BRATISLAVA — The leaders of Slovakia, Hungary, and Serbia are set to meet on Tuesday to discuss strategies for strengthening the European Union’s borders and reducing illegal migration, according to a statement from the Slovak government. The meeting will be held in Komarno, Slovakia, and will bring together Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, and Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic.
Both Slovakia and Hungary have long taken a hard stance against migration, and this meeting aims to explore new solutions to address illegal flows into the EU. A key focus of the discussions will be collaboration with Serbia and other Western Balkan countries, which are critical transit points for migrants entering the EU from the Middle East and North Africa.
Among the potential solutions being considered are “external centers,” or so-called “hotspots,” for processing asylum applications outside EU borders, a strategy currently being tested by Italy in cooperation with Albania. The Slovak government cited this approach as an innovative way to manage migration more effectively.
EU leaders recently convened to explore ways to expedite the return of those who illegally enter the bloc, reinforcing efforts to safeguard the region’s borders. Serbia, which is not an EU member, has traditionally been a key entry point for migrants traveling the Balkan route. However, Frontex data indicates that illegal crossings in the Western Balkans have dropped by 79% in the first nine months of 2024, totaling fewer than 17,000 crossings. This reduction has made the Balkan route significantly less traveled than some Mediterranean routes.
Despite this decline, Hungary has reported a recent uptick in illegal border crossings. Since June, Hungarian police have recorded a growing number of illegal migrants attempting to cross the border, with weekly figures reaching into the hundreds. The highest number of stops occurred at the end of September, with 531 people prevented from crossing and 394 others detained and returned to Serbia.
As illegal migration continues to challenge Europe, cooperation between the EU and its neighbors, particularly Serbia, remains crucial in securing the region’s borders and managing asylum applications.