EU official: Suspension of visa-free regime possible

The Western Balkan countries need to achieve clear results in reducing the number of asylum seekers coming from these countries to the EU by next spring.

Izvor: Tanjug

Friday, 20.12.2013.

11:19

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BUDVA The Western Balkan countries need to achieve clear results in reducing the number of asylum seekers coming from these countries to the EU by next spring. Otherwise their visa-free regime will be at risk, EU Commissioner for Home Affairs Cecilia Malmstrom has said. EU official: Suspension of visa-free regime possible "The number of asylum requests arriving in the EU countries has gone up by four times, and the greatest number of these citizens are from the Western Balkan region which is a big problem," Malmstrom told reporters in Budva on Thursday evening, where she is partaking in a EU-Western Balkan ministerial forum devoted to issues of justice and internal affairs. She said that the EU has adopted the decision on possible suspension of the visa-free regime in case of a drastic increase in the number of illegal immigrants or so-called asylum seekers, stressing that this decision will come into force on January 9. "This means that if this proves necessary we will suspend the visa-free regime with certain countries," Malmstrom warned, adding that for the reason the Western Balkan countries should pay extra attention to the excessive number of asylum seekers. "It is good that the interior ministers of the regional countries have voiced readiness to step up their work on this issue. We really need clear results and indicators by next spring so that we would not be forced to implement the measures of the visa-free regime suspension," Malmstrom said. She added that the Western Balkan countries are expected to show more, as she put it, measurable results in the fight against organized crime. The conference brought together ten regional ministers of interior and justice, including Serbian Prime Minister and Interior Minister Ivica Dacic and Justice Minister Nikola Selakovic, and representatives of the Council of the European Union, Interpol, Europol and other relevant European institutions and organizations. Serbian passports (Beta, file) Tanjug

EU official: Suspension of visa-free regime possible

"The number of asylum requests arriving in the EU countries has gone up by four times, and the greatest number of these citizens are from the Western Balkan region which is a big problem," Malmstrom told reporters in Budva on Thursday evening, where she is partaking in a EU-Western Balkan ministerial forum devoted to issues of justice and internal affairs.

She said that the EU has adopted the decision on possible suspension of the visa-free regime in case of a drastic increase in the number of illegal immigrants or so-called asylum seekers, stressing that this decision will come into force on January 9.

"This means that if this proves necessary we will suspend the visa-free regime with certain countries," Malmstrom warned, adding that for the reason the Western Balkan countries should pay extra attention to the excessive number of asylum seekers.

"It is good that the interior ministers of the regional countries have voiced readiness to step up their work on this issue. We really need clear results and indicators by next spring so that we would not be forced to implement the measures of the visa-free regime suspension," Malmstrom said.

She added that the Western Balkan countries are expected to show more, as she put it, measurable results in the fight against organized crime.

The conference brought together ten regional ministers of interior and justice, including Serbian Prime Minister and Interior Minister Ivica Dačić and Justice Minister Nikola Selaković, and representatives of the Council of the European Union, Interpol, Europol and other relevant European institutions and organizations.

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