Joint patrols begin on Serbia-Hungary border
Joint Serbian-Hungarian border police patrols started on Friday (October 15) to increase surveillance along the border and to intensify the fight against irregular immigration.
Serbia
Migrants entering EU via the 'Balkan route' up 90% on 2020
According to the EU border agency Frontex, the number of irregular border crossings to the European Union via the so-called ‘Balkan route’ is up 90% on last year. The majority of those arriving are from Syria and Afghanistan.
Migrants warned of dangers of landmines on Balkan route
The IOM is warning migrants of the dangers posed by landmines, as well as other risks such as drowning, abuse, exploitation and gender-based violence along the Balkan route.
EU cites concerns about migrant management in Balkans
An EU report assessing whether Western Balkan countries continue to meet requirements for visa liberalization showed that despite a drop in illegal crossings, improvement is needed in migration management.
Serbian police dismantle migrant camp and detain suspected people smugglers
Serbian police announced on Sunday that they had discovered an "illegal migrant camp" on the border with Hungary and Romania. The police said that they had detained "suspected people smugglers" at the camp.
COVID-19: The long road to vaccination for undocumented migrants
Vaccinating migrants is, in the opinion of most authorities in Europe, an imperative. However, in many countries, the rhetoric clashes with the reality of undocumented migrants' lives on the ground. They find they sometimes have to run an obstacle course to get vaccinated.
Romania: Poor people's route to Europe?
In northeast Serbia, hundreds of migrants are sheltering in the hope of being able to cross the border to Romania. The route is seen as an easier and cheaper way to reach Europe.
'Migrants, drugs and money': Spotlight on illicit business in the Western Balkans
A new report has placed a spotlight on the migrant smuggling business and other illicit activities running through the Western Balkans, including drugs and money laundering. The report estimates that the migrant smuggling business alone could be worth up to €50 million per year in the region.
Serbia vaccinates migrants for Covid-19 after successful rollout for its nationals
Serbia’s decision to secure a range of Covid-19 vaccines, including China’s Sinopharm and Russia’s Sputnik V, has seen the country reach the record highest per-capita inoculation rate in mainland Europe. Now the Balkan nation has started vaccinating the residents of migrant and refugee camps, where social distancing is a challenge.
Serbia rejected more asylum seekers in 2020: Report
According to a new ECRE report, Serbia rejected applications from nearly three in four asylum seekers last year. A major reason were anti-coronavirus measures, the author of the report said.
Number of asylum applications in Austria on the rise
The number of individuals seeking asylum in Austria has risen by roughly 10% in 2020. During the same period, the overall number of people seeking protection in the EU dropped by 31%.
Serbian interior minister defends migration policy
Serbian Interior Minister Aleksandar Vulin has defended his country's treatment of migrants in a speech to the parliament. He also warned that Serbia does not intend to become "a parking area for migrants".