Oliver Varhelyi (Beta/European Commission/Dati Bendo)
In the course of a visit by European Enlargement Commissioner Oliver Varhelyi to Belgrade, Serbia and the European Union signed agreements on EU support to migration management in Serbia and border control.
Varhelyi said the EU would increase its financial aid for curbing illegal migration by 60 percent, to EUR350 million for the 2021-2024 period. "Illegal migration poses a security threat to Serbia, too, and the entire region. No one can deal with this problem, and that is why we're here to help, to join forces and help Serbia dismantle smuggling rings so we can stop illegal migration," he said.
He added that the EU was strengthening commitment and support for border control, especially with North Macedonia by using more officers and equipment. "We have already considerably stepped up forced returns from the region because those who have no right to be here must go back immediately. We must keep false asylum-seekers away. The Western Balkans, especially Serbia, can count on political, financial and operational support from the EU," added the EU commissioner.
Serbia signed three agreements with the EU: a framework agreement on financial partnership, an agreement on EU support to migration management in Serbia and health care access, and an agreement on EU support to migration management in Serbia and bolstering the migration management system and border control.
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