Following the introductory remarks delivered by Assistant Minister of Security Samir Rizvo, Austrian Ambassador to Bosnia and Herzegovina Ulrike Hartmann, Hilfswerk International Regional Director for the Balkans Suzana Jasharevic, and MARRI RC Director Sashko Kocev, the discussions focused on the possibilities of regional approach and joint engagement in the field of readmission with the support of international partners. “Regional cooperation in the area of readmission is in the interest of the Western Balkans, the European Union, but also in the

Dojran –  The Delegates of the Legal Framework Reform (LFR) Working Group (WG) met upon invitation by MARRI RC Director to work on further optimisation of the MARRI’s three main documents, i.e. MARRI Statute, MARRI RC General Rules and MARRI RC Financial Rules and Regulations. Following the RC Director’s concise historical abstract on the LFR and all steps taken since its start through the Podgorica Declaration of the MARRI Regional Forum 2016, the WG adjusted the texts of the documents

Skopje – MARRI RC Director Sashko Kocev met the Minister of Interior of North Macedonia Oliver Spasovski to discuss the latest developments in MARRI with regard to the priorities of the Initiative under the Presidency-in-Office by North Macedonia. The interlocuters confirmed the long-term successful cooperation between the Ministry of Interior and the MARRI Regional Centre in Skopje, and Director Kocev expressed gratitude to the Minister for the support provided so far. Further, Director Kocev presented the ongoing activities of the

MARRI RC is announcing an open call for Consultancy provider (Company, CSO or Consortium) of at least three experts who will be responsible for conducting a research about the trends in trafficking in human beings in the MARRI Participants. The deadline for submitting proposals is 20 January 2022, 16:00 (CET). Terms of Reference

The mid-term MARRI Regional Committee meeting under the Presidency-in-Office by North Macedonia was organised in a hybrid mode at the premises of the Regional Centre in Skopje. On behalf of the Presidency, the event was chaired by the MFA Director for European Union Dzenk Sejfula, and attended by MARRI Committee members, Coordinators, MARRI Participants Representatives and MARRI RC staff. Following the MARRI RC Director Sashko Kocev exposé on the Regional Centre’s operations and impact in the period of July-December 2021,

The online event was organized by European Asylum Support Office – EASO and MARRI RC to present the Training Needs Analysis Report to the representatives of the Asylum Departments, and Reception Centres for Asylum Seekers of the MARRI Participants. The aim of the assessment was to identify training needs, and not only the training priorities, but also making an overview of the trainings conducted so far in order to avoid repetition of trainings that were conducted before. The document presents

Belgrade – In order to support the further alignment of MARRI Participants with Regulation (EC) 862/2007 on Community Statistics on Migration and International Protection and facilitate the data exchange through WB-MIDEX, IOM under the auspices of the regional IPA II project “Regional Support to Protection Sensitive Migration Management in the Western Balkans and Turkey”, supported the authorities in the Western Balkans region to develop Road Maps on Migration Statistics that outline the current practices, challenges, and level of alignment with EU

Zoom – The fifth session of the PaCT Steering Group gathered the MARRI Participants’ Anti-trafficking Coordinators, the PaCT project partners and an expert from GRETA to brief about the project progress and main achievements but also, to discuss the global trends in the trafficking in human beings and their implications in the Western Balkans region. Following the update on Participants’ priorities in the field of THB, representatives of Macedonian Young Lawyers Association,  IFS – EMMAUS from Bosnia and Herzegovina and

Budva – In anticipation of the high-level meeting with Frontex Management Board scheduled for 16th of November 2021, MARRI Participants’ delegations met to discuss their cooperation with Frontex regarding the issues of mutual interest. Specifically, the three thematic sessions of the meeting were dedicated to the legal and operational aspects of cooperation with Frontex; the exchange of information about the latest developments in the field of migration; and discussions on the New EU Pact on Migration and Asylum, including the

Ohrid – Effective return, readmission and reintegration policies, in full respect of international law, were the main topic of discussion at the Regional Conference on Readmission, held on 27 – 29 October 2021 in Ohrid, Republic of North Macedonia. The Conference was co-organised by MARRI, Hilfswerk International and the partner organization Association for Help and Development HAJDE from Bosnia and Herzegovina, as a three-day event in a hybrid format. On behalf of the MARRI Presidency-in-Office by North Macedonia, the Conference