ZAGREB, 29 March (Hina) - Croatian Interior Minister Davor Božinović said on Friday in Brdo pri Kranju, Slovenia that cooperation with the Western Balkans is crucial for internal security, as it is impossible to combat 21st-century security threats while being closed within one's own borders.
"Crime and all those activities, whether by state or non-state actors, which we monitor and against which we seek to organise and respond appropriately, have a cross-border dimension, and we can't close ourselves within our borders while fighting against the security threats of the 21st century," he said at a press conference during the meeting of interior ministers within the Brdo-Brijuni Process.
He said security is becoming a priority and is inseparably linked to "our neighbourhood, in this case, the Western Balkans".
"This morning, there was discussion that the best way for both the European Union and the Western Balkans to benefit is to ensure that Western Balkan countries join the European Union as quickly as possible, within the framework of set criteria, as such an outcome makes us all stronger and more secure," he said.
The European Commission proposed earlier this month the establishment of a joint European system for the return of illegal migrants, as a supplement to the Migration and Asylum Pact, which will come into force in mid-2026.
Božinović said the new legal framework provides tools that were previously unavailable and enables decision-making in an accelerated procedure. "In a matter of days, we will determine whether a person qualifies for international protection, which will allow for much faster decision-making than is currently the case."
The proposed regulation foresees the possibility of establishing return centres outside the EU, where migrants whose asylum applications have been rejected would be sent. It also introduces a legal possibility for the return of migrants who are illegally residing in the EU and have received a final return decision to a third country, based on an agreement concluded either bilaterally or at the EU level. Such an agreement can be made with a third country that respects international standards and human rights principles in accordance with international law.
"The Return Regulation is extremely important because returning all those who are not eligible or do not meet the conditions for international protection is something we must work on, and here we expect a very active role from Frontex," said Božinović.
"I am confident that, from a legal standpoint, we will have a much better situation than we have had in recent years, considering all the misunderstandings that have arisen and continue to arise regarding the European Union's migration policy," he added.
