On Tuesday 22 February, the European Commissioner for Enlargement, Olivér Várhelyi, called for closer cooperation between the EU and the Western Balkan countries on migration issues.
“We need to shift our cooperation to a new dimension, shift it structurally to a long-term common strategy with the Western Balkans”, he explained at the Ministerial Conference on Return, organised by the Joint Coordination Platform in Vienna.
In his view, there is a need for sound border protection and an asylum system that works well in the Western Balkan countries, based on EU standards. Mr Varhelyi added that work needed to be done on anti-trafficking, border protection and returns, in partnership with the Western Balkans.
“It must be clear that those who are not eligible to enter and/or to stay, will be returned without delay, because otherwise we create pull factors ourselves. It must be clear to the smugglers that we will crack down on their illegal activities and the criminal undertakings associated with them”, the Commissioner warned. It is crucial that the Western Balkan countries work towards a regional return mechanism to share expertise, best practices and capacities.
Mr Várhelyi recalled that the Commission had proposed a 60% increase in funding for the Western Balkans to combat illegal immigration, amounting to €355 million.
“This would mean delivering additional equipment for border protection, strengthened engagement in anti-smuggling and in particular in investigation and prosecution of organised crime groups and most importantly increased funding for returns, he said. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)