Brussels, Dec. 5, (dpa/GNA) - The European Commission launched an action plan on Monday, detailing how it plans to clamp down on illegal migration into the European Union via the Western Balkans.
The commission wants to increase border management in the region, continue work to align visa policies and support asylum seekers’ registrations, Commission Vice President Margaritis Schinas said.
The EU executive arm is acting in the wake of more than 22,000 illegal border crossings attempted in the Western Balkans in October – 159% more compared to 2021 – according to data from Frontex, the EU border protection agency.
Overall, more than 280,000 illegal entries into the EU were detected in the first 10 months of 2022, Frontex said, with the Western Balkans route accounting for more than 120,000.
The majority of arrivals attempting to enter the EU came from Syria, Afghanistan and Turkey, Frontex reported.
Most people arriving to the bloc without visas come via Serbia, EU Home Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson said.
However, all the West Balkan countries “have significant gaps when it comes to visa policy alignment with the EU,” Johansson added.
The commissioner said Serbia has ended visa-free arrangements with Burundi and Tunisia and had promised to do the same with India.
Schinas said it was not acceptable for Western Balkan countries to have visa arrangements that are exploited “for loopholes to get illegal access” to the EU.
GNA