The United Kingdom has announced up to £5 million in new support to help Western Balkan countries strengthen cooperation against migrant smuggling and organised immigration crime.

The funding will provide British training and expertise to improve regional information sharing and combat the exploitation of migrant workers. UK Minister for Europe Lord Wood of Anfield announced the initiative as Western Balkan leaders met in Montenegro.

The new support builds on cooperation between British personnel and law enforcement agencies across the region through the Joint Migration Task Force. The initiative brings together regional specialists to develop and carry out operations to detect and prevent irregular migration.

/a.p./