Skopje, 27 October 2023 (MIA) - The EU-Western Balkans Ministerial Forum on Justice and Home Affairs resumes Friday in Skopje, with the forum's second session focused on the rule of law and judiciary reforms, as well as progress in the joint activities related to the Russian military aggression against Ukraine. 

The session will be followed by a press conference of European Commissioner for Justice Didier Reynders, Justice Minister Krenar Lloga and Spanish counterpart María Pilar Llop Cuenca.  

Opening the forum on Thursday, Minister of Interior Oliver Spasovski welcomed European Commissioner for Home Affairs, Ylva Johansson; Spanish Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska; the interior ministers of the Western Balkan countries, and other high representatives of the EU, Europol, Frontex, to what he called an “exceptionally significant ministerial meeting, which is further proof of the unbreakable bond of the region with the European family.”

“It is my special honor that North Macedonia is opening its doors once again as the host of the EU-Western Balkans Ministerial Forum on Justice and Home Affairs, during a time in which the world, like never before in recent history, is facing such significant geopolitical, and even civilizational challenges, which urgently call for appropriate and global answers. Because, simply no one is circumvented by the consequences of the current challenges that could emerge in the coming years,” said Spasovski.

The EU-Western Balkans Ministerial Forum on Justice and Home Affairs, taking place October 26-27 at the Parliament in Skopje, within the Spanish EU Presidency, brings together ministers of justice and home affairs from the Western Balkans and EU member-states of the current and the next two EU Presidencies (Spain, Belgium and Hungary), European Commissioners for Justice and Home Affairs, representatives of Europol, Frontex and Eurojust, as well as senior officials of international organizations in the field. 

The forum's first session held on Thursday was dedicated to home affairs, with a focus on internal security and strengthened management of migration, asylum and external borders. 

Photo: Ministry of Interior