Commissioner Stanisavljevic: From 2008 until today, 261 asylum seekers in Serbia received positive decisions

Illustration; Photo: Tanjug/Milos Milivojevic

Commissioner for Refugees and Migration Natasa Stanisavljevic said today that since 2008, 261 asylum seekers in Serbia have received positive decisions.

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Speaking at the international conference "From Reception to Integration: Strengthening the Support System and Exchange of Experiences", Stanisavljevic indicated that integration of persons who have been granted asylum is one of the key challenges faced by the modern-day asylum system.

"Between 300 and 400 people apply for asylum every year, but it's important that not all of them stay here and not all of them stay here until the end of the procedure itself. On the annual level, between eight and 10 requests get approved," said the commissioner.

According to her, in previous years, Serbia significantly improved its approach in the field of integration.

"Integration implies support in accessing education, the labor market, housing and social services, so that persons with recognized protection status become active and equal members of the community. This process is essential not only for the individual, but also for long-term stability, respect for human rights and social cohesion of society as a whole," Stanisavljevic said.

She added that this is the first conference in a series of three planned within the project, "Safe procedures. Rights for all. Strengthening migration management and the asylum system in Serbia", which is implemented with the support of the Government of the Swiss Confederation and in cooperation with UNHCR, IOM and the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Serbia.

Head of the Cooperation Office of the Embassy of the Swiss Confederation Richard Kholi said that one in four people in Switzerland hold a foreign passport, which is approximately 2.5 million people, of which three quarters are from EU and NATO countries.

"Switzerland is a country of migrations, the main reason for coming to our country is work," he explained.

Kohli said that from 2023 to 2025, the number of asylum requests indicated a downward trend, going from 30,000 to 26,000.

"The number of Ukrainian refugees in our country is stable, the admission rate in Switzerland is still 27 percent, 44 percent if temporary admissions are counted," he said.

"Integration is not only a humanitarian responsibility, but also a long-term investment in resilient societies. Around the world, at this moment, millions of displaced people are trying to rebuild their lives. Their potential, skills and determination are enormous," Kohli said.

The conference was attended today by the representative of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in the Republic of Serbia, Soufiane Adjali, as well as many officials from Serbia, Switzerland, Austria, Slovenia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

(Telegraf.rs/Tanjug)