Stevandic, Onidi discuss cooperation on migration

BELGRADE - State Secretary at the Serbian Ministry of Interior Danilo Stevandic met with the Deputy Director General of the EU Directorate-General for Migration and Home Affairs Olivier Onidi on Tuesday to discuss cooperation on migration.

Stevandic and Onidi agreed migration was a common challenge that required a joint response from all countries facing that phenomenon, the Interior Ministry said in a statement.

The parties discussed the results achieved by Serbia as well as further cooperation on border management, alignment of visa policies, fighting migrant smuggling, readmissions and returns and asylum and reception capacities.

Onidi commended Serbia's efforts that helped reduce the number of irregular entries to the EU via the Western Balkan route in 2023 compared to the year before.

He said the EU would continue to support further efforts by Serbia through funding and engagement by the EU's home affairs agencies.

The EU Action Plan for the Western Balkans, unveiled by the European Commission in December 2022, remains the relevant political response governing EU-Serbia cooperation on migration, the statement also said.