Crisis management focus of 14th Annual Meeting of OSCE Border Security and Management National Focal Points Network

The current global health crisis and associated challenges for border agencies, as well as transnational threats triggered by the pandemic, were the focus of the two-day Annual Meeting of the OSCE Border Security and Management National Focal Points Network, which concluded on 28 October 2020.

The event, held in a blended online format, was organized by Albania’s 2020 OSCE Chair and the Border Security and Management Unit of the OSCE Transnational Threats Department. This year’s meeting brought together more than 100 border officials from across the OSCE area and the Mediterranean Partners for Co-operation.

Opening the meeting were Florian Pema, Head of the Politico-Military Unit of the Albanian Mission to the OSCE; Alena Kupchyna, Co-ordinator of OSCE Activities to Address Transnational Threats; and Dennis Cosgrove, Head of the Border Security and Management Unit of the OSCE Transnational Threats Department.

“The operational realities facing border agencies during the virus outbreak highlighted the need and importance of enhancing the capacities and competence of border agencies related to crisis management and contingency planning,” said Pema.

One session was devoted to presentations by international organizations that provided an overview of their responses to the health crisis. In addition, representatives of the United Nations Counter-Terrorism Centre, the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency, as well as CEDARthree Limited, a leading consulting agency on crisis management, explained to participants how to assess the level of preparedness for crises in their respective services, with a focus on cross-border implications. Available mechanisms and tools addressing cross-border crises were also discussed.

The National Focal Points on Border Security reflected on the impact of health crises on gender mainstreaming in border security and discussed how crises can increase existing gender inequality.

Representatives from the International Organization for Migration, FRONTEX, as well as the Ministry of Interior of Moldova, elaborated on possible ways for border personnel to cope with stress during crises and to benefit from meaningful psychological support, both within and outside border agencies.