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The Government of the Republic of Serbia

In the service of citizens

Continued EU support to Serbia in dealing with refugee crisis

Belgrade, 21 November 2015

Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic said this evening after meeting with European Council President Donald Tusk that Serbia knows its obligations in solving the migrant crisis and that it is trying to do its job in the best possible way.

Donald Tusk, left, and Aleksandar Vucic

Author: Tanjug

Vucic said at a joint press conference at the villa "Bokeljka" that Serbia is willing to assume even greater responsibility than other countries in the Western Balkans and stressed that if Slovenia, Croatia and Hungary refuse to receive economic migrants, Serbia will not receive them either.

This would mean that Serbia would take over complete burden on itself, he explained and added that our country is ready to help its neighbours, but is also waiting for a comprehensive solution of the issue of refugees at the EU level.

Serbia cannot accept that one rule applies to our country, and the other rules apply for the rest. That is why I am grateful to Tusk that he wanted to hear our opinion and attitudes, Vucic said.

Our country has obligations on the basis of an agreement with the prime ministers of Romania and Bulgaria, but will also wait for a European solution and act in accordance with it, he recalled, adding that, on the other hand, we will protect our national interests.

The Prime Minister told Tusk that he hopes that they will be able to celebrate the opening of the first chapter in the negotiations of Serbia on the road to EU membership soon, and thanked him for the support to Serbia on its European path.

Tusk explained that the reason for his visit to Belgrade is, first of all, the dramatic refugee crisis, and added that he brings with him a message that Brussels is a consistent friend of Serbia.

Serbia can rely on the continued financial support of the EU in dealing with the refugee crisis. I will call on EU leaders to support the Western Balkan region, which is on the front lines. If we want to preserve the Schengen we have to support the Western Balkans, he said.

The European Union is already doing a lot to support Serbia, he said and recalled that Brussels has freed resources for emergency situations for 6,000 beds to accommodate refugees.

The European Council President announced that the Union will continue to assist Serbia, but that now all forces must be directed at improving security cooperation.

According to Tusk, the EU is working to secure the external borders of Greece and that on the Greek-Macedonian border Frontex will register and conduct the screening of migrants.

These measures should reduce the influx of migrants to Serbia, which is faced with a huge number of migrants who cross the border each day, he said.

It is necessary to find a comprehensive solution, which is why cooperation with partners in the Middle East and the Balkans is important, Tusk said.

He stressed that the recent events have confirmed the fact that the effective control of external borders is of essential significance. It is not a solution to all problems, but it is a precondition to move forward.

Tusk voiced the hope that the first chapters in Serbia's EU entry talks would be opened very soon, which would be an important step forward, and noted there was no alternative to the Western Balkans' future in the EU.

The EU appreciates what Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic has done for Serbia's advancement along the EU path, he said, noting that there is no better, alternative future that the Union.