Serbians advised not to "panic" over travel visas

BELGRADE A new EU mechanism to quickly restore travel visas for some countries will enter into force in two days, but there is reason to panic, says Nenad Banovic. Banovic chairs a commission Serbia set up for monitoring the visa-free regime with the EU. Serbians advised not to "panic" over travel visas Banovic spoke for B92 on Tuesday to assure that visas "will not soon be reintroduced for Serbia," but announced more rigorous control of border crossings and "solving of the problem of false asylum seekers." The so-called safeguard clause allows EU member states to use a shortened procedure to request reintroduction of visas for countries from which an increased number bogus asylum seekers is coming. However, although made easier, the procedure is not simple. Banovic pointed out that a number of measures had been undertaken to reduce the number of false asylum seekers, including stricter controls at border crossings. "It is explicitly required that conditions are met for leaving the country. Every citizen must carry a valid passport, health insurance, means of subsistence, a letter of invitation or a travel agency voucher, and a return ticket if traveling by bus or plane," he explained. Since a government decree increased their jurisdiction, the border police turned back 6,500 citizens from border crossings because they did not meet at least one of the requirements. The police are also investigating those who organize the transfer of asylum seekers to Western Europe, which proved to be a lucrative business. Banovic stated that in 2013, the number of false asylum seekers declined by ten percent compared to the year before, which he said was "confirmed by the relevant European services." The problem remains when it comes to Germany, where asylum seekers wait up to six months for their request to be accepted or rejected, all the while receiving "significant financial compensation." "I am optimistic and confident that, along with the German partners, we will find a solution that would satisfy all parties. We have this absurd situation where 80 percent of our citizens who falsley seek asylum do that in Germany because of the extremely high social benefits. That's the only reason, the thirst for quick and easy money, our people do not go there because they are politically persecuted," said Banovic. (FoNet, file) B92

Serbians advised not to "panic" over travel visas

Banović spoke for B92 on Tuesday to assure that visas "will not soon be reintroduced for Serbia," but announced more rigorous control of border crossings and "solving of the problem of false asylum seekers."

The so-called safeguard clause allows EU member states to use a shortened procedure to request reintroduction of visas for countries from which an increased number bogus asylum seekers is coming. However, although made easier, the procedure is not simple.

Banović pointed out that a number of measures had been undertaken to reduce the number of false asylum seekers, including stricter controls at border crossings.

"It is explicitly required that conditions are met for leaving the country. Every citizen must carry a valid passport, health insurance, means of subsistence, a letter of invitation or a travel agency voucher, and a return ticket if traveling by bus or plane," he explained.

Since a government decree increased their jurisdiction, the border police turned back 6,500 citizens from border crossings because they did not meet at least one of the requirements.

The police are also investigating those who organize the transfer of asylum seekers to Western Europe, which proved to be a lucrative business.

Banović stated that in 2013, the number of false asylum seekers declined by ten percent compared to the year before, which he said was "confirmed by the relevant European services."

The problem remains when it comes to Germany, where asylum seekers wait up to six months for their request to be accepted or rejected, all the while receiving "significant financial compensation."

"I am optimistic and confident that, along with the German partners, we will find a solution that would satisfy all parties. We have this absurd situation where 80 percent of our citizens who falsley seek asylum do that in Germany because of the extremely high social benefits. That's the only reason, the thirst for quick and easy money, our people do not go there because they are politically persecuted," said Banović.