First half of the year: As many as 60% of asylum seekers from BiH are Roma

According to the 43rd report of the European Commission for the month of June this year, it was stated that the number of asylum seekers in the European Union countries from the Western Balkan countries increased compared to the month of May, reports the BiH news agency Patria.

As stated, this number still largely refers to the Roma population, and the most frequent destination is Germany. Their authorities have announced that the largest numbers come from Serbia (85%), Montenegro (75%), BiH (60%), and Macedonia (51%).

The total number of asylum seekers from BiH for the first half of 2014 is 2,876, and as many as 439 asylum seekers were registered in June alone. The largest number of them went to Germany, 2,391, and 336 in June. The Head of the Monitoring Team for Visa Liberalization Bakir Dautbašić stated that one of the reasons for going to Germany is the law that shortens the procedure for asylum seekers, which will soon come into effect.

In six months, 41 people went to Belgium, and 5 in June. To Switzerland, 62, and 15 in June. 229 people went to Sweden, and 76 in June, while 63 people went to Luxembourg, and 7 in June. In June, 80 asylum seekers were returned, mostly from Germany 34 (forcibly), Sweden 18 (voluntarily), Switzerland 15 voluntarily and one person forcibly. 8 people were returned from Belgium, and 4 voluntarily from Luxembourg.

Among the countries in the region, Serbia is the leading country in terms of the number of asylum seekers. In the first half of this year, 6,868 asylum seekers were registered, and 1,023 in June.

The most frequent destination is Germany, to which 6,093 people went in the first half of the year, Belgium 127, Switzerland 73, Luxembourg 21, and Sweden 554. For the month of June, the data looks like this: Germany 870, Belgium 25, Switzerland 10, Luxembourg 2, and Sweden 116. In June, 225 people were returned, mostly to Montenegro 17, Albania 162, Macedonia 75, writes Patria.