Serbia, Hungary and Austria to deploy joint police patrols along border with N. Macedonia, protect Europe against illegal migrations
Belgrade, 16 November 2022 (MIA) – Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer signed a memorandum of understanding in Belgrade on Wednesday, to strengthen trilateral cooperation in the area of effective fight against illegal migration, align Serbia’s visa policy with Tunisia, Burundi and other countries and deploy joint police patrols along the border with North Macedonia to protect Europe against migration, MIA’s Belgrade correspondent reports.
Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić told Wednesday’s press conference that Serbia had a significant increase in the number of illegal migrants in 2022 of 191 percent, who mostly come from North Macedonia - 51 percent and from Bulgaria 32-33 percent.
“We have agreed today to jointly, with the support of Hungary and Austria, engage more police along the border with North Macedonia, include substantial technical backing such as vehicles and thermal vision cameras, and try to move the defense line south,” said Vučić, adding that the plan will be implemented by the end of the year.
He added that Serbia will then try to move the defense line furter south with North Macedonia, thus protect Europe, as well as Serbia, “because we don’t want to be a parking lot for illegal migrants.”
As regards registered migrants, Vučić noted that the largest number of people in Serbia arrive from Afghanistan - 40 percent, Syria - 27 percent, Morocco - 12.5 percent, Burundi - 7 percent and 2 percent from Pakistan.
“We reached an important agreement on readmission, that is the expelling of those who have no chance of being granted asylum. Readmission will be done by aircraft. That is very expensive. We will share the expenses with Hungary and Austria and have agreed that it will be a fair division,” Vučić pointed out.
Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer said what the three countries are doing is a strong signal for Brussels.
“It is a strong signal that two EU member states, Hungary and Austria, together with Serbia, a really strong and desirable partner, are sending a signal to Brussels from here,” Nehammer said, pointing out that Austria is a supporter for Western Balkan countries joining the EU.
“Partners like Serbia should not only get perspective, but also achieve concrete progress, because there are great challenges in the fight against illegal migration, terrorism and organized crime, as well as when it comes to energy supply. Things work best when we tackle them together,” said Nehammer.
Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said If Serbia defends its borders, it is defending not only its own territory but also Hungary and Austria and the entire EU.
As regards migration in Hungary, Orbán said that so far this year, Hungary has prevented 250,000 illegal crossings, many organised by armed smugglers. He also described the situation at the border with Serbia as "difficult."
"Illegal migration should not be managed, it should be stopped," Orbán said.
