The phenomenon of increasing ungrounded asylum requests in EU countries has caused concern in Macedonia, prompting all competent institutions to undertake series of measures over its prevention. We have employed comprehensive and institutional focus on all aspects related to the prevention of any abuse of visa liberalization, said Minister of Interior Gordana Jankuloska in Wednesday's address at conference of Southeast Europe home affairs ministers, members of the so-called "Salzburg Forum", held in Bulgaria's capital Sofia.

In the framework of the session dedicated to the Schengen Treaty and visa liberalization, Minister Jankuloska noted all measures and activities undertaken by Macedonian institutions towards prevention of visa liberalization abuse.

"Visa liberalization is one of the crucial benefits in Macedonia's EU integration process, whereas the prevention of its abuse has resulted in amendments to the Criminal Code, amendments to the Law on Passports that foresee confiscation of a passport or rejection of the application for issuance of a passport or visa for one year if the individual was forcefully deported or exiled from another country due to violation of entry and stay regulations", said Jankuloska.

The MoI has continually carried out enhanced controls of border crossings and by using the method of risk analysis, a profile of so-called false asylum seekers has been established.

A number of operations and controls of travel agencies have also been conducted for the purpose of revealing and preventing organized forms of recruiting and fraud.

In addition, the MoI and Roma Info-Centers and Migration Centers have launched project titled "Stop the Visa Liberalization Abuse", aimed at raising the public awareness through education of citizens over the proper use of visa-free regime benefits.

In the section dedicated to cybercrime, Minister Jankuloska stressed that fight against computer crime cannot be limited only within the boundaries of one country, but treated regionally and internationally, thus enhancing regional police cooperation.

With regards to illegal migration, Jankuloska referred to many international partnership activities and cooperation of the Macedonian police, especially information exchange and coordination as basic prerequisites for effective prevention of illegal migration trends.

She reaffirmed MoI's open and cooperative position regarding the Southeast Europe Police Cooperation Convention.

"The Convention offers a wide range of contemporary methods and techniques of police work, which represent functional means in the fight against all forms of transnational crime. Therefore, the Republic of Macedonia continues to implement the Convention provisions, perceiving the document as an essential tool for the enhancement of police cooperation among contracting parties", underlined Minister of Interior Gordana Jankuloska.

The phenomenon of increasing ungrounded asylum requests in EU countries has caused concern in Macedonia, prompting all competent institutions to undertake series of measures over its prevention. We have employed comprehensive and institutional focus on all aspects related to the prevention of any abuse of visa liberalization, said Minister of Interior Gordana Jankuloska in Wednesday's address at conference of Southeast Europe home affairs ministers, members of the so-called "Salzburg Forum", held in Bulgaria's capital Sofia.

In the framework of the session dedicated to the Schengen Treaty and visa liberalization, Minister Jankuloska noted all measures and activities undertaken by Macedonian institutions towards prevention of visa liberalization abuse.

"Visa liberalization is one of the crucial benefits in Macedonia's EU integration process, whereas the prevention of its abuse has resulted in amendments to the Criminal Code, amendments to the Law on Passports that foresee confiscation of a passport or rejection of the application for issuance of a passport or visa for one year if the individual was forcefully deported or exiled from another country due to violation of entry and stay regulations", said Jankuloska.

The MoI has continually carried out enhanced controls of border crossings and by using the method of risk analysis, a profile of so-called false asylum seekers has been established.

A number of operations and controls of travel agencies have also been conducted for the purpose of revealing and preventing organized forms of recruiting and fraud.

In addition, the MoI and Roma Info-Centers and Migration Centers have launched project titled "Stop the Visa Liberalization Abuse", aimed at raising the public awareness through education of citizens over the proper use of visa-free regime benefits.

In the section dedicated to cybercrime, Minister Jankuloska stressed that fight against computer crime cannot be limited only within the boundaries of one country, but treated regionally and internationally, thus enhancing regional police cooperation.

With regards to illegal migration, Jankuloska referred to many international partnership activities and cooperation of the Macedonian police, especially information exchange and coordination as basic prerequisites for effective prevention of illegal migration trends.

She reaffirmed MoI's open and cooperative position regarding the Southeast Europe Police Cooperation Convention.

"The Convention offers a wide range of contemporary methods and techniques of police work, which represent functional means in the fight against all forms of transnational crime. Therefore, the Republic of Macedonia continues to implement the Convention provisions, perceiving the document as an essential tool for the enhancement of police cooperation among contracting parties", underlined Minister of Interior Gordana Jankuloska.