Bosnia and Herzegovina could again be subjected to visa requirements due to large number of asylum seekers from this country, according to spokesperson from the EU Home Affairs Commission.
Following reports in the local media that the EU might re-introduce visas for Bosnia and Herzegovina citizens, Michele Cercone, spokesperson of Home Affairs Commissioner Cecilia Malmström, confirmed that the EU executive was closely monitoring the increase of asylum seekers, EurActiv website reported.
Visa liberalization is one of the greatest achievements in the process of European integration for the Western Balkans countries and Commissioner Malmström is personally committed to upholding the visa liberalisation process, Cercone said. Malmström was very concerned about the increase in the number of unfounded asylum applications to the EU from nationals of Bosnia and Herzegovina and other Western Balkan countries, Cercone said.
It should be clear that if some of the countries in the Western Balkans do not meet their commitments and do not properly and quickly address the concerns of EU member countries regarding the increasing number of unfounded asylum applications, the achievements of visa liberalization might be put at risk, Cercone said.
On the 20 September, Commissioner Cecilia Malmström sent a letter to the Ministers of the Interior from Serbia, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and Macedonia, asking for them to inform the Commission on the practical measures they have put in place to address the increased number of asylum seekers in EU member states.
Commissioner Malmström hopes that the current situation will be addressed adequately and without delay and calls for the full support and engagement from Western Balkan countries in order to avoid that negative developments endanger this otherwise successful process.
The forthcoming Justice and Home Affairs EU-Western Balkans Ministerial Forum in Ohrid (3-4 October) will provide an opportunity to discuss the current situation, Cercone said.