The Albanian Presidency-in-Office of MARRI initiated the Extraordinary Committee Meeting to address key aspects of the Regional Centre’s functioning. The meeting was held in a hybrid mode at the MARRI RC in Skopje and it was attended by representatives of all MARRI Participants. In line with its mandate, the Committee discussed and reached agreements important for maintaining the MARRI RC’s operational integrity and advancing MARRI’s shared goals.  The meeting concluded with further directions and actions to be taken before the

Migrant smuggling and trafficking in people remain some of the most persistent challenges in the Western Balkans. Although various strategies have been implemented, one of the most effective yet underutilized tools in combatting these crimes is the application of financial investigations and criminal asset recovery. These approaches aim to strike at the root of criminal operations—targeting the financial profits that drive such illicit activities. The workshop “Change Management in Combating Migrant Smuggling and Human Trafficking with Financial Investigations” was organised

Belgrade – The Regional Conference “Liberalization of Access to the Labour Market: Potential for Regular Migration and Prevention of Risks related to Precarious Employment and Human Trafficking” was held on 14-15 October 2024 in Belgrade. The conference aimed to explore various aspects of protecting workers’ rights from violations, considering established standards and practices, and to discuss policies for combating human trafficking with a focus on the risks of labour exploitation. Representing MARRI, Regional Centre Director Snezana Trajanovska, MSc, attended the

On 9 October 2024 in Skopje, MARRI RC Director Snezana Trajanovska, MSc, participated as a panellist at the conference “Climate Migration in the Western Balkans: Legal Framework and Security”, hosted by Ss. Cyril and Methodius University (UKIM) – Global Changes Centre (Research Unit at the Faculty of Philosophy). The event was organised under the auspices of the project ” University Dialogue with Western Balkans “, implemented by Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus-Senftenberg (BTU), the Institute of International Politics and Economics

Skopje – The first session of the MARRI Regional Committee under Albania’s Presidency-in-Office was held on 1 October 2024 in Skopje, focusing on key legal and organizational matters essential for the Initiative’s ongoing development. In addition to the MARRI Committee members and their designated representatives, the meeting was attended by MARRI Coordinators, Representatives of MARRI Participants, the Director of the Regional Centre, and MARRI RC staff. Antonela Dhimolea, Minister Councillor at Albania’s Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, chaired the

In response to the growing demand for a foreign workforce in the Western Balkans and recent legal reforms facilitating the employment of foreigners, the Regional Conference titled “Protection and Economic Prospects: Fostering Labour Participation of Asylum Seekers in the Western Balkans” was held on 25 September in Skopje. Organized by the MARRI Regional Centre in collaboration with GIZ North Macedonia, the event aimed to shed light on the challenges and opportunities faced by asylum seekers already in the region. The

The fourth ministerial conference, “Sarajevo Migration Dialogue,” took place on 19 September 2024 in Jahorina, Bosnia and Herzegovina. This event, initiated by the Ministry of Security of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Swiss Confederation, brought together representatives from regional authorities, international organizations, and EU member states to exchange perspectives and experiences essential for effective migration management and to explore future partnership modalities. Key topics included the operationalization of police cooperation in the Western Balkans, the European Union’s role in migration

Skopje – Deepening the collaboration between MARRI and the Secretariat for European Affairs of North Macedonia was the main topic of discussion between the MARRI RC Director Snezana Trajanovska, MSc, and the Deputy Minister for European Affairs of North Macedonia, Prof. Viktorija Trajkov, PhD on the meeting that took place on 30 August 2024 at the Secretariat for European Affairs. Simona Krstevska, the Representative of North Macedonia to MARRI RC, also participated in the discussions. After extending congratulatory remarks and

MARRI RC is announcing an open call for a Financial and Administration Consultant. The successful candidate will be engaged in various activities related to the financial and administrative management of the project “Fostering economic opportunities of the MARRI Participants administrations by enhancing the system for international protection”, financed by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). The Financial and Administration Consultant will work under the direct supervision of

Skopje – The MARRI Regional Forum of Ministers of Interior/Security held on 3 July 2024 in Skopje crowned the MARRI Presidency-in-Office by the Republic of Serbia (July 2023 – June 2024) and commenced the Republic of Albania yearlong chairmanship over the Initiative. The event was organised in the framework of marking the 20th Anniversary of MARRI which was celebrated on the previous day with high representatives of MARRI Participants, diplomatic corps in North Macedonia, MARRI’s partners, long-term collaborators and friends.