Tirana – MARRI RC organized the first out of 6 workshops in the framework of “Strengthening regional migration governance” project, supported by German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) through German International Cooperation (GIZ). The aim of these workshops is to thematically deepen the understanding of migration issues among all relevant partners and stakeholders in each MARRI Participant at local and national level, as well as to identify the regional priorities in the areas of asylum, border management, trafficking in human beings, readmission and labour migration. Representatives of governmental institutions, local government, international organizations, research/academic institutions and civil society in Albania, attended the workshop.
The event was opened by Ms. Rovena Voda, Deputy Minister of Interior of Albania who wholeheartedly supported MARRI stressing that its continuous efforts and ambitious projects are valuable contribution to the increased regional cooperation but also, to ensuring security and stability in the region. Among many activities, she highlighted the importance of the regional platform for exchange of statistical non personal data (MIDEX) as valuable instrument for gaining clear understanding of the regional developments while in the same time avoiding conflicting figures that come from different MARRI Participants.
In his address, MARRI RC Director Sashko Kocev informed on the Initiative’s objectives and priorities while MARRI Participant Representative of Albania to MARRI RC, Mr. Ahmet Lala brought to attention the topic of labour migration and in particular, the circular migration in the Western Balkan as one of the areas of migration that continuously gains on importance.
In the course of two sessions organized as a work in groups, the participants of the workshop addressed the five thematic areas of migration bringing forward the existing challenges in their line of work but also, discussing the cooperation and coordination within each of their respective sectors and among the sectors.
Additionally, the participants were presented and asked for feedback on two possible MARRI products – a publication “White paper on migration”, envisioned as regional migration profile with number of comprehensive analyses on the migration in Western Balkans and, establishing Pool of experts on migration, aimed at promoting and getting the full benefit of the regional expertise on migration.
The conclusions of the six consultative workshops will serve as a basis for development of a multi-annual regional project, intended to provide support, tools and knowledge for addressing the regional priorities in the migration management.
28 February 2019 – Workshop on “Strengthening regional dialogue and cooperation on migration”