Macedonia, Serbia pledges to stop citizens seeking asylum in EU

Officials from Macedonia and Serbia said on Friday that the two countries would take stricter controls to prevent their citizens from seeking asylum in western European countries, according to news reaching here from Skopje.

"We must do everything in our power to ensure that Europe isn't frightened of the western Balkans, because that will harm this region's future in the EU," Serbian Interior Minister Ivica Dacic said after holding talks in Skopje with his Macedonian counterpart Gordana Jankuloska.

Jankuloska said police of the two countries would launch investigations into some suspected tour agencies to determine whether they had intentionally misled people into thinking that they can seek asylum in western European countries.

Jankuloska and Dacic pledged that illegal behavior wouldn't be tolerated, and said that they will also actively inform their citizens about the EU's migration policies.

The two ministers pointed out that the number of asylum seekers had already fallen due to measures taken by the Macedonian and Serbian police.

Belgium and Sweden have reported a sharp rise in asylum seekers from Macedonia and Serbia after the residents of the two countries were granted visa free regime for entering the EU at the end of last year.

It was reported that 409 Macedonian citizens submitted asylum applications in Belgium, while over 400 Serbian citizens sought asylum in Belgium and more than 500 in Sweden. Most of them are Roma and ethnic Albanians.

Belgian Prime Minister Yves Leterme traveled to Macedonia early this week to dissuade Macedonians from seeking asylum in his country, saying there is no chance of success for applications.

Source: Xinhua