Brussels, 15/10/2012 (Agence Europe) - The increase in the number of nationals from Balkan countries seeking asylum in the EU is causing concern among a small group of member states. This group has sent a letter to the European Commission requesting that the subject be tackled during the forthcoming European Home Affairs Council on 26 October, in Luxembourg. These countries are calling for swift implementation of a safeguard clause that temporarily suspends the visa waiver system for these nationals.
In this letter submitted and signed by the German minister for home affairs, Hans-Peter Friedrich stated on behalf of his French, Swedish, Dutch, Belgian and Luxembourg counterparts that these member countries are also known for being among the most generous countries in terms of providing international protection and that they were concerned by the “considerable influx” observed over the past several months of people coming from Western Balkan countries and registering themselves as asylum seekers. The German minister explained that this situation is worrying because these requests, which very rarely run their course, are increasingly submerging the reception facilities, which are already suffering from tension. He added that it was even less acceptable that in order to benefit from the visa waiver system, these countries have been positively assessed, from the point of view of individual rights, their ability to manage migratory flows and security.
Serbia and Macedonia (FYROM) are particularly in the spotlight. According to a report by Reuters, Friedrich requested on Friday 12 October the total termination of the visa liberalisation system for these two countries. The minister indicated that last month, Serbian and Macedonian nationals accounted for at least a third of all requests for protection submitted in the country. In September, requests from Serbian citizens tripled, compared to those for August, while the number of requests submitted by Macedonians increased by 70%, according to the figures provided by Friedrich. Very often these requests were proved to be bogus.
This situation has already been denounced by Belgium and Luxembourg, which directly led to the European Commission, initially encouraged by France and the Netherlands, to put forward a proposal in May 2011 to temporarily suspend the visa waiver systems agreed to for Balkan countries, namely Serbia, FYROM, Bosnia Herzegovina, Albania and Montenegro. These systems were agreed in 2009 and 2010. Under this proposal amending the 2001 regulation 539, such a suspension would be possible if a group of countries experiencing a rise in asylum seekers from these countries rose above a certain percentage. The proposal is, however, still being discussed at the Council and the European Parliament. In his letter, the German minister also underlined the importance for him and his colleagues to obtain an agreement on the subject by the end of the year. The minister also calls for the EU to step up contact with the authorities of the countries of origin and to look at how action under the jurisdiction of Frontex could be planned.
On 26 October, ministers will debate the subject by examining the third European Commission report on the visa liberalisation mechanism for Western Balkan countries. Published on 28 August, this document highlights certain seasonal and geographical “peaks” regarding submissions for asylum by these nationals but also notes, overall, that the majority of those coming from these countries were of good faith.
On Monday afternoon, the spokesperson for EU Home Affairs Commissioner Cecilia Malmström, Michele Cercone, however, admitted that the situation was both worrying and getting worse. The spokesperson noted that the number of requests for asylum judged bogus was increasing all the time. The spokesman called on countries benefiting from these visa waiver systems to act responsibly. (SP/trans.fl)