Policy and institutional frameworks : country report Serbia

Abstract

In Serbia, migration, and particularly labour migration, has been of little importance to state institutions and the public. However, migration management has become important in the context of European integration. Unfortunately, Serbia still lacks independent migration studies at its universities. The lack of interest among the Serbian academic community has been reflected in a muddled national policy approach towards Serbian emigration and the diaspora. Although there have been improvements in the legal and strategic framework, the implementation of these acts and the results of these policies are still missing. In 2009, as part of the visa liberalisation between Serbia and the EU, the Serbian Government adopted the Migration Management Strategy. The Migration Management Strategy was followed by the Law on Migration Management, adopted in November 2012. The public debate in Serbia is now more focused on obstacles related to the recognition of foreign diplomas. Highly-skilled returnees are faced with very expensive and long procedures for diploma recognition. Although readmission has become very important during the EU integration process, returnees are still faced with obstacles in the reintegration process.