The project is aimed at increasing security on state borders, reducing illegal migration and cross-border crime, strengthening the capability of institutions to deal with the problem of illegal migration and improving accommodation and security standards at the reception centre for foreigners in Jezevo, officials attending the launch of the Twinning component said.
The number of illegal migrants in Croatia has been on the increase over the last two years, the main reason being the difficult economic situation in neighbouring countries, said the leader of the project in Croatia, Josip Paradzik.
The project is financed by the European Commission. Its three components have a budget of 1.15 million euros.
The main beneficiary of the project is the Croatian Ministry of the Interior and its partners in implementing the project are the Dutch Immigration and Naturalisation Service and the German Federal Office for Migrations and Refugees.
The CARDS programme in Croatia has so far provided funds for projects in the area of border management and asylum, and this is the first project which focuses solely on illegal migrations.