The MARRI Permanent Working Group on Migration Statistics (PWGMS) held its seventh meeting, bringing together institutional representatives and experts dedicated to strengthening cooperation in the field of migration statistics. The meeting was chaired by Simona Krstevska, Acting Director of the MARRI Regional Centre, and supported by representatives of the MARRI RC team.
In her opening remarks, Krstevska welcomed the participants highlighting the growing importance of timely, accurate and comparable migration statistics for shaping evidence-based policies in the Western Balkans. She highlighted the role of the PWGMS as a crucial platform for advancing statistical cooperation and supporting data harmonization efforts among MARRI Participants. On behalf of the Working Group, she welcomed the new observer from the International Organization for Migration (IOM), further reinforcing the strong collaboration between MARRI and international partners in the domain of migration.
Starting with an endorsement of the minutes from the previous PWGMS meeting, the meeting proceeded with a round of brief updates and questions from the delegations.
Aleksandar Kostadinov, MARRI RC’s Migration Data and Policy Analyst, presented the report on the activities of the PWGMS during the reporting period, including progress in the collection and exchange of statistics related to international migration. He provided an overview of the indicators submitted by MARRI Participants, particularly in the areas of immigration, emigration, and acquisition of citizenship, as well as challenges encountered in collecting disaggregated statistics.
In addition, Kostadinov presented the indicators related to international protection statistics, which are to be exchanged in line with the 2025 timeline for migration statistics sharing. He emphasized the need for consistent and structured exchange of statistics, noting the value such information holds for assessing migration trends, planning policy interventions, and aligning with European and international statistical standards. The session also included an open floor for each MARRI Participant’s delegation to share updates on the current state of play in their respective contexts, focusing on regular migration and international protection statistics. This exchange of experiences and practices highlighted both the progress achieved and areas requiring further support.
Looking ahead, the meeting reaffirmed the collective commitment to continue working toward more unified exchange mechanisms in the domain of migration statistics, building upon the group’s achievements and lessons learned so far.