Skopje, 25 April 2023 (MIA) – Minister of Interior Oliver Spasovski opened the World Border Security Congress, held in Skopje on April 25-27, by talking about the Ministry’s response to the challenges of migration and the importance of the country’s cooperation with Frontex.

 “As one of the pillars of the national system for integrated border management. The Ministry of Interior is continuously working on strengthening the human, material, technical, and systemic capacities of the border police. Other priorities include the development of cross-border police cooperation, harmonization with the EU Acquis and its practical implementation in daily border police operations,” said Minister Spasovski.

Talking about the importance of cooperating with Frontex, Minister Spasovski stressed that the country’s cooperation with the Agency is growing, and is significant for North Macedonia not only from the aspect of operational cooperation, but also in the process of boosting the national capacities and facilitating harmonization with the EU standards in the area of border activities.

The product of this cooperation, said the Minister, was the signing of the so-called Status Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of North Macedonia on operational activities carried out by the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex) in North Macedonia.

“The crowning achievement of our current cooperation is the beginning of the joint operation with Frontex on our territory, with which we formally became a part of the great family of countries carrying out joint operations with Frontex,” stressed Spasovski, adding that the Ministry of Interior has had a high degree of participation in joint initiatives and border security threat response activities in the past, but that this operation will lead to an even greater integration within the system of regional border security and greater efficiency in tackling challenges.

Highlighting the importance of further strengthening of national capacities as part of the EU accession process through the bilateral screening that began last Fall, Spasovski underlined that the country is progressing in all relevant areas as part of Chapter 24 – Justice, freedom, security.

Spasovski stressed that as a responsible institution, the Ministry of Interior will continue to boost its capacities for sustainable migration management.

“North Macedonia and the Ministry of Interior, with their proactive and open approach, remain an active and credible partner in numerous international and regional platforms, initiatives, and processes. In the area of migration, the Ministry’s main priority is maintaining and deepening cooperation with the countries of the region, transit countries and origin countries, as well as the EU and UN agencies, and other relevant international organizations. We have to invest in additional training for law-enforcement bodies and to continue to invest in areas that could significantly help us face the challenges in this area,” said Spasovski.

Photo: MOI