Jahjaga, Mustafa discuss measures to prevent migration of Kosovo citizens

PRISTINA – Kosovo President Atifete Jahjaga and Prime Minister Isa Mustafa conferred with officials of Pristina institutions concerning the measures to prevent illegal migration of Kosovo citizens.



Last night’s talks covered the reasons for illegal migrations, strengthening of the judiciary in the prevention of activities that bring profit to criminal rings and in the implementation of steps aimed at economic recovery of Kosovo and opening new jobs, the president’s cabinet released.

According to the release, the talks also covered the ways to tackle the issue of illegal migration by raising awareness among Kosovo citizens about the policy of EU countries toward asylum-seekers.

Jahjaga and Mustafa met with Deputy Prime Minister Kujtim Salja, Finance Minister Avdulah Hoti, Infrastructure Minister Lufti Zarku, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Petrit Selimi, Deputy Minister for European Integration Ramadan Ilazi and Police Director Spend Madzuni.

The Kosovo president and prime minister previously met with ambassadors of EU member countries to discuss cooperation concerning prevention of illegal migration of Kosovo citizens.

The Kosovo parliament adopted on Friday the resolution to prevent illegal migration of Kosovo citizens.

According to reports issued by Pristina media, over 40,000 citizens left Kosovo since the government coalition of the Democratic Alliance of Kosovo and the Democratic Party of Kosovo was constituted less than two months ago.

The European Asylum Support Office released that over 70,000 Kosovo citizens applied for asylum in EU countries over the past five years.

Reuters noted that the EU recorded a sudden increase in the number of Kosovo citizens entering EU countries by illegal routes, the greatest number of whom are headed for Hungary where as many as 10,000 citizens filed asylum application in January 2015, compared to 6,000 asylum requests filed in 2013.

The Hungarian government released that almost 13,000 asylum applications have arrived since the beginning of this year alone compared to 43,000 requests received in 2014.