(ANSA) - BRUSSELS, JANUARY 9 - EU Commissioner for Migration, Dimitris Avramopoulos, answered to a question presented on September 6 by 22 MEPs - including Elly Schlein (Possible/S&D) - on the difficult situation of migrants stuck at the border between Bosnia-Herzegovina and Croatia. "The Commission is in contact with Croatia concerning the implementation of the Common European Asylum System, including regarding allegations of mistreatment of third-country nationals and the lack of possibility to apply for asylum", and "expects Croatia to follow up on this issue", wrote Avramopolous.

"The EU promptly responded to the request of the authorities of Bosnia and Herzegovina for support in addressing the current developments on migration", EU Commissioner pointed out. He recalled that "since June 2018, the Commission provided" to Sarajevo "2 million euros in humanitarian aid to address the immediate needs" of migrants. Later, in August, the EU "allocated 7.2 million euros to increase the capacity for identification, registration and protection, to provide adequate accommodation and basic services for the winter period, and to support the Bosnia and Herzegovina border police".

The next step foresees a final agreement between Brussels and Sarajevo to deploy Frontex teams along the border with Croatia.(ANSA).