Photo: europa.rs

Belgrade, June 25, 2024 – Ivica Dacic, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior of Serbia, together with the Ilva Johansson, the European Union Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration, signed the agreement between the Republic of Serbia and the European Union on the operational activities carried out by the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex) in the Republic of Serbia.

The draft of the new agreement envisages the EU cooperation with the Serbian authorities in possible establishment of the Frontex antenna office in the country and deployment of the EU officials within Serbia to combat illegal migration.

Unlike the previous cooperation, which envisaged joint work with Frontex at the EU-Serbia borders, the new agreement is a step forward in terms of the EU-Serbia cooperation, as it foresees both joint activities at the border of Serbia – North Macedonia, as well as various other possible actions and coordination within the country.

The draft of the new agreement envisages the development of an operational plan, the existence of a mechanism for reporting incidents, the appointment of a Frontex coordinator, as well as the laying down location of the Frontex office in Serbia, among other things. Draft entails the initiation of operational activities through the decision of the Executive Director of the Frontex and at the request of the relevant authorities of the Republic of Serbia. If Frontex assesses, that requested operational activities would likely entail or lead to serious or constant violations of fundamental rights or international protection obligations, such activities will not be launched.

After the signing of the new agreement, ratification will follow in the European Parliament, the Council of the European Union, as well as in the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia. The new agreement between the Republic of Serbia and the EU on operational activities will replace the current status agreement on Frontex activities in Serbia, which is based on the Frontex regulations from 2020 and which enables rapid interventions exclusively at the EU-Serbia borders.