Skopje, 4 September 2023 (MIA) – The National Convention on the European Union in North Macedonia hosted Monday the 12th session of Working Group 4 – Justice, Liberty and Security (Chapter 24) on the topic “North Macedonia and the Western Balkans Through the Prism of the EU’s New Migration and Asylum Policy,” organized by European Movement.

At the event, Minister of Interior Oliver Spasovski said that migration can only be shaped and not stopped, adding that the topic is especially significant due to North Macedonia’s and the Western Balkans’ exposure to increased migration due to the geostrategic position of the Western Balkan route.

“Our country is systemically joining the process of finding a response as part of the European global approach for dealing with regular and irregular migrations. We remain committed to joint cooperation in the fight against illegal migration and human trafficking,” said Spasovski.

Spasovski said that with the goal of defining specific activities to strengthen cooperation in all segments of international migration, the partners from the Western Balkans have committed themselves to a unified, comprehensive approach, while the European Commission, he said, has presented a new Action Plan with the Western Balkans, boosting cooperation on migration and border management. 

The co-chair of the session, the state secretary at the Ministry of Interior, Magdalena Nestorovska, touched upon the idea proposed at a national level for a comprehensive analysis of the impact of the Pact on migration management in the Western Balkans, which would note all aspects of the implementation of the novelties introduced to the region by the Pact on Migration and Asylum, stressing that the countries of the region see the Pact as tool in order to eliminate certain weaknesses and improve the management of migrations.

The Spanish Ambassador to North Macedonia, José Luis Lozano García, said all efforts must be done in order ensure policies which deal with the situation in the long-term.

“It is important that we create preventative policies. We must ensure that the political, financial and technical effort is made possible,” said the Ambassador.

The event was also attended by the National Coordinator of the National Convention for the European Union, Mileva Gjurvoska; representatives of the Delegation of the European Union; Embassies; representatives from OSCE, ICMPD, MARRI, IOM and other domestic and international organizations; as well as foreign and domestic experts on the topic and representatives of state institutions.

Photo: MIA