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The Government of the Republic of Serbia

In the service of citizens

Serbia, Austria, Hungary sign memorandum on border protection

Belgrade/Budapest, 1 July 2015

The interior ministers of Serbia, Austria and Hungary, Nebojsa Stefanovic, Johanna Mikl-Leitner and Sandor Pinter respectively, signed last night in Budapest the Memorandum of Understanding by which the three sides agreed on the implementation of specific joint measures aimed at combating irregular migration.

From left: Johanna Mikl-Leitner, Sandor Pinter and Nebojsa Stefanovic

Author: AP

The memorandum, which was signed on the basis of the Convention on Police Cooperation in Southeast Europe, envisages the establishment of joint investigation teams in order to detect people smuggling, as well as the strengthening of joint patrols on national borders in Serbia.

The ministers expressed determination to seriously address the problem of irregular migration, which is affecting all three countries, as well as the willingness to strengthen police cooperation.

Stefanovic underlined that it is Serbia's obligation to protect its borders, but also to ensure respect for human rights and that people who are eligible for asylum are given that status.

He said that it was agreed that one of the concrete measures will be mixed joint patrols of Serbian, Hungarian and Austrian police officers on the border between Serbia and Macedonia.

The number of migrants in comparison to last year increased three to four times, the Minister warned, and pointed out that in order to solve the problem of irregular migration it is necessary to make a strategic decision with concrete measures.

Stefanovic also asked for the support and assistance of the EU to resolve this problem.

Mikl-Leitner said that the resolution of this problem requires solidarity between states, and added that the practice has shown that trilateral meetings of Austria, Serbia and Hungary provide good solutions.

She reiterated that she sees Serbia as a future member of the EU, and announced that Austria will send a number of police officers with the necessary equipment to Serbia to help Serbian police to protect the border.

Pinter said that only through joint cooperation of all countries can we achieve good results, according to a statement by the Ministry of the Interior.