EU Commission to reinforce cooperation on migration with W. Balkans

The Commission is proposing an action plan to strengthen border management along the migration routes, ensure swift asylum procedure and support reception capacity, fight migrant smuggling, enhance readmission cooperation and returns and achieve the alignment of visa policy with the Western Balkan countries, it said in a press release.

The action plan identifies twenty operational measures which are focused on support to or actions by Western Balkan countries and action in the member states facing increased migratory pressure along the Western Balkan routes.

"Irregular movements along the Western Balkans routes have significantly increased this year due to several factors, including economic pressures and insecurity resulting from ongoing conflicts," the Commission said.

Furthermore, the non-alignment of visa-free regime with the EU's visa policy also contributes to an increasing number of people that arrive to Western Balkan countries and move onward to the EU, the Commission added.

The Council of the European Union said last week that its presidency will hold talks with the European Parliament (EP) on allowing the citizens of Kosovo to travel visa-free within the bloc.

In mid-November, the Council approved the opening of negotiations on upgraded Frontex status agreements with Albania, Serbia, Montenegro, and Bosnia and Herzegovina. The new agreements will allow Frontex staff to exercise executive powers, such as border checks and registration of persons, at all borders.