Skopje, 19 April 2023 (MIA) – Minister of Interior Oliver Spasovski welcomed the Frontex police officers that will be deployed at the country’s border with Greece, and marked the official beginning of the “North Macedonia 2023” joint operation with Frontex on Wednesday.

The joint operation is expected to last until January 24, 2024, with the possibility of extension, and aims to support the national border control forces in managing migration, including prevention, detection and tackling of cross-border crime, as well as in collecting and exchanging operational information and identifying possible risks and threats, bolstering operational cooperation and providing support for the operational capacities.

“We expect that the operation will contribute to a more efficient tackling of cross-border crime, as well as migrant smuggling, human trafficking and terrorism,” said the Ministry.

In 2023, Frontex is expected to deploy more than 100 officers, patrol vehicles and special equipment on the Macedonian-Greek border, significantly boosting the capacities for detecting illegal activities along the border.

As part of Interior Minister Spasovski’s visit, the First Operational Briefing of the Frontex members was held in cooperation with the Ministry’s Department for Border Affairs and Migration and the Regional Center for Border Affairs “Jug”, which officially marked the beginning of the joint operation.

Photo: Ministry of Interior