North Macedonia rejects EU asylum centers in its own country

North Macedonia rejects the establishment of EU asylum centers on its territory.

Skopje - "In North Macedonia, no asylum procedures are carried out for other EU states, and that will not change," said North Macedonia's Interior Minister, Oliver Spasovski, to the Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung (NOZ). As long as his country is not part of the European Union, such centers remain excluded. The European Union has been struggling to reform asylum policy for years.

There is always debate about the establishment of asylum centers in third countries outside the EU. The interior ministers recently agreed on the establishment of asylum centers at the external borders. The asylum claim should be examined there within three months.

There are no specific locations yet. North Macedonia has been a candidate for EU membership since 2005. In June of this year, the Bundestag campaigned for rapid accession of the former Yugoslav republic.

However, the prerequisite for the start of accession negotiations is a constitutional change that recognizes the Bulgarian minority in the country.

Source: Der Newsticker

Photo: EPA.