Secretariat - Conflict Prevention Centre

OSCE Border Security and Management Concept (BSMC)

With the adoption of the BSMC at the 2005 Ministerial Council in Ljubljana, the participating States agreed on a political framework for their co-operation on border-related issues. The Concept provides objectives and principles for this co-operation and direction for OSCE activities in this area.

Within this framework, the Operations Service in the Conflict Prevention Centre, co-ordinating with other relevant Units in the OSCE Secretariat, will facilitate the implementation of the BSMC by supporting participating States and OSCE Field Operations as requested.

Security Committee

Based on the BSMC, activities will be further elaborated within the framework of the Security Committee, where issues relevant to border security and management are being discussed. At the request of the Chairman of the Committee, the Operations Service is providing support in this process.

Ohrid border process

The Ohrid Process for Border Security and Management is a joint effort by South-Eastern European countries, the EU, the OSCE, NATO and Stability Pact. It began in May 2003 at the Ohrid Border Conference with the adoption of the Common Platform and the Way Forward Document. The Operations Service is involved in monitoring the status of the Ohrid Border Process and in discussions on its future.

South Eastern Europe Cross-border Co-operation Programme (OSCCP)

The 2003 Ohrid Way Forward Document is an action plan providing objectives and deadlines for reforming the legislation and management of border-related issues at the national level, as well as developing cross-border co-operation at the regional level. As a follow-up to this document, the Operations Service developed a programme to address the most urgent needs of the South-Eastern European countries in this area.  

The Programme consisted of 11 regional seminars that covered issues such as inter-agency co-operation, cross-border crime and illegal migration, technical equipment requirements and the surveillance of blue borders (borders along water). Completed in 2005, the Service is currently assessing the Programme.

Lessons learned and best practices

In an effort to facilitate the exchange of lessons learned and best practices in modern border security and management, the Operations Service is organizing a series of related workshops and conferences. Meetings are planned for South-Eastern Europe and the OSCE region as a whole.

CARDS programme

The Operations Service also supports a project under the Community Assistance for Reconstruction, Development and Stabilization (CARDS) Programme. The two-year (2005 and 2006) project "Support to and Co-ordination of Integrated Border Management Strategies in the Western Balkans" has a total budget of 2 million Euros. It is being implemented by France, Austria, the OSCE and the International Centre for Migration Policy Development.