At the Brijuni Process meeting in Slovenia, Croatian Interior Minister Božinović emphasised the importance of cooperation with the Western Balkans for EU internal security. He underlined that EU enlargement to include Western Balkan countries, based on set criteria, would strengthen and secure both regions.
Božinović also welcomed the European Commission’s proposal for a common EU system for the return of irregular migrants. He stated that this initiative, linked to the forthcoming Pact on Migration and Asylum, aims to speed up return procedures and improve legal clarity. He highlighted that the regulation could allow for the establishment of return centres outside the EU and facilitate returns through agreements with third countries, provided they uphold international standards. He stressed the need for a stronger role for Frontex and expressed optimism that the new legal framework would address long-standing challenges in EU migration policy.