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CEE countries mull new plan for policing Western Balkans route

Xinhua, February 9, 2017 Adjust font size:

The interior and defense ministers of some 15 Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries met here on Wednesday to draw up a new security plan for the improved policing of the Western Balkans migration route.

Details of the plan is to come into force by the end of April, according to reports here quoting Austrian Interior Minister Wolfgang Sobotka and Defence Minister Hans Peter Doskozil.

It in particular aimed at tackling illegal migration and people-smuggling activities, and would function as a "coordinating mechanism" for "mutual agreement," Doskozil said.

The two ministers argued that Europe had acted "too late" to challenges provided by the massive migrant influx in 2015 and 2016.

Doskozil said as long as there are no European Union-wide solutions, member states will have to introduce measures by themselves, to tackle problems such as people smuggling.

He said the effective securing of borders along the Western Balkans route is of top priority, for which all forces, whether police, civil, or military, must be drawn upon. Endit