Strategy for integrated border management

Pursuant to the Article 45, paragraph 1, of the Law on Government (“Official
Gazette RS”, No. 55/05 and 71/05-amendment),
the Government adopts
1. INTRODUCTION
Integrated Border Management
STRATEGY
in the Republic of Serbia
Joining the European Union (EU) is the strategic orientation for the Republic of
Serbia, which implies the acceptance of adopted European values and standards in
the whole range of fields. Free circulation of persons and goods between member
states of the EU requires introduction of certain measures, referring among other
things to introduction of high control standards of external EU borders. As to the
north Serbia borders with Hungary, member of the EU, and having in view the
expected joining to the EU of other neighbouring countries, it is of great importance
to introduce and apply consistently the concept of integrated border management to
be compatible with present solutions in the region and the EU.
The European Union has developed an efficient border control and management
system, enabling free mobility and circulation of persons and goods, preventing the
trans-border crime, respecting at the same time the high standards in protecting
human rights and freedoms.
Not only is the adoption of the Integrated Border Management Strategy in the
Republic of Serbia (hereinafter: Strategy) a precondition for a successful
implementation of the Agreement on Stabilization and Association, but the
implementation of this concept is concomitantly a clear indication to foreign partners
that the Republic of Serbia is ready to contribute to security in the region, to become
a reliable partner with the EU in control of its borders, to provide the membership in
the World Trade Organisation, to enable income in foreign investments, and also that
it is ready to build a relevant legal and institutional framework necessary for the use
of foreign financial aid in this field.
Standards of the EU that Republic of Serbia is adopting by this document, and all
necessary investments in the system of integrated border management, represent
therefore an investment into our future membership with the European Union, on the
one hand, and on the other, implementation of these standards offers security to the
citizens of Republic of Serbia, creating preconditions for the development of
economic activities and unimpeded trans-border trade.
The Strategy is based on the Serbian National Strategy for the Association of Serbia-
Montenegro to the European Union and on the current reform processes in the
country, mostly those cited in the document The European Partnership. Besides, as
the source of examples of good practices and adopted standards in this field, we
used the Directions of the European Commission for Integrated Border Management
for the Western Balkan States, the Schengen Catalogue, the Schengen Acquis, and