Dacic: Major decline in illegal migration on Western Balkan route

BELGRADE - Serbian Deputy PM and Interior Minister Ivica Dacic met with Austrian Federal Interior Minister Gerhard Karner in Belgrade on Tuesday, noting that all joint activities by Serbian and Austrian police at Serbian borders had resulted in a major decline in illegal migration, especially on the Western Balkan route.

"According to Frontex figures, the biggest decline of illegal migration is on our Western Balkan route - 72 pct in the first six months compared to the same period of last year," Dacic said.

He said the number of illegal border crossings registered in the first six months of last year was 54.014, compared to 10,389 in the same period of this year.

He said his ministry and Serbian police had always had good cooperation with law enforcement authorities in Austria in the fight against organised crime, illegal drug trade, terrorism and illegal migration.

He noted that Serbia was implementing a trilateral border management initiative with Austria and Hungary and that he had recently signed an agreement with Frontex.

"Our goal is for all interested parties to help us logistically as well as in terms of technology, training for people and financially so that we can do our job in the best possible way," Dacic said.

He said that, under a trilateral agreement with Austria and Hungary, 20 police officers from each of the two countries had been deployed at the Serbia-North Macedonia border to help control it.

He noted that he had already met with Karner at the Salzburg Forum and that the interior ministries of the two countries had agreed to hold two bilateral meetings every year - one in Austria and one in Serbia.

Karner said one of the objectives of his trip to Serbia was a visit to Austrian police officers at the border with North Macedonia, some of whom will complete their terms on Tuesday and hand over their duties to the next contingent.

He noted that the excellent cooperation between Serbian border police and the Austrian police officers had left a special impression on him and was also the main precondition for fighting illegal migration.