Skopje – The MARRI Regional Centre, under the Presidency-in-Office of Bosnia and Herzegovina, successfully hosted the Meeting on Regional Coordination on the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum, in collaboration with and supported by the “EU Support to Strengthen the Fight against Migrant Smuggling and Trafficking in Human Beings in the Western Balkans” – EU4FAST project.
The event brought together representatives of Border Police and Asylum Departments from the MARRI Participants to exchange views on the soon-to-be adopted EU Pact on Migration and Asylum, with a focus on the current level of preparedness within respective administrations, required adjustments and anticipated challenges in the process.
The meeting was opened by Angela Boranieva, Director of the MARRI Regional Centre, and Ivana Panovska, Protection Advisor under the EU4FAST project. In her opening remarks, Boranieva underlined the importance of structured regional dialogue, noting that “Strengthening dialogue, coordination and ensuring timely exchange among administrations in the region is essential for effectively responding to upcoming changes in the EU migration and asylum framework.”
An expert presentation on the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum was delivered by Erwann Tor, EU4FAST Coordinator for Policy Strategy & Legislation, who provided participants with an overview of the Pact’s key provisions and anticipated implications for the region.
The working sessions were structured to ensure both analytical and practical exchange among participants. Guided discussions touched upon on the level of familiarity with the Pact, the provisions most likely to affect domestic migration and asylum systems and initial institutional reflections on possible procedural and structural adjustments. The delegations exchanged views on shared challenges, evolving priorities and areas requiring strengthened coordination.
The meeting concluded with an exchange on common priorities and next steps, highlighting opportunities for enhanced cooperation and laying the groundwork for a more coherent and coordinated regional approach to the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum.
The event further reinforced the role of the MARRI as a platform for dialogue, knowledge exchange and strategic cooperation among administrations in the field of migration and asylum.