ICMPD Western Balkans

05/10/2026

🤝 Strengthening border management through regional cooperation.

🔸As part of the project, funded by the European Union and implemented by , representatives of the Border Police of Bosnia and Herzegovina visited their counterparts in the Republic of Albania last week to exchange experiences on mobile border surveillance equipment.

The visit provided an excellent opportunity for the delegation to see such equipment in action, visit several operational locations, and exchange practical insights on tactical requirements, operational use and technical capabilities of the systems used by the Albanian Border and Migration Police.

The experience and lessons learned will directly support BiH's ongoing efforts to further develop its own mobile surveillance capabilities under the EU4BM project, helping ensure that the Border Police has the tools and resources needed to manage the country's borders effectively and responsibly.

A sincere thank you to our Albanian counterparts for their generous hospitality and for sharing their experience. Special thanks also go to ICMPD's sister project, EU4SAFEALB, for their invaluable support in making the visit possible.🔸

05/10/2026

🔸 The EU Member States Consortium, led by the Netherlands and ICMPD, proudly launched the implementation phase of the Joint Action Strengthening Return Management Systems in the Western Balkans, with a Regional Workshop on Institutional Framework and Inter-/Intra-Agency Cooperation in Return Systems, held on 1–2 October in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina 🇧🇦.

Under the EU-funded EU Support to the Western Balkans Return Mechanisms (EU4WBRM) project the workshop brought together representatives of the Western Balkans partners, EU Member State experts from the Netherlands, Austria, Czechia, Germany, Romania and Slovenia, as well as implementing partners, to exchange experiences and discuss institutional frameworks and cooperation mechanisms in return systems.

Discussions focused on existing institutional arrangements and cooperation models across the Western Balkans, key challenges in inter- and intra-agency cooperation, and possible solutions and country-level priorities for further assistance. Importantly, the Western Balkans partners shared their specific challenges and needs, which will help shape concrete project actions and tailored country-level support under the Joint Action.

The workshop provided an important platform for regional exchange, learning and continued cooperation towards more effective, coordinated and rights-based return management systems across the Western Balkans.

We are grateful to all Western Balkans partners, the European Commission, EU Member State experts, and our partners IOM Western Balkans, Frontex, the European Border and Coast Guard Agency and the Joint Coordination Platform (JCP) for their valuable contributions and continued cooperation.🔸

02/10/2026

🔸Concluding this round of FairPath consultations in , yesterday ICMPD met with representatives of the Delegation of the European Union to Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Employment Service of Republika Srpska in Pale.

The discussions provided an opportunity to present the FairPath approach and exchange views on labour migration priorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina, with particular attention to the importance of a regional approach, stronger coordination among relevant actors, and building on existing initiatives and results.

These meetings concluded a series of consultations aimed at identifying concrete areas where FairPath can complement ongoing efforts and contribute to stronger labour migration governance in Bosnia and Herzegovina and across the Western Balkans.🔸

01/10/2026

30/09/2026

🔸Continuing the FairPath consultations in , ICMPD met today with representatives of the Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Policy, the IOM Western Balkans, /EU4FAST, and the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Bosnia and Herzegovina 🇧🇦.

The discussions provided an opportunity to exchange on current priorities and ongoing initiatives in labour and legal migration, identify opportunities for cooperation and complementarity, and explore where FairPath can add value to existing efforts.

These consultations continue to help shape concrete areas for cooperation and strengthen labour migration governance in Bosnia and Herzegovina and across the Western Balkans.🔸

30/09/2026

🔸Representatives of Bosnia and Herzegovina's security institutions attended the 10th eSecurity Conference in Belgrade, strengthening their knowledge and practical skills in cybersecurity, cyber threat detection and digital forensics.

As part of the project, representatives of the Ministarstvo unutrаšnjih poslova Republike Srpske (MUP RS) and the Ministarstvo sigurnosti Bosne i Hercegovine took part in sessions covering emerging cyber threats, AI in cybersecurity, incident response and digital forensics, as well as practical tools and techniques for threat detection.

The participation contributes to strengthening institutional capacities to better prevent, detect and respond to cybercrime and cyber-enabled organised crime.🔸

29/09/2026

🔸Following yesterday’s introductory discussions, ICMPD continued its FairPath meetings in Bosnia and Herzegovina today in .

ICMPD’s Special Representative for the Western Balkans was joined by the FairPath Project Manager, who also serves as Head of the ICMPD’s Belgrade Field Office, and the Head of the ICMPD’s Sarajevo Field Office for meetings with representatives of the Ministarstvo sigurnosti Bosne i Hercegovine and the Service for Foreigners’ Affairs, the UK Embassy in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the Labour and Employment Agency of BiH🇧🇦.

Discussions focused on current priorities in labour and legal migration governance, opportunities for cooperation, and how FairPath can build on existing initiatives while strengthening institutional and regional exchange. 🔶

28/09/2026

🔸Today in Banja Luka, ICMPD representatives met with the Ministry of European Integration and International Cooperation of Republika Srpska to introduce the new regional project FairPath – Regional Cooperation for Fair Work and Safe Legal Pathways and discuss cooperation during its implementation.

Supported by the Government of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, FairPath builds on the work of the PSIMM project and aims to strengthen labour migration governance, institutional cooperation and protection of migrant workers across the Western Balkans.🔸

18/09/2026

🔸The 3rd Project Steering Committee Meeting of the EU4SafeAlbania (Phase II) project brought together the Ministry of Interior Ministria e Punëve të Brendshme, Border and Migration Police Policia e Shtetit, the European Union in Albania and to review progress and strengthen cooperation on border and migration management in Albania 🇦🇱.

The meeting focused on achievements during January-June 2026, the implementation plan for the second half of the year, and key priorities including the National Coordination Centre for Integrated Border Management and the Digital Asset Management System.🔸

10/09/2026

🔸Strengthening Serbia’s AVRR system through stronger inter-institutional cooperation

and the Serbian Commissariat for Refugees and Migration Комесаријат за избеглице и миграције Републике Србије brought together relevant national and international stakeholders for a Round Table on Enhancing Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration (AVRR) Institutional Cooperation, with a focus on reintegration and cooperation with countries of origin.

The discussion brought practical experience, comparative approaches and concrete perspectives on how to strengthen reintegration referral mechanisms, institutional roles and cooperation with actors in countries of origin.

This Round Table is part of ICMPD’s continued support to the Commissariat in developing a sustainable, state-led AVRR system aligned with 🇪🇺European standards and effective reintegration practices, while contributing to the identification of priorities, key actions and next steps for further strengthening Serbia’s AVRR framework.🔸