Athens, 24 April 2026 (MIA) - The security reality in the region and beyond has changed significantly, with organized crime, drug trafficking and terrorism increasingly converging and functioning as a single, hybrid threat, Minister of Interior Panche Toshkovski told Friday’s Aqaba Process ministerial meeting in Athens, focused on countering organized crime and terrorism in the Balkans. 

Toshkovski addressed the first session on identifying threats and examining the convergence of organized crime, drug trafficking and terrorism, as well as the challenges they bring, the Ministry of Interior said in a press release. 

“Today, we can no longer treat crime and terrorism as separate phenomena. They are part of the same mechanism that relies on common channels, finances and logistics and requires a coordinated, joint response from all of us,” the Interior Minister pointed out. 

He noted that such threats are transnational and directly affect the security of states, highlighting that it is necessary to strengthen regional and international cooperation, information exchange, and coordination between security and intelligence services.

In addition, the Minister mentioned specific challenges facing the region, including abuse of transport corridors, informal economic flows, corruption, as well as new technologies enabling criminal and extremist networks to operate more easily.

The Ministry adds that as part of the visit, Toshkovski met with Greece’s Minister of Citizen Protection, Michalis Chrisochoidis, reaffirming excellent bilateral relations and readiness to further promote them. 

Talks focused on key issues of common interest, with emphasis placed on strengthening cooperation in the fight against organized crime, drug trafficking and illegal migration, as well as promoting information exchange and operational coordination.

The Ministers also tackled joint solutions to overcome challenges arising from the implementation of the new EU Entry/Exit System (EES), with particular emphasis on reducing border waiting times ahead of the tourist season.

Participants in the meeting discussed progress in terms of procedures on aligning the bilateral agreement on cooperation in the fight against crime, as well as the readmission protocol, aimed at upgrading procedures for the return of persons residing illegally. Interlocutors exchanged views on the current illegal migration situation, highlighting the need for a coordinated and comprehensive approach in dealing with this challenge at the regional level.

“The two ministers reaffirmed joint commitment to deepening cooperation and strengthening security in the region through concrete, coordinated and sustainable activities, aimed at ensuring greater security for the citizens of the two countries and beyond. At the invitation of Minister Toshkovski, Minister Chrisochoidis will be visiting the country to promote cooperation, primarily in the fight against organized crime and jointly finding solutions to the challenges we face,” reads the press release. 

Photo: MoI