Q:
A:
Serbia to remain on white Schengen list
Belgrade,
21 October 2010
First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior Ivica Dacic and Belgium State Secretary of Finance, Migration and Asylum Melchior Wathelet agreed at a meeting held late today that Serbia will remain on the white Schengen list, but that it is necessary to inform citizens that all those seeking asylum in EU countries will be returned to Serbia.
Melchior Wathelet, left, and Ivica Dacic
Author:
Fonet
Dacic said after the meeting with Wathelet held at the Palace of Serbia, which was also attended by the ambassadors of Belgium, Sweden and Germany, that 7,500 citizens have applied for asylum in Sweden, Germany and Belgium since the beginning of this year.
He specified that the largest number of asylum seekers is in Sweden, around 5,000, in Germany 1,900 and in Belgium between 600 and 700, mostly Albanians, Roma and people from Sandzak.
The Minister underlined that all those who falsely apply for asylum will be returned soon because Serbia has signed a readmission agreement with all these countries.
He also stated that the government will launch a campaign to inform citizens that they cannot get asylum in the EU and tourist agencies will also be investigated in order to see if they give false promises to people and take them to Western Europe.
In addition, tighter control at Serbian border crossings will be applied in the case of tours organised by tourist agencies, Dacic pointed out.
Wathelet affirmed that European officials have not discussed the possibility of removing Serbia from the white Schengen list because it functions normally for the majority of Serbian citizens.
We should confront those who abuse this and it is in our common interest to prevent such cases, the Belgium State Secretary stressed and added that Serbian citizens are welcome in the EU as tourists.
He explained that those who seek asylum for economic reasons will not get it and will have to return home.
He specified that the largest number of asylum seekers is in Sweden, around 5,000, in Germany 1,900 and in Belgium between 600 and 700, mostly Albanians, Roma and people from Sandzak.
The Minister underlined that all those who falsely apply for asylum will be returned soon because Serbia has signed a readmission agreement with all these countries.
He also stated that the government will launch a campaign to inform citizens that they cannot get asylum in the EU and tourist agencies will also be investigated in order to see if they give false promises to people and take them to Western Europe.
In addition, tighter control at Serbian border crossings will be applied in the case of tours organised by tourist agencies, Dacic pointed out.
Wathelet affirmed that European officials have not discussed the possibility of removing Serbia from the white Schengen list because it functions normally for the majority of Serbian citizens.
We should confront those who abuse this and it is in our common interest to prevent such cases, the Belgium State Secretary stressed and added that Serbian citizens are welcome in the EU as tourists.
He explained that those who seek asylum for economic reasons will not get it and will have to return home.
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