08.10.2017.
Minister Vulin and EU Commissioner Stylianides visit Obrenovac temporary reception centre
Minister of Defence and the President of the Working Group for solving the problem of mixed migration flows, Aleksandar Vulin, and EU Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management Christos Stylianides have visited today the Obrenovac temporary migrant reception centre, the refurbishment of which was funded by the European Commission.
On this occasion, the European Commissioner announced that the European Union will assist with another four million euros for humanitarian projects for migrants in Serbia.
Thanking EU Commissioner Stylianides for assistance, but also on the personal support he always provided to Serbia even in the more difficult days than they are today, Minister Vulin pointed out that Serbia, thanks to him, always had open doors.
- We have always had an understanding for the situation in which we are, regardless of the fact that Serbia is not a member of the European Union, he always behaved towards us as if we were and therefore I wish to thank a man and a friend who never missed to be with Serbia when it was difficult for us, the Minister of Defence said reminding that there are currently 4,000 migrants in Serbia and most of them are accommodated in our reception centres.
- This means that they are taken care of, protected, that means they have medical and legal protection, access to education and our asylum system. When people are in the appropriate reception centres, when they are taken care of and treated in accordance with the law and the rules of the profession, then you have no problems and those who are in the camps are very rarely a source of any disturbance for the community and any problem, Aleksandar Vulin said and added that the problems emerge if the system does not exist.
He pointed out that Serbia has done everything to ensure that as many people as possible are part of our system.
- As you can see, out of the four thousand people, nearly 90 percent are in our reception camps where they have everything that a human being needs. We are ready for this winter, too, thanks to the work of the Mixed Working Group and the Commissariat and all the relevant ministries and, of course, there is also the assistance that we have from the European Commission and we are ready for this winter, which means that there will be food and accommodation and fuel and medicines for these people and everything needed for them to be able to feel and act as human beings, Minister Vulin said, adding that what distinguishes Serbia from most other countries is that we treat people as human beings because it is not enough to feed a man, but you have to show that you respect his dignity and therefore almost a million people passed through Serbia without a single incident.
EU Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management Christos Stylianides said that he came to Obrenovac with his friend, Minister Vulin, to show the solidarity of the European Union towards migrants and to show full commitment to help them as long as necessary.
- As a commissioner, I am here to offer support and emphasize how much we appreciate all the efforts that the authorities in Serbia are investing for migrants, with great solidarity, empathy and everything else, Stylianides said, and reminded that this is his fourth visit to Serbia in these difficult circumstances of the migrant crisis and that after every visit, there has been great progress in ensuring better conditions in all reception centres, thanks to the efforts made by the Government of the Republic of Serbia together with the European Union and partners from humanitarian organizations.
The EU Commissioner praised the efforts of the Government of the Republic of Serbia to ensure that children migrants are integrated into the regular education system in Serbia and announced that the European Union will continue to support non-formal education in reception centres for those outside the formal system but will also provide transportation to school because education is not a luxury but a basic need and provides protection against radicalization, forced recruitment and forced marriage.
- With four million euros we will help education of migrants, provide food, protection and whatever else they need, and after that amount, the total assistance coming from the European Union amounts to 25 million euros, said the European Commissioner, and reminded that the humanitarian aid assisted the reconstruction of 11 reception centres, such as this in Obrenovac, and that the assistance to Serbia, from the beginning of the outbreak of the migrant crisis, amounts to a total of EUR 80 million, and that the European family will continue to assist the partners in Serbia as long as necessary.
