Regional workshop in Belgrade explores strengthening cross-border co-operation to address irregular migration-related crimes

Strengthening co-operation between criminal justice actors and other relevant stakeholders in addressing crimes related to irregular migration in the Western Balkans was the focus of a regional workshop in Belgrade on 4-5 November 2015, organized by the OSCE and its partners.

The regional workshop, organized with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), focused on the areas of prevention, prosecution, cross-border co-operation and assistance to victims, migrants and refugees.

“As a regional platform, the OSCE can strengthen the dialogue among countries of origin, transit and destination, including the OSCE Partners for Co-operation, particularly the Mediterranean Partners,” said Ambassador Dejan Šahović, representative of Serbia’s 2015 OSCE Chairmanship. “We initiated in Vienna the discussion on the adoption of the Ministerial Council document on migration. We believe that it is very important that we, participating States, respond to the current developments, offering a more coherent and strategic approach of our Organization.”

Participants noted that the movement of thousands of people at once, crossing borders to reach Europe safely and to escape conflict zones, creates an amenable climate for cross-border crimes such as migrant smuggling and trafficking in human beings.

Ljubomir Nikolić, Assistant Minister at Serbia’s Interior Ministry, said: “The workshop shall undoubtedly contribute to strengthening regional cross-border co-operation and improving our joint capacities for curbing irregular migration and related criminal acts, with the help and in partnership with the experts and expert bodies of the IOM, UNODC and OSCE.”

The workshop was an opportunity for policy-makers and law enforcement officials from relevant bodies in the Western Balkans as well as international and regional organizations to share their views on the recurring challenges they face. They also explored good practices in addressing irregular migration-related crimes and protecting victims of trafficking in human beings, and the rights of migrants and refugees.

“The OSCE has a clear mandate on addressing irregular migration-related crimes in the Western Balkans and we co-operate with our partners IOM and UNODC on this issue,” said Guy Vinet, Head of the Strategic Police Matters Unit at the OSCE’s Transnational Threats Department.