EU and Western Balkan Home Affairs representatives met in Slovenia on 2 December to address a range of common challenges, including those related to migration and border management and those related to crime.
Chaired by Slovenian Minister of the Interior Aleš Hojs, the meeting was held a year after a serious humanitarian crisis on the border between Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina during which thousands of migrants suddenly found themselves without shelter due to their camp burning down.
One year later, Commissioner for Home Affairs Ylva Johansson considers the situation to now be under control with a new reception centre in Bosnia and Herzegovina, in Lipa, to take care of migrants and asylum seekers (see EUROPE 12662/7).
Asked about the recurring allegations that Croatian police engaged in violent pushbacks at the border with Bosnia and Herzegovina, the commissioner also judged cooperation between Zagreb and its services to be “very good”. The fundamental rights monitoring mechanism established with Croatia “seems to work”.
The meeting was also an opportunity for the EU to renew its offer of assistance, both financial and technical, to help manage migration and combat migrant smugglers.
The EU and the Western Balkan partners have agreed to “continue to work on the development of identification and registration systems on irregular migrants in the region, with the European Commission already expressing willingness to provide technical and other support”, a press release indicates.
Regarding the progress made by the Western Balkans on their reception conditions and asylum systems, the EU called for “contingency planning for increased migration flows”. The EU also stressed the need to work on “improving returns and concluding agreements on the readmissions of irregular migrants with the countries of origin”. (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic)