Becici – The regional Consultative Meeting/Workshop on Strengthening Regional Cooperation in Migration Governance: Identifying Needs, Gaps and Future Priorities brought together representatives of MARRI administrations to advance dialogue and cooperation on migration-related challenges in the Western Balkans.
The event was co-organised by the MARRI Regional Centre, under the Presidency-in-Office of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Hilfswerk International Office in Sarajevo, providing a structured platform for exchange, consultation, and joint reflection across key areas of migration governance.
The opening remarks by Angela Boranieva, Director of the MARRI Regional Centre, Zoran Perkovic, Ambassador at Large and Chair of the MARRI Presidency-in-Office, and Muris Kodzaga, Regional Director of Hilfswerk International Western Balkans, highlighted the importance of continued regional dialogue, partnership, and a coordinated approach to addressing shared migration challenges.
Over the two days, the participants engaged in in-depth discussions covering migration, asylum and refugees, border/boundary management, return and readmission, trafficking in human beings and visa policy. They jointly identified common needs, gaps, and challenges, while also exploring opportunities for strengthening regional cooperation and coordination. With a view to shaping a future strategic framework for joint regional action, as well as guiding the development of initiatives, programmes, and capacity-building activities that respond to the real needs and priorities of the Western Balkans, MARRI delegations placed particular emphasis on ensuring continuity, evidence-based approaches, and practical cooperation among administrations.
The event was supported through the project “Strengthening migration management, asylum and return processes in the Western Balkans”, implemented by Hilfswerk International and the Joint Coordination Platform (JCP), and co-financed by the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF) and the Austrian Federal Ministry of the Interior.