MR. STANKOVIC AND MR. FRANCKEN ON THE ISSUE OF IMMIGRANTS

20. April 2015.

Zoran Stankovic, the President of the Coordination Body for the Municipalities of Presevo, Bujanovac and Medvedja, met today with Theo Francken, the Secretary of State for Asylum and Migration of the Government of the Kingdom of Belgium. In a meeting that lasted for about an hour, they discussed the issues of immigrants, noting that the number of immigrants from South Serbia, who sought political asylum in Western Europe, declined significantly in 2014.

On that occasion, Mr. Stankovic said that the Coordination Body and the Government of the Republic of Serbia were making efforts to economically strengthen the municipalities of Presevo, Bujanovac and Medvedja, with the aim of making it possible for the population of those municipalities to have better living and working conditions.

The President of the Coordination Body said that the special focus of the Government of Serbia was on boosting the economic potential of South Serbia, which is one of the least developed regions in the country.

During further discussion with Mr. Francken, Mr. Stankovic put emphasis on one of the projects that the Coordination Body, on behalf of the Government of the Republic of Serbia, was implementing by providing grants to small and medium-sized enterprises from these municipalities.

The Secretary of State for Asylum and Migration said at the meeting that Serbia was a stable and democratic state. Mr. Francken, therefore, voiced his attitude that it was unjustified to seek political asylum in Western European countries.

Mr. Stankovic and Mr. Francken agreed to continue working on prevention when it comes to seeking political asylum by Serbian nationals from these municipalities.

The two governmental officials concluded that it was necessary to continue sending the message that Serbia was a stable and democratic state that respected the rights of its citizens.

Source: Coordination Body