Skopje, 18 June 2025 (MIA) – Interior Minister Panche Toshkovski is taking part Tuesday and Wednesday in Zagreb in a Ministerial Conference of the Salzburg Forum, a Central European government platform for a multilateral dialogue and cooperation on issues involving internal security. Macedonia is part of the group of friends of this platform, said the Interior Ministry.

Addressing the session “Cross-border cooperation in tackling illegal migration and organized crime”, Toshkovski said improved control of illegal migrant routes, reinforced capacity to fight against cross border crime and increased capacities of the Macedonian border operations to be closer to the EU standards have been recorded as part of a joint cooperation through the Frontex mission. 

“Using the assistance of the European Union, we have strengthened border infrastructure, improved our asylum systems and received support in operations against smuggling and the prevention of human trafficking. We are contributing to regional stability by establishing improved border security. We contributed to reducing irregular migration. The intensity of illegal border crossing attempts has decreased since the beginning of 2025. In the period from January 1 to June 12, 2025, a total of 1,956 attempts were prevented, which compared to the same period in 2024 represents a thirty percent decrease,” Minister Toshkovski said.

Facilitating swift data sharing, continuing exchange of intelligence data to assist efficient investigations into international criminal groups, joint trainings and development of electronic devices and research methodologies, including open-source intelligence are some of the areas pointed by Toshkovski where cooperation could be improved.

At the forum, Minister Toshkovski said he wished Macedonia would in the future host a future event, being a friend of the forum, as a way to reaffirm the country’s commitment to joint cooperation and a future of the Western Balkans as part of Europe that is safer, stronger and more united. 

Toshkovski also met with Criatian Interior Minister Davor Bozinovic.

“The meeting focused on ways to deal with illegal migration and activities related to the fight against organized and transnational crime. Border reorganization and police deployment to secure the border was discussed. The ministers expressed concern about the events in the Middle East and the possibility of creating a new migrant crisis. It was concluded that it is necessary to start preparations now in terms of material, technical and human resources in order to successfully deal with such a new possible migrant wave,” said the press release.

At the forum, the ministers also reviewed the cooperation between the Training Center of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Police Academy of Croatia, the possibilities for exchange of experiences, and curricula for the secondary police school that will be closest to the Croatian model.

Photo: Interior Ministry