OSCE Mission to Skopje supports authorities in developing platform to better handle migration challenges

SKOPJE, 13 March 2018 – The development of a platform for direct co-ordination and communication among law enforcement bodies and all engaged government agencies is key to better handling potential migration crisis situations, stated participants of an OSCE Mission to Skopje-supported roundtable discussion held today in Skopje.

The discussion brought together some 35 representatives from different state institutions, national agencies, international organizations, and NGOs, who put forth recommendations for a comprehensive National Contingency Plan on Migration.

“We remain committed to helping the country prepare for any potential migration crisis, assisting the national authorities in developing a contingency plan based on the best international practices and guidelines,” said Maria de Benito Rodrigues, Adviser on Migrants/Refugees Security at the OSCE Mission to Skopje. 

Magdalena Nestorovska, State Secretary at the Internal Affairs Ministry, said: “Migration flows over the years and the migration crises arising from such movements have shown that it is indeed difficult, almost impossible, to find a unified and standardized response to all migration flows, because every movement of people and every crisis that would eventually arise is specific and characterized by different elements and challenges inherent only to that particular crisis.”

“I am particularly pleased that the OSCE Mission to Skopje organized this roundtable meeting, where we could all discuss and develop a better and more comprehensive National Contingency Plan on Migration, based on the experience we have gained over the years.”

“Our successful handling of the migration crisis, which was confirmed by a number of international reports, would not have been possible without huge donor assistance,” said Elena Grozdanova, State Secretary at the Labor and Social Policy Ministry. “Certainly, for over a million people who transited through the country, we can conclude today that the protection and humanitarian support they were offered were at a satisfactory level.”

Today’s roundtable discussion is part of the Mission’s efforts to promote the use of a victim-centred and human rights-based approach to challenges posed by migration flows.