Ukrainian War Brings Flood of Illegal Weapons to Europe

It was the first meeting of EU interior ministers under Czech presidency (11.07), where the war was at the centre in Ukraine. This time, it was not only about refugees but also about cross - border crime, as C. The main theme was how to protect against the dangers posed by the war in Ukraine. ”

Weapons trade “a very real risk”

At the top of the list of potential risks lies human smuggling. But no less dangerous is the arms trade, says EU Border Protection Agency General Director Frontex, Ayja Kalnaja. I think this is a very real risk. So we are present at the border between Moldova and Ukraine. We believe that's where the smuggled weapons arrive. We're prepared to stop this. ”

EU Commissioner for Internal Affairs Ylva Johansson

Kalnaya was invited to the EU interior ministers' meeting as an expert. Frontex has even undertaken the first anti-commercial arms shares, confirms Deputy Director Lars Gerdes. There are long-term information that earlier chains of smugglers are now focused on weapons, where through the war in Ukraine, an almost unlimited approach has been developed. These weapons probably fall into criminal hands. We have seen this in the Balkan conflicts. Weapons still exist today, originating in Balkan conflicts. ”

But in Ukraine we have much more weapons and more modern. Illegal trade with them will remain a problem for the next decades, Gerdes says. “These smuggled weapons will likely be used for organised criminality or in the worst case to supply the terrorists. ”

More Refugees Not Just From Ukraine

EU interior ministers agreed that preparations should be made for the arrival of other refugees from Ukraine. Some countries have reached the frontiers. Chekhya, compared to the population, has accepted the highest number of refugees from Ukraine, and wants to receive additional financial and organisational aid.

Refugees Want to Go From Serbia to Bosnia

At the same time, Europe must prepare for increasing the number of refugees from other regions, according to Swiss Migration Minister Karin Keller-Sutter. Switzerland is part of Schengen area countries, and for that reason it was at the EU ministers' meeting. Karin Keller-Sutter said we still have an increase in the number of refugees and “the pressure of migration to Europe is enormous.” Particularly marks growth in Balkan routes, as noted by data from Austria. By May, this country has registered 22,000 asylum applications, twice the same period last year.