A three-day Regional Conference on Improving Border Security, organized by the OSCE Mission to the United Nations and the UNODC (United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime) was held in North Macedonia, from 15 to 17 March 2022. Directors and senior officials of the Customs and Border Authorities of the Western Balkans, as well as senior representatives of the customs and police services of the Hellenic Republic, were attending the Conference.
The conference aimed to address current and future challenges as well as share best practices for border security and management. Accordingly, the event helped key border security and management agencies in the region to identify effective joint responses to emerging and existing transnational threats posed by criminal networks.
Customs Director General Slavica Kutirov, referred to the professional cooperation and support with the OSCE Mission and the UNODC Office, through the active implementation of several projects, as well as the high level of cooperation between the Customs Administrations in the region, Police, and the Prosecutors’ Offices.
The IISG Head of Secretariat Mr. Agron Sojati, presented IISG’s mission, structure, and main achievements. The presentation focused on the first needs mapping exercise, in the Western Balkans conducted by the IISG Partners. During the presentation, Mr. Sojati explained the process of needs mapping and the findings of those needs. The presentation covered general information on all 3 pillars, but pillar 3 WBBSi was elaborated on in more detail. He emphasized the importance of needs mapping and explained how this mapping gets fully integrated with the process of analyzing the responses and mapping support. Thus, the contribution of all stakeholders it’s crucial.