Q:
A:
Serbia receives 23,887 repatriation requests from EU
Belgrade,
29 October 2007
Secretary of the Interior Ministry Milorad Todorovic said that EU countries from March 2003 to date sent 23,887 requests for return of Serbian citizens who are illegally in the EU.
Todorovic presented the draft law on agreement between Serbia and the EU on readmission in a session of parliament’s committee for defence and security and pointed out this agreement that Serbia signed in Brussels on September 18 is based on three principles.
He said that they are organised, reciprocal and planned return of citizens who are illegally in EU countries.
The agreement defines the process of return so illegal immigrants will not be returned at once, he explained.
Todorovic said that the agreement refers to citizens who entered EU countries without valid documents and permission, and to citizens of other countries who entered EU territory through Serbia.
He recalled that Serbia has already signed bilateral agreements on readmission with neighbouring countries, which also envisage strengthening police cooperation, and announced that such bilateral agreements will be signed also with Denmark, Norway and Switzerland, which are not EU member countries, but are signatory to the Schengen Agreement.
Presenting the draft law on confirming the agreement between the council of ministers of the former state union of Serbia and Montenegro and France on returning and receiving citizens with irregular status, Todorovic said that this is a classic bilateral agreement which France has already ratified, and Serbian parliament should do it as soon as possible.
According to Todorovic, France has a very liberal law regarding stay of foreign citizens, but according to unofficial statistics, some 2,000 Serbian citizens must return from there.
Serbian parliament’s defence and security committee approved bills on both laws.
He said that they are organised, reciprocal and planned return of citizens who are illegally in EU countries.
The agreement defines the process of return so illegal immigrants will not be returned at once, he explained.
Todorovic said that the agreement refers to citizens who entered EU countries without valid documents and permission, and to citizens of other countries who entered EU territory through Serbia.
He recalled that Serbia has already signed bilateral agreements on readmission with neighbouring countries, which also envisage strengthening police cooperation, and announced that such bilateral agreements will be signed also with Denmark, Norway and Switzerland, which are not EU member countries, but are signatory to the Schengen Agreement.
Presenting the draft law on confirming the agreement between the council of ministers of the former state union of Serbia and Montenegro and France on returning and receiving citizens with irregular status, Todorovic said that this is a classic bilateral agreement which France has already ratified, and Serbian parliament should do it as soon as possible.
According to Todorovic, France has a very liberal law regarding stay of foreign citizens, but according to unofficial statistics, some 2,000 Serbian citizens must return from there.
Serbian parliament’s defence and security committee approved bills on both laws.
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