Serbia, EU, U.N. Affirm Commitment to Joint Border Management, Strengthening Rule of Law

(BETAPHOTO/MILAN OBRADOVIC)

Representatives of the Serbian government, the European Union and the U.N. Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) affirmed their joint commitment to better border management and strengthening the rule of law, during the event titled “Security – Partnership in Action” at the Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport on Nov. 20.

The deputy chief of the EU Delegation in Serbia, Plamena Halaceva, stated that the partnership of EU and Serbia in the rule of law and border security were an important part of the EU accession process. She added that global turbulence in recent years had shown that international border control and cooperation were no longer just possibilities, but an imperative, and that the presence of Frontex at the airport and borders in Serbia and their synchronous work with the Serbian police significantly contributed to security.

The regional representative of UNODC for South East Europe, Danilo Rizzi, stated that UNODC believed that joint work with the EU and Serbia was proof of strong international cooperation in advancing border security and the rule of law in the Western Balkans. He added that UNODC, together with colleagues from Serbia, was expanding border security capacities by opening a new control unit at the Nikola Tesla airport.

The cooperation of Serbia, EU and UNODC was presented within the EU Joint Action for the promotion of the rule of law and good governance through targeted border control measures, financed by the EU and implemented by UNODC in cooperation with national and international partners. Its goal is to establish a system of border control based on intelligence in the fight against cross-border crime, greater safety of passengers and strengthening Serbia’s role as a partner in regional and international security.