Spasovski meets Dutch Deputy Director-General of International Migration Management
Skopje, 29 September 2022 (MIA) – As part of a working visit to the Hague, the Kingdom of the Netherlands, a delegation of the Ministry of Interior led by Minister Oliver Spasovski met on Thursday with Deputy Director-General of International Migration Management at the Ministry of Justice and Security, Eeuwke Faber.
Minister Spasovski stressed that efficient management of borders, migration and the prevention of illegal migration along the Western Balkan Route remains one of MoI’s main priorities.
“Border management is largely aligned with European standards in the area of border security, and the Ministry of Interior is one of the main pillars of the national system for Integrated Border Management made up of several state institutions, which is developed in accordance with the European concept,” Spasovski told the meeting with Faber, as cited in the MoI’s press release.
According to Spasovski, the security situation at the state’s borders is stable and without significant changes compared to the past period.
Spasovski stressed that particular attention is paid to early detection and prevention of attempts at illegal border crossing, migrant smuggling, suppression of criminal groups that carry out smuggling, identification of potential victims of human trafficking and vulnerable categories of persons among migrants.
He pointed to trends in the January-July period, i.e. that the registered numbers in the area of illegal migration, migrant smuggling and asylum applications have increased compared to the same period last year, but he noted that they don’t have a significant impact in relation to the national migration management system.
“In this sense, our main priorities include deepening and maintaining international cooperation with the countries in the region, with the countries of transit and origin, with EU agencies, first of all Frontex, Europol, EASO, the United Nations - IOM, UNHCR, as well as relevant international organizations – OSCE, ICMPD, DCAF,” Minister Spasovski said.
Talks also tackled global current developments which, according to Spasovski, further stimulate the need for maintaining solid international cooperation with the countries in the region, which is why the Republic of North Macedonia is actively involved and supports all international initiatives aimed at strengthening cooperation and security in the region, including the security of the entire European continent.
