State Parliamentarians Discuss Migrant Situation with Mektić

(Patria) - The Minister of Security of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Chairman of the Operational Staff for Migration Issues in BiH, Dragan Mektić, received a delegation of Members of the Parliamentary Assembly of BiH today. The delegation was assembled around the Club for European Integration and Security Issues of the PA BiH and included Jasmin Emrić, Edita Đapo, Aida Baručija, Mirjana Marinković-Lepić, and Dženan Đonlagić.

The purpose of the visit was for the parliamentarians to be informed about the current situation regarding migration, the management of the issue, the challenges faced by competent institutions, and the activities planned for the upcoming period. Minister Mektić highlighted the key problems, primarily the lack of a common solution at the European Union level, emphasizing that migrants are transiting through EU member states, namely Greece and Bulgaria.

In this context, the prescribed readmission agreements, which allow for the return of illegal migrants to the countries they transited through, are not being respected. He also pointed out the uncooperative behavior of neighboring countries, which either allow migrants to pass through their territory or even illegally return them to BiH. He stressed that strengthening the protection of the eastern border is crucial for managing the migrant situation and requested support from the parliamentarians to fill the shortage of police officers and officials in the Border Police and the Service for Foreigners' Affairs of BiH.

The migrant situation is most significantly impacting the Una-Sana Canton, and the members of the PA BiH delegation conveyed proposals and impressions gained from their recent visit to temporary reception centers in this canton. It was concluded that relocating the centers away from populated areas is necessary, and Minister Mektić announced that the relocation of migrants from Bira and Mirale to a new location will begin as soon as conditions on the ground are met. It was assessed that this will significantly facilitate the management and control of migrants and improve the lives of citizens in this canton.