Estimated time of reading: ~ 3 minutes  

For many European nations in recent years, the complicated and varied problem of migration has been a source of worry. Conflict, persecution, poverty, and economic opportunity are just a few of the many distinct variables that influence migration to Europe. Migration to Europe originates in a number of places, including Asia, the Middle East, and Africa. Europe has had a lot of difficulty controlling migration in recent years. There have been conflicts over matters such as how to meet migrants’ basic needs, how to integrate them into society, and how to handle security concerns as a result of the high number of migrants who have come to Europe’s borders.

At the same time, many European countries have also benefited from the contributions of migrants, who bring a variety of skills and talents to the region. Migrants can help to address shortages in the labor market, and they can also contribute to economic growth and cultural diversity. Overall, the issue of migration in Europe is complex and multifaceted, and it will be important for European countries to find ways to manage migration in a way that is fair, humane, and sustainable.

Mid November this year, the representatives of Serbia, Hungary, and Austria convened to discuss the ways of combating the crisis with illegal migrations. In order to “advance the defense line to the south,” the three presidents also decided to jointly hire more police officers on the border with North Macedonia and to include crucial equipment, such as cars with thermal imaging cameras. Vučić highlighted that Serbia “does not want to be a parking lot for illegal migrants” and reaffirmed Serbia’s support for refugees and those who are struggling, noting that Serbia has always been understanding and has demonstrated solidarity in times of need and would do so in the future. “

We are pleased that police personnel from Serbia, Austria, and Hungary will collaborate on this project. The defensive border for Hungary should be moved from Austria and Serbia to the south. By doing this, “we not only defend and safeguard Europe but also our nation”, declared President Vučić, who also noted that the number of unauthorized immigrants has nearly doubled since last year. He mentioned a number of actions that had previously been taken. “The integration of visa policy with EU policy is one of the first steps”. Serbia no longer enjoys a free visa policy with Tunisia, which was in place since 1962. Serbia also no longer has one with Burundi.

The Austrian chancellor also disclosed that his nation would send an additional 100 officers to joint border teams, along with properly outfitted vehicles and drones. Austria already has 96,000 asylum requests this year and this is a sign that the current asylum system in the EU is not working. Hungary is in an even more specific situation because its neighbor is Ukraine. According to Viktor Orbán, the prime minister of Hungary, there is a conflict in Ukraine, so there is one pressure, and migrants are coming through Serbia, so that is another strain. “Approximately 250,000 attempts to cross the border have been thwarted, indicating that they are increasing in number, getting more hostile, and using weapons”. Orbán, who has received criticism for his handling of refugees, stated, “I have been fighting a war against illegal migration for a long time and I believe in one technique, we should prevent them”. 

Written by: Nenad Stekić