Tirana – As part of the ‘Regional Support to Protection-Sensitive Migration Management in the Western Balkans and Turkey’ project, on 24 April 2019, IOM organised a Regional experience-sharing and discussion workshop in Tirana. The aim of this workshop was to present the final version of the Regional Platform for Non-Personal Data Exchange in the Western Balkans (WB – MIDEX) and discuss the development of the national Road Maps on Migration Statistics. The workshop gathered migration statistics experts from the Western Balkan

Ohrid – The meeting was organized by MARRI RC under the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina with the support of GIZ as a follow up on the Second meeting of the Ad hoc Working Group which took place on 22-23 November 2018 in Sarajevo. The main purpose of the meeting was to present draft plan and to agree on the future steps for finalization of the MARRI’s legal framework reform but also, to continue the work on the revised and

Sarajevo – Representatives from the Sector for Asylum at the Ministry of Security of Bosnia and Herzegovina attended training on the Use of the Interpreter-Scheduling Platform, launched as part of the MARRI Regional Remote Interpretation Service (RRIS). The MARRI RRIS Platform has been fully developed by IOM, within the EU-funded IPA II project ‘Regional Support to Protection-Sensitive Migration Management in the Western Balkans and Turkey’. Ms. Milica Trpevska, IOM IPA II Project Assistant seconded to MARRI RC, demonstrated the workflow of

Podgorica – The third in the series of workshops in the framework of “Strengthening regional migration governance” project gathered Montenegrin professionals working in the areas of asylum, border management, trafficking in human beings, readmission and labour migration.  In a lively and inspiring atmosphere, representatives from governmental institutions, international organisations and civil society discussed the challenges and priorities by topic and provided input on how MARRI could support their activities on strategic level. On behalf of the Ministry of Interior of

Skopje – MARRI RC under the Presidency-in-Office of Bosnia and Herzegovina, organized MARRI Friends Meeting / Diplomatic Briefing for representatives of diplomatic corps in North Macedonia, relevant international organizations, MARRI partners and donors as well as representatives of the Ministries of Interior and Foreign Affairs of MARRI Participants. Coinciding with the 15th Anniversary of MARRI, the meeting was dedicated to the celebration of its existence and the joint achievements with all Friends of MARRI. Following the introductory remarks by the Minister

Skopje, Pristina, Tirana, Podgorica – Representatives from the Sectors for Asylum at the Ministries of Interior of North Macedonia, Kosovo*, Albania and Montenegro, in four separate sessions attended training on the Use of the Interpreter-Scheduling Platform, launched as part of the MARRI Regional Remote Interpretation Service (RRIS). The MARRI RRIS Platform has been fully developed by IOM, within the EU-funded IPA II project ‘Regional Support to Protection-Sensitive Migration Management in the Western Balkans and Turkey’. The trainings were delivered by

Pristina – The second workshop 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) gathered more than 60 participants from relevant partners and stakeholders in Kosovo*, among which representatives of governmental institutions, international organizations, research/academic institutions and civil society organizations. According to the agenda, the participants exchanged viewpoints on the challenges and priorities in the areas of asylum, border management, trafficking in human beings, readmission

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,

Istanbul – The Budapest Process held its 6th Ministerial Conference, preceded by the 4th Preparatory Meeting for Senior Officials, under chairmanship of the Republic of Turkey and co-chaired by Hungary. The Ministers adopted the political declaration “The Istanbul Commitments’ containing key commitments under a Silk Routes Partnership for Migration and the action plan “A Call for Action – a five year plan” which lists key actions that can be drawn from the six interconnected priority goals agreed upon in the

Skopje – MARRI RC and GIZ Office in Skopje organized Validation Workshop for development of a new joint project “Preventing and Combatting Smuggling and Trafficking in Human Beings in the Western Balkans”, supported by German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). The event was a follow up on numerous preparatory activities that started in October 2018 among which, a Fact Finding Mission, Consultative Workshop and Appraisal Mission. Following the opening remarks in which both, MARRI RC Director Sashko