Seek asylum in Serbia and disappear

Just during the last year at Macedonian border, 10 000 migrants were found - more and more popular route to EU through Croatia. Serbia could be under less pressure of illegal migration if the EU managed to establish effective control of the border between Greece and Turkey where, just during the last year, were found about 50,000 immigrants. It can only be speculated how many of them passed further. And route to the most developed EU countries leads them through Serbia.

Border Police has a chronic lack of personnel and equipment, which of course depends on the capacity of the country. But to effectively oppose illegal migration is not enough just to firmly close the borders. After all, those who enter the country of the EU or Serbia immediately apply for asylum, and local authorities must accept them for a certain period and decide on their applications. Few of them gain asylum, majority continues to the destination countries, to wealthier EU countries, while part of them returns in according to agreements on readmission. That is a question of respecting human rights and European standards. A long-term solution to the problem of economic migration could help the countries from which immigrants come. Also, the introduction of fast and effective procedures to return to their country of origin that would be discouraged to proceed on such road- says to Mitar Đurašković, Head of Department for suppression Transborder Crime and Criminal-Intelligence Affairs Directorate in Border Police of Serbia.

When it comes to wave of migration that swept Serbia, it all started 2009. when, in the port of Patras in Greece, occurred a major conflict of immigrants, police and local residents. As a matter of fact, at that time there was a channel who led through the harbor, through which were immigrants secretly entering the trucks that are transported them by ferry to Italy They traveled to the West, without fear of border controls, because both countries are members of the Schengen Agreement. Immigrants discovered in Serbia said that in one incident, while one of them tryed to enter through the slit tarpaulins, a truck driver injured him by vehicle. That immediately led to fight of illegal passengers and gathered chauffeurs. Police intervened, and the migrants who were in the harbor got involved. The local anarchists which were otherwise in constant conflict with the guardians of order stood on the side of police. After the chaos on the streets of Patras, stricter control was established when board the ships. As a result, illegal immigration changed direction, and since then have became really common route that leads from Greece via Serbia to the West.

With the help of colleagues from "Frontex", the EU agency for the protection of external borders, we quickly noticed the trend. We find ourselves in a bit paradoxical situation. It was noted that migrants are entering the EU from the direction of Serbia, but they entering in Serbia from EU, from Greece, through Macedonia. Practically, illegal migration from the EU goes towards the EU through the Western Balkan countries - Đurašković explains.

Just during the last year the Serbian Interior Ministry has found about 10,000 of immigrants at the Serbian-Macedonian border. They are trying and entering in Serbia by train, through highway or through a "green" border zone. Some of the immigrants who were found at the border crossing, in an attempt of illegal entry, return to Macedonia. Most of those who were found at the border are those who applied for asylum and with the appropriate certificates were sent to centers in Banja Koviljaca and Bogovadja. Because the majority did not appear there, it is clear that they abused the right to asylum and continued their illegal trip to the rich countries of the EU. In the north of Serbia there is "hard" EU external border. Hungarian border police work with colleagues from Austria, along with the representatives of the Serbian Interior Ministry, when conduct joint operations. They coordinate their work with colleagues who are on the Serbian side of the state boundary. During the last year from Hungary to Serbia was returned about 1,100 of illegal immigrants.

Lately, it is noticed that the migration route splits from Serbia to Croatia because the Serbian-Hungarian border is well guarded. And Croatia enters the EU very soon, so it is atractive to immigrants who believe it is easier to go further from that country to the West- says Đurašković.

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