Commissioner Johansson visited Serbia

European Commissioner for Internal Affairs Ylva Johansson visited Serbia on March 16. She met with Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić, as well as Prime Minister Ana Brnabić, Minister for European Integration Tanja Miščević and Minister of Foreign Affairs Ivica Dačić.

She attended the signing of the agreement by which Serbia becomes an associate member of the European Migration Network. It is a forum of migration experts in which data, policies and experiences on migration are exchanged.

Upon her arrival in the morning hours, Commissioner Johansson first met with the Minister of Internal Affairs of Serbia, Bratislav Gašić, at the Horgoš border crossing on the border between Serbia and Hungary. They were received by a joint patrol of the Serbian Border Police and the European Border and Coast Guard Agency – Frontex.

The newly appointed director of Frontex, Hans Leijtens, was accompanied by Commissioner Johansson.

According to the commissioner, the engagement of Frontex members on the territory of Serbia is a practical indicator of the European Union’s commitment to cooperation with Serbia.

“Joint patrols guard the borders, work to prevent and suppress criminal activities and smugglers,” said Johansson and added that the next step in cooperation is the revision of the agreement between Serbia and Frontex, which will give a new mandate to the European Border and Coast Guard Agency.

At all her meetings, Johansson stressed that the EU and Serbia are actively and jointly working to strengthen the fight against organized crime and people smuggling at the borders.