EU Support to Serbia and Former Yougoslav Republic of Macedonia in Managing Migration/Refugees Crisis on Balkan Route

Project Duration: 17 December 2016 - 16 June 2018

Project Partners: Commissariat for Refugees and Migration, Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Labor, Social and Veteran Affairs, Ministry of Health, Catholic Relief Services

Donors: MADAD Regional Trust Fund - European Union

 

Introduction: The Western Balkans region has witnessed a sharp increase in the numbers of mixed migration flows arriving in or transiting through its territory, along the so-called Western Balkan route, in particular Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Serbia.  In addition to the high numbers, the mixed composition of these flows adds complexity to the task of addressing them effectively and in line with international commitments and standards. Along the Western Balkan Route, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Serbia were most affected by the mass flows especially in the last quarter of 2015. “EU support to Serbia and FYRoM in managing migration/refugees crisis / Balkan route” aims at providing assistance and support to two governments in their response to migration crisis that affected Balkan countries along Western Balkans Route. Key assistance envisaged by the project document is to enhance accommodation capacities of reception/asylum centres as well as to improve living standards of migrants who got stranded in Serbia/FYRoM, to improve and enable continued medical assistance to those migrants as well as to provide them with sufficient information on AVR(R) option.
 

Project objectives:
In this regard, the overall objective of the project is to ensure and expand the direct operational capacities of national authorities in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Serbia to effectively respond to the mid-term and long-term challenges related to migration flows.
 

Specific objectives are as follows:

  • To strengthen operational capacities of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Serbia authorities to provide accommodation and basic living conditions to efficiently respond to the needs of migrants and asylum seekers;
     
  • To facilitate access to basic medical care for migrants, asylum seekers and refugees;
     
  • To facilitate voluntary humane and dignified return and reintegration of eligible rejected asylum seekers and persons residing irregularly in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Serbia.

Planned activities in Serbia:

  • Rehabilitate and equip the Centre for Foreigners Padinska Skela in Serbia.
  • Build a screening space for incoming migrants in the Border Police Station of Šid, Serbia.
  • Improve the accommodation conditions at reception centres for migrants and refugees in the target locations as per recommendations of Working Group on Mixed Migration Flows in Serbia
  • Provide translation services for refugees and migrants at the reception/transit centers, and other locations in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Serbia, based on need
  • Basic medical services are available for migrants, refugees and asylum seekers at the transit sites and medical centres in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Serbia
  • Establish and deploy medical teams in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Serbia.
  • Provide essential medicines and/or disinfection means at the reception/transit centers in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Serbia
  • Establish mobile teams to inform migrants on the Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration (AVRR) programme in Serbia
  • Provide direct and voluntarily AVR(R) support for eligible rejected asylum seekers and migrants in an irregular situation wishing to return to their country of origin

Project Status: Completed

Project Area: Migration and Development