ZAGREB, May 3, 2018 - Interior Ministry State Secretary Žarko Katić said in parliament on Thursday that the adoption of a new bill on foreigners could be expected in the last quarter of the year, adding that illegal immigrants pose a threat to the state's security. Katić admitted that the number of immigrants was growing, however, it "hasn't increased drastically compared to last year."
During a parliamentary debate on amendments to the Law on Foreigners that regulates residency for researchers, students, interns and volunteers as prescribed by a European Parliament directive of 11 May 2016 on the conditions of entry and residence of third-country nationals for the purposes of research, studies, training, Katić said that new legislation on the matter could be adopted by the end of this year.
Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) MP Anđelko Stričak asked about the developments on the ground considering that media outlets were more and more frequently reporting on migrant trafficking.
"Illegal immigrants are a threat to the state's security and Croatia is located on migrant routes. The Interior Ministry and police directorate are carefully monitoring the situation. The number of immigrants is growing but it hasn't increased drastically compared to last year," Katić said.
"The law relates to people who are vitally interesting for us and so that we can make sure that, upon the completion of their education, they remain in Croatia," Vesna Pusić of the GLAS party said during today's debate. She considers that the provision that someone's application for residency in Croatia can be rejected if "they represent a danger to national security..." is contentious as this criterion is not clearly defined and leaves room for arbitrariness, she said.
Another obstacle is that people whose applications are rejected are not given any explanation of why they have not been approved residency.
