Thursday, February 26, 2015


Serbian citizens top list of asylum seekers in EU

BRUSSELS -- Serbia is still ranked first when it comes to the number of its citizens seeking asylum in Western Europe, a recent report by the European Commission has said.
(Beta/AP, file)
(Beta/AP, file)
It is necessary to take a series of measures to stop it, the report added.
Serbian citizens account for 42 percent of all asylum seekers from the Western Balkans, followed by citizens of Macedonia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Albania and Montenegro, says the commission's regular report of the visa-free travel regime in the region.

Almost three quarters of all asylum seekers went to Germany, despite having almost no chances being granted an asylum, the commission determined.

The report indicates that the number of asylum seekers has been rising constantly since the Western Balkan nations were put on the white Schengen list, and the document also lists a number of steps the countries from the region and EU members should take.

The countries of origin, including Serbia, are asked to improve their mutual cooperation and border control and to prosecute people who incite immigration for their own profit.

The EU countries that are the destination points for the asylum seekers are advised to shorten the time needed to process asylum requests, review their regulations concerning financial benefits for asylum seekers and strengthen their cooperation with the Western Balkan countries in order to stop the surge of asylum requests.

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