Migration management – ​​a shared responsibility

Vice President of the European Commission Margaritis Schinas paid a two-day visit to Serbia. Last night he visited the Asylum Center in Obrenovac, from where he said that no one can answer the challenges of migration alone, but that cooperation and joint work are necessary.

During Schinas’ visit, a new aid package in the field of migration was signed, which the European Union intended for Serbia, and which amounts to more than EUR 57.25 million. Part of the direct aid will go to the Commissariat for Refugees and Migration, in the amount of EUR 36 million, while the rest will go to the needs of providing health and social protection of migrants, education, etc.

The Prime Minister of Serbia, Ana Brnabić, thanked for the direct assistance that Serbia received from the European Union.

“Since 2015, the EU has donated more than EUR 160 million to increase our capacities for border protection, prevention of irregular migration, migration management. With this new package, along with some other announcements, that aid will soon grow to EUR 200 million. During the migrant crisis, Serbia showed that it shares European values, that it is ready to take responsibility and showed the face of humanity and empathy”, Prime Minister Brnabić said.

She also stated that there are twice as many migrants in Serbia today than in the same period last year, and that the members of Frontex, apart from the border with Bulgaria, will also be deployed on the border with North Macedonia.