The 2026 Diplomatic Briefing reaffirmed strong commitment to advancing regional cooperation in migration governance and further strengthening the work of MARRI Regional Centre. The speakers highlighted continued political and institutional support for the Initiative and its role as a platform for coordination, dialogue and joint action across the region. The event was opened by the Deputy Minister of Interior of North Macedonia, Astrit Iseni, who underlined MARRI’s role as a bridge between administrations, international partners and European institutions. This was

Vienna – MARRI and the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD) have formalised the continuation of their long-standing cooperation through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on 4 May in Vienna. The Memorandum was signed by MARRI RC Director Angela Boranieva and by Sedef Dearing, Deputy Director General and Director of Migration Dialogues and Cooperation at ICMPD, reaffirming a trusted partnership between the two organisations. The agreement marks an important step in further strengthening collaboration in the field

Sarajevo – A two-day regional workshop titled “From Policy to Practice: Strengthening Gender-Sensitive Border/Boundary Management to Combat Human Trafficking in the Western Balkans” took place on 28–29 April 2026 in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, bringing together representatives of Border Police and anti-trafficking authorities from all MARRI administrations, alongside international organizations, to work on translating gender-sensitive policies into concrete operational practices. The workshop was organized by MARRI Regional Centre, under the Presidency-in-Office of Bosnia and Herzegovina, with support from the regional

The Regional Workshop on Migration Statistics Harmonization among MARRI Participants, held on 23–24 April 2026 in Podgorica, brought together representatives from MARRI administrations. Organized by MARRI, the Regional School of Public Administration (ReSPA) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the event served as a dedicated platform for advancing regional alignment with EU standards on migration and international protection statistics, with a particular focus on comparability, data quality and institutional cooperation. Over the course of two days, participants reviewed the

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

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

The MARRI Permanent Working Group on Migration Statistics convened on 12 December 2025 to review ongoing developments in regional migration data exchange and to discuss priorities for the coming period. The meeting was chaired by MARRI Regional Centre Director Angela Boranieva and coordinated by Migration Data and Policy Analyst Aleksandar Kostadinov. The session opened with welcoming remarks from Director Boranieva, who highlighted the importance of strengthening shared methodological standards and ensuring a consistent flow of migration-related data among the MARRI

Skopje – The MARRI Committee convened under the Presidency-in-Office of Bosnia and Herzegovina to review progress achieved in the second half of the year and to discuss priorities for the period ahead. The meeting was chaired by Zoran Perkovic, Ambassador at Large at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina. In his opening remarks, Perkovic underscored the importance of enhancing MARRI’s visibility and strengthening its role as a proactive and recognisable actor in regional migration cooperation. He also

The MARRI Permanent Working Group on Migration Statistics (PWGMS) convened its eighth meeting, bringing together institutional representatives and subject-matter experts committed to enhancing regional cooperation in the field of migration statistics. The meeting was chaired by Angela Boranieva, Director of the MARRI Regional Centre, with the support of the MARRI RC team. In her opening address, Boranieva welcomed the participants and underscored the growing significance of timely, accurate, and comparable migration statistics for the development of evidence-based policies in the

The MARRI Regional Forum of Ministers of Interior/Security, held on 24 June 2025 in Tirana, marked the conclusion of the MARRI Presidency-in-Office by the Republic of Albania (July 2024 – June 2025) and the beginning of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s yearlong chairmanship of the Initiative. Alongside the MARRI delegations, representatives of partner organisations and diplomatic missions also attended the meeting.  The MARRI Regional Forum provided na opportunity to the MARRI Participants to reaffirm their commitment to cooperation and regional ownership. In