Belgrade, 13 November 2023 (MIA) – Within the frameworks of his participation in the Meeting of Police Cooperation Convention for Southeast Europe (PCC SEE) Committee of Ministers in Belgrade, Interior Minister Oliver Spasovski held a meeting Monday with his Serbian counterpart, Bratislav Gašić, during which they spoke about enhancing bilateral cooperation and joint action against illegal migration, MIA’s Belgrade correspondent reports.

“From the aspect of our cooperation on a multilateral level, I am happy to conclude that our commitment to regional cooperation is evident, which can be seen in our joint action and activities in all regional initiatives and processes. In this aspect, I would also mention the Special Measure, i.e., the Joint Operation, which has been functional almost since the very beginning of the migrant crisis, and concluded with the deployment of members of the European Border and Coast Guard Agency, as part of which Serbian police officers worked together with Macedonian police officers,” said Minister Spasovski, informing his counterpart about the situation regarding managing migration and migrant smuggling.

Spasovski said illegal migration was one of the topics at the meeting, underlining that “it is a general issue for all countries in the region”.

“North Macedonia has achieved exceptional results in the prevention of illegal migration, considering the fact that in the first nine months we have a reduction of 50 percent compared to the same period last year, even though the number of uncovered cases of migrant smuggling has increased as well. So, North Macedonia isn’t attractive at the moment, but we have to work intensively. We are satisfied with Frontex, with the operationalization of the mission and with the joint border protection mission,” said Minister Spasovski.

The Interior Minister assessed that boosting and enhancing the country’s operational cooperation with the Republic of Serbia is a priority.

At the 24th meeting of PCC SEE Committee of Ministers in Belgrade, Spasovski assessed that the successful implementation of the Agreement on Automated Exchange of Data is proof of North Macedonia's commitment to fit into the security system of the European Union

Photo: MoI