Photo: EU info centar/Goran Sivački
Goal of the EU and Western Balkans leaders’ meeting was to reach an agreement on a concrete approach to possible influx of migrants, said Head of the EU Delegation to Serbia Michael Davenport referring to yesterday’s meeting on refugee crisis held in Brussels.
Davenport said that “Serbia’s participation in the meeting was important for two reasons: it let Serbia voice its stance and make its contribution.” European Union welcomes Serbia’s willingness to continue to receive migrants, should they arrive in larger numbers, he said.
“Naturally, we welcome Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic’s offer to make Serbia ready to receive even more migrants if necessary,” Davenport said.
Ambassador Davenport told press that he could not detail the engagement of Frontex in migrant crisis, assessing that Greece will now draw most of the attention of Frontex, being an EU Member State that should urgently deal with the issue of migrants reception.
He added that it was clear Frontex was ready to engage in consultations with Serbia and that Serbia was also willing to take the issue of receiving refugees seriously.
EU is impressed by the way Serbia deals with refugee influx, Davenport said, adding that it is a great burden for the country, as well as towns and municipalities in Serbia which, according to him, should engage in addressing the issue of refugees.
Asked whether he was disappointed because yesterday’s meeting failed to reach a comprehensive solution, Davenport said that the meeting which brought joint conclusions was alone a major step forward.
He reminded that the process began on 8 October, during the meeting on refugee crisis participated in by Ministers of Internal and Foreign Affairs of the EU, Schengen associated countries and Western Balkans countries.
