In Korenica, Croatia, residents have expressed strong opposition to the plans by the Ministry of the Interior to establish a migrant center at the site of the former Željava military airport. The proposed facility would include around 450 residential containers capable of accommodating up to 1,500 migrants. This initiative is part of the broader implementation of the Migration and Asylum Pact, which requires EU member states to set up reception centers at their external borders. The migrants would stay at the center for a maximum of 12 weeks while their asylum claims are processed or arrangements for their potential return to their home countries are made.

The protest, which took place over the weekend, saw several hundred residents from the Lika region gather to voice their concerns about the construction of the center. Local residents fear that establishing such a facility would alter the community's character and possibly lead to issues associated with the influx of migrants. Many attendees carried banners and chanted slogans against the government's plan, signalling deep community unrest towards a decision perceived to be made without local consultation.

As the debate continues, the Croatian government is emphasizing the necessity of such centers in the context of increasing migrant pressures at EU borders, particularly along key routes leading to Western Europe. The local backlash against the Željava project highlights the tension between national policy objectives aligned with EU requirements and the concerns of local communities who feel they are left out of crucial decisions affecting their environment and safety.