Guidelines for the Design of a Refugee Policy in the Western Balkans

Abstract

Although most refugees are headed to Western Europe, according to some estimates a certain number will remain in the countries that were not their ultimate goal - in the countries on the "edge of Europe", or the countries of the Western Balkans (Croatia, Bosnia, Serbia and others). The current issues connected to refugees in the Western Balkans are related to the humane treatment of refugees and providing them with basic living conditions as they make their way to their final destination. However, permanent retention or resettlement of refugees requires well-planned, pre-prepared, and long-term policies regarding their social cohesion. These policies can be successfully conducted only with careful coherence at all levels of governance (from the EU to the level of local government), where local self-governments play a key role in policy implementation. The paper brings the issue to the fore, offers guidelines for creating a possible future policy, and analyses the capacities required for its consistent implementation.