The European Commission adopted on Wednesday an additional €25 million assistance package to support Bosnia and Herzegovina in managing migration and called on the local authorities to prevent a “humanitarian crisis” by urgently finding “suitable accommodation” for refugees and migrants.
According to the European Union Delegation in BiH, this new EU funding will mainly address the essential needs of refugees and migrants during winter, providing accommodation, food, access to healthcare and social services.
“The additional support will also strengthen Bosnia and Herzegovina’s capacity in border management, in particular through equipment and training. It will contribute to the fight against and the prevention of migrant smuggling as well as trafficking in human beings,” said the EU’s office in Sarajevo.
The EU, however, expressed concerned about the migration situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina, considering that weather conditions harshen and that refugees and migrants are left without the necessary shelter. The EU called on Bosnia and Herzegovina’s authorities to “prevent a humanitarian crisis from unfolding by urgently identifying suitable accommodation for refugees and migrants present in Bosnia and Herzegovina, including families with children and unaccompanied minors.”
The EU also said it expected from Bosnia and Herzegovina’s authorities to ensure effective coordination in managing migration and asylum, including by taking over the management of the EU-funded temporary reception centres.
“The continued EU support to Bosnia and Herzegovina in the area of migration management relies on the respect of domestic law and international obligations concerning the treatment of refugees and migrants, notably minors, together with the safe and unhindered operation of humanitarian partners,” the Delegation said.
Assistance to refugee and migration management is part of the wider EU support to the country.
With this new €25 million assistance package, the total EU support provided to Bosnia and Herzegovina for migration management since 2018 amounts to €85.5 million, including €10.3 million of humanitarian assistance.
In addition to those funds, since 2007 the EU has been assisting Bosnia and Herzegovina in the area of asylum, migration and border management for an amount of €41 million. Since January 2016, Bosnia and Herzegovina also benefits from the regional programme ‘Support to Protection-Sensitive Migration Management’ worth €14.5 million for all the Western Balkans and Turkey.
Moreover, the Instrument contributing to Stability and Peace (IcSP) has financed a regional action to address the challenges posed by COVID-19 amongst migrants, asylum seekers and refugees in the Western Balkans, in particular in Bosnia and Herzegovina and in Serbia, for a total of €8 million. Since January 2020, the EU has funded the deployment of a Senior Expert on migration and asylum to support the Bosnia and Herzegovina Ministry of Security with a view to facilitate coordination on migration management.
