounted to 1.15 million euros and which started in 2005. The funds were used to build two new entrances to the centre, two fields for five-a-side soccer, two parking areas, a common room, access roads, a new concrete fence, an outdoor lighting system, and a video surveillance system.
Officials of the Ministry of the Interior said the project had improved accommodation at the centre, making it safer and more functional, and helped the ministry in the training of staff working on illegal migrations.
They also stated that one of their goals was to introduce European standards in the area of illegal migration, and a stable system of control and management of illegal migrations.
The head of the European Commission's Delegation to Croatia, Vincent Degert, said the European Union wanted and was ready to implement a new migration policy with the aim of creating better conditions and standards for all aliens arriving in other countries.
The EC official and Croatia's Minister of the Interior Ivica Kirin agreed that Croatia was meeting all obligations in the process of screening of the chapter on justice, freedom and security of the EU acquis communautaire.
In 2006, 1,719 persons were accommodated at Jezevo, and 1,642 were deported, which cost 1.8 million kuna. In the first four months of this year, the centre took in 560 aliens, while 556 were deported.
Most of the illegal migrants arriving at the centre are Albanians from Albania, Kosovo and Macedonia, followed by people from Turkey, Moldova and Romania.