The sixth meeting of the MARRI Permanent Working Group on Migration Statistics (PWGMS) held on 18 December 2024, brought together statisticians and analysts from the Statistical Agencies and the Ministries of Interior/Security  of the MARRI Participants. The main focus of the meeting was to assess the progress made in implementing tasks, and to propose amendments of the PWG MS Terms of Reference. The Acting Director of MARRI RC and Chair of the PWGMS Simona Krstevska welcomed the delegations and expressed gratitude

Skopje – The MARRI Asylum Network Meeting, held on 11 December 2024 in Skopje, brought together representatives from MARRI administrations, experts, and partners. Organized under the MARRI Presidency-in-Office by the Republic of Albania with support of GIZ, this event served as a platform for discussing asylum policy developments, addressing challenges, and shaping future priorities in the Western Balkans. Simona Krstevska, MARRI RC Acting Director & Representative of North Macedonia to MARRI RC, moderated the discussions. The meeting was opened with

The MARRI Regional Committee convened under the Presidency-in-Office by the Republic of Albania on 4 December 2024 in Skopje to address important organizational and regional matters, fostering dialogue and cooperation among the MARRI Participants’ administrations. Chaired by Antonela Dhimolea, Minister Councillor and Head of the Regional Initiative Unit at the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs of Albania, the meeting focused on reviewing achievements, discussing operational improvements, and setting priorities for the future. The Semi-annual Report on the MARRI Regional

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