Serbia’s asylum policy still does not comply with the EU standards, and its priorities should be the adoption of a new law on asylum and the provision of capacities to meet the housing needs of asylum seekers, it was concluded in the panel discussion titled “Asylum in Serbia – problems and perspectives” organised by Belgrade’s weekly VREME within EU-funded project Sights Set on European Law: Refugees and Asylum Seekers.
Head of the EU Delegation to Serbia Ambassador Michael Davenport warned that without progress in the asylum policy there will be no progress in the talks on Chapter 24.
Asylum seekers must be provided with accommodation, food and clothing, and given an opportunity to substantiate their request, while asylum applications should be processed in a quick, efficient and fair manner, he said.
State Secretary at the Serbian Interior Ministry (MUP) Vladimir Bozovic said that MUP bears the principal responsibility for the current situation.
Davenport noted that the asylum office has not yet been established although the Law on Asylum was passed back in 2007, adding that the processing of asylum applications is inadequate and that additional accommodation centres should be opened.
Participants at the debate were Eduardo Arboleda Head of UNHCR’s Mission to Serbia, Vladimir Cucic Serbian Commissioner for Refugees and Migrations and Milos Jankovic Serbian Deputy Ombudsman.
VREME’s panel discussion was organised as part of the project Sights Set on European Law: Refugees and Asylum Seekers which is financed by the EU as part of the Strengthening Media Freedom in Serbia.
