The regular session of the MARRI Permanent Working Group on Migration Statistics (PWG MS) gathered migration data experts from MARRI Participants’ Statistical Agencies and Ministries of Interior/Security to review the progress in implementation of group tasks in accordance with the agreed timeline. Following the briefing about the exchange of migration statistics through WB-MIDEX platform by Jordan Simonov, MARRI RC Migration Data and Policy Analyst, the delegations presented the state of affairs regarding the availability of data in their respective institutions, and

Skopje – In line with the Committee’s conclusions from 21 December 2022, the MARRI Presidency-in-Office by North Macedonia organized the Extraordinary Committee Meeting to continue the discussions on remaining open issues and ongoing initiatives. The possibilities being assessed, the Committee acknowledged and commended the measures proposed by the MARRI RC Director. The Committee thanked the German government for the continuous support through the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) and encouraged Secretariat’s further engagement in expanding its project activities. The

The North Macedonia Presidency-in-Office of MARRI wishes to appoint an experienced person to serve as Director of MARRI Regional Centre in Skopje, with staring date of August 1, 2023.  The post is offered to the MARRI Participants on a secondment basis. The vacancy is opened from 1 February until 31 March 2023 and the applications should be submitted to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of North Macedonia – Directorate for European Union, and MARRI Regional Centre via diplomatic channels.   

Skopje – MARRI Participants’ delegations composed of Committee members, Coordinators and/or delegated representatives as well as MARRI Participants’ Representatives to the Regional Centre attended the regular mid-term Committee meeting under the Presidency-in-Office by North Macedonia to take stock and reflect on the ongoing activities and Initiative’s priorities for 2023. Following the opening remarks by the Chairperson Dzenk Sejfula in which he summarized the current state of affairs in context of regional cooperation, MARRI RC Director Sashko Kocev briefed about Centre’s

Tirana – The 7th PaCT Steering Group Meeting (SGM) provided an opportunity for the MARRI Anti-trafficking Coordinators, PaCT project partners and experts to discuss the project’s most recent activities, challenges and results as well as to exchange information on the latest developments about trafficking in humans in the region. The event was opened by MARRI RC Director Sashko Kocev and the Coordinator for Trafficking in Human Beings of Albania Silvana Banushi, followed by the welcoming remarks by PaCT Project Leader

“The possible solution to the irregular migration could be harnessing the potential of migrants arriving in the Western Balkans”. This is what Sashko Kocev, Director of the Migration, Asylum, Refugees Regional Initiative (MARRI) Regional Centre said at the Ministerial Conference “Sustainable Migration Governance in the Western Balkans” organized by IOM, and co-hosted by the Ministry of Interior of North Macedonia and the Czech Ministry of the Interior, under the auspices of the Czech Presidency of the Council of the European

The MARRI Permanent Working Group on Migration Statistics (PWG MS) held its third session to review the group’s work progress, to update on the current state of play on data exchange related to the WB-MIDEX platform, and to define the framework and timeline of the activities for 2022/2023. Jordan Simonov, MARRI RC Migration Data and Policy Analyst presented the Quarterly Report of activities with focus on the development and operationalization of WB-MIDEX 2.0.  As explained, the new version of the

Skopje – The MARRI Presidency-in-Office by North Macedonia organized the Extraordinary Committee Meeting as a follow up on the Committee’s conclusions from 28 June 2022 which called for a continued dialogue on several strategic matters relevant for the further development of the Initiative. Specifically, the meeting focused on the remaining open issues of the MARRI Legal Framework Reform, and the election of the new Regional Centre Director. In a spirit of regional cooperation and constructiveness, the Committee assessed the prospects

Online – MARRI Committee Members, Coordinators, Participants Representatives and MARRI RC staff attended the MARRI Regional Committee Meeting organised under the Presidency-in-Office by North Macedonia, to discuss the past engagements and way forward in obtaining sustainable development and fortified regional cooperation within MARRI. Following the presentation of the MARRI RC Annual Report for period June 2021-June 2022, Financial Report for 2021 and a number of initiatives undertaken by MARRI RC Director Sashko Kocev, the Committee expressed appreciation for the work

Skopje – Under the slogan Whoever, Wherever, Whenever – Everyone has the right to seek safety, MARRI Regional Centre together with representatives of many institutions, organisations, asylum seekers and refugees in Skopje marked the World Refugee Day 2022 with a bicycle tour in the City Park in Skopje and along the Vardar river. Led by the UNHCR, the United Nations Refugee Agency, the participants rode bicycles to send the message that we all share the responsibility to protect people seeking