The Second Regional Conference “Sarajevo Migration Dialogue” was opened today in the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The focus of the meeting, which brought together key persons in the field of migration, asylum, and border management from the region, the European Union (EU), and international organizations, are regional cooperation modalities and best practices in migration management.
At the same time, the meeting is also an opportunity to exchange opinions on strengthening the capacity for coordination of the competent institutions of the Western Balkan countries, on the return and readmission of migrants to their countries of origin, and on the fight against smuggling and human trafficking as an important segment of combating illegal migration.
Welcoming the participants of the conference, BiH Minister of Security Selmo Cikotić pointed out that the meeting in Sarajevo is, in fact, a continuation of a series of activities that BiH and its security structures have been undertaking in recent years, with the aim of effective migration management.
He underlined that through the aforementioned activities, the coordination of institutions at all levels of government is strengthened and that in the meantime, the monitoring of the state border, as well as the control of the movement and stay of migrants in the territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina, has been strengthened.
He assessed that the cooperation of security and other state structures at all levels of government in BiH has been raised to a higher level, including cooperation with countries in the region, as well as with EU countries.
– As a result of all this, we have the fact that compared to more than 10,000 migrants who stayed on a daily basis in BiH two years ago, in the past year we mostly had an average of about 2,000 migrants and we managed to close three temporary migrant reception centers. on the territory of the USK – said Cikotić at the press conference, summarizing the activities on the migration management plan.
The main challenge that BiH continues to face is the lack of political will at the level of state structures for a comprehensive response, and there is still a “chronic lack of financial resources, as well as a lack of an adequate number of people, material and technical resources and equipment”.
The Minister of Security of Bosnia and Herzegovina reminds that, despite all the difficulties, a strategy for migration and an action plan for the period 2021-2025 have been drawn up in the meantime, and that these documents are in the process of being adopted.
– The conference will provide a new platform for cooperation mechanisms of all participating countries from Turkey and Bulgaria to Austria and Switzerland – said Minister Cikotić, with the belief that the conference will result not only in the strengthening of existing cooperation mechanisms but also in the establishment of new ones.
The participants of the “Sarajevo Migration Dialogue” were welcomed by the Minister of Justice and Police of Switzerland, Karin Keller-Sutter, emphasizing that the Western Balkans is an integral part of Europe and a key region for migration between Asia and Europe.
She emphasized that she has the privilege to support the work of the Conference, reminding that it brings together participants who have a common interest in the plan of improving the solution of migration routes through the Western Balkans.
Keller-Sutter emphasized that Switzerland has good cooperation with the countries of the Western Balkan region and that this is especially important at this time when her country is witnessing an increasing number of migrants entering.
– Therefore, we need effective solutions and to work on this problem without delay. Therefore, the visa policy between the Schengen countries and the countries of the Western Balkans should be harmonized, and this again requires the joint effort of all countries, as well as at the EU level – said the Swiss Minister of Justice and Police.
She added that Switzerland, as a Schengen country, will do everything it can in this regard and that everyone needs better cooperation and capacity building, as key elements for solving the mentioned problem.
Keller-Sutter reminded that new solutions are also needed in the area of asylum and that Switzerland has concluded agreements with Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, and Kosovo in that area, as well as that the establishment of a migration partnership with North Macedonia will follow.
The three-day regional conference (September 19-21) is organized by the Ministry of Security of Bosnia and Herzegovina and supported by the Government of the Swiss Confederation and Hilfswerk International.
