Dacic: Serbia remains reliable partner to EU in border protection and in combating organized crime

Photo: MUP

The deputy PM and Interior Minister of Serbia, Ivica Dacic, who is on an official visit to Austria, spoke today in Vienna with Austrian Interior Minister Gerhard Karner.

Recommended

They discussed continued joint work by the Serbian and Austrian police against organized crime and terrorism, as well as cooperation in combating irregular migration and people smuggling.

During the meeting, Dacic and Karner emphasized that police cooperation between Serbia and Austria, which share common security challenges, is very intense and that it is necessary to further strengthen it in order to respond to all threats more effectively.

Ivica Dacic praised the two countries' efforts so far in effective protection of the state borders, which reduced the number of irregular migrants crossing into Western Europe and pointed out that Serbia will remain an important and reliable partner to the EU in implementing these measures.

The importance of the initiative of Serbia, Austria and Hungary in border management, and the deployment of Austrian and Hungarian police officers on the border with North Macedonia, who are assisting their Serbian colleagues in border control, as well as cooperation through Frontex in the joint fight against cross-border crime and irregular migration, was also noted.

The ministers agreed that it is necessary to continue the dedicated fight against organized criminal groups that operate along migrant routes, as well as to deepen cooperation between the two police forces in order to strengthen regional security, with special emphasis on the continuation of joint operational activities, information exchange and training.

Dacic and Karner pointed out that the meeting once again confirmed mutual commitment to preserving the safety of citizens, and further the cooperation based on common goals.

(Telegraf.rs)