The pair agreed countries on the Balkan migration route were faced with a rise in illegal crossings of the border, the Slovenian Interior Ministry said in a release.

Poklukar said the Slovenian police had processed over 12,800 illegal crossings on the border with Croatia since the beginning of 2019, up 70% from the same period last year.

However, despite a difficult situation, the police are efficient successfully resisting the migration pressure, he told Stefanović, who is also a deputy prime minister.

Poklukar said Slovenia expected other countries on the Balkan route to do the same, and hailed the Serbian police force's efforts to prevent illegal migrations.

He also noted the importance of cooperation and support among police forces, "so we immediately responded to the Serbian Interior Ministry's request for our police officers to go to Serbia".

Tomorrow, Poklukar and Stefanović will visit the border crossing of Preševo with North Macedonia, where Slovenian police officers are helping their Serbian colleagues to police the border.

Poklukar also reiterated Slovenia's support for Serbia's efforts to join the EU.

He note Slovenia was willing to offer assistance as part of twinning projects, visits and workshops, adding that know-how and experience are also transferred to Serbia as part of Slovenia's development aid.

Assessing bilateral relations, Poklukar and Stefanović said Slovenia and Serbia were amicable countries and had excellent bilateral relations.

On the sidelines of the visit, Poklukar also meet Slovenian Ambassador to Serbia Iztok Jarc and Slovenian police attache there Davor Pešić.