Tim za socijalno uključivanje i smanjenje siromaštva

A total of 16,500 persons expressed the intent to seek asylum in Serbia in 2014, twice as many as in 2013, as indicated by the data presented by the Commissariat for Refugees and Migrations on 15 January. However, a very small number of persons – only seven last year – remained in Serbia by the end of the process involving the submission of an asylum request. The Commissariat announced the project of harmonizing legislation in the field of asylum with European directives related to approving their status, reception and registration.

“Only seven among all the people seeking asylum in Serbia last year saw the end of the process, because only a small number of them intend to remain permanently in Serbia, which actually represents a transit country towards Western Europe”, said the Serbian commissar for refugees and migration Vladimir Cucić.

Cucić noted that Serbia is taking care of asylum seekers the best it can, that they are provided with accommodation, food, footwear, clothes, items of hygiene, and noted that at this moment there are no problems with lacking accommodation capacities. Cucić also announced that during the coming year and a half the legislation in the field of seeking asylum with directives regarding the approval of their status, reception and integration, and will enable for Serbia to be ready for accession to EU in that segment.

Source: Beta, EurActiv.rs