Summary
Objective: The StAMM project contributes to the operationalization of partnerships and respective migration management strategies of Western Balkan countries by bringing together diverse stakeholders to strengthen bilateral and regional migration cooperation, to enhance operational and institutional capacities, capabilities, and skills of Western Balkan countries, to reinforce their preparedness and responsiveness to emerging scenarios and priorities at national and regional levels, and to support Western Balkan countries in areas of requests directed at fulfilling their regional and international obligations in the area of migration.
In 2018, the Balkan migration route shifted westwards as a result of the stricter border regimes in the EU and countries of the region. The number of migrants circulating along the Balkans route rose further, pressuring the migration management authorities to adequately respond to the migration flows. In March 2020, the Western Balkans migration authorities were faced with a new challenge, COVID-19.
Assessment of the migration situation and implications of COVID-19 on migration management in the Western Balkans
December 2020
A comparative report ‘Assessment of the migration situation and implications of COVID-19 on migration management in the Western Balkans covering the Western Balkans region has been produced within the framework of the project ‘Short-term Technical Assistance on Asylum, Migration, and Mobility – Western Balkans (StAMM WB)‘ and has been funded by the Czech Ministry of the Interior under the Aid in Place programme.
The goal of the report is to provide an overview of recent migration trends and policy developments as well as to propose measures for improving current policies and practices in the region related to irregular migration. The document also elaborates on the implications of the COVID-19 pandemic on the established migration management structures, operational practices, and recorded needs. The report explores the most significant elements related to the management of irregular migration in the Western Balkans and looks into legal and strategic frameworks, institutional as well as regional and international cooperation. Challenges migration authorities are facing are identified and recommendations on how to mitigate those are provided.
StAMM Negotiations Skills Training
13-15.03.2019
Success in negotiation is often not a matter of chance, but the result of good planning and specialized skills. To strengthen the NLP (negotiation, lobbying, presentation) competencies of the Western Balkans migration management authorities‘ representatives from the ministries of security and/or ministries of the interior of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, and Kosovo1 participating in inter-regional migration dialogues under the Prague Process (PP) and the Budapest Process (BP), ICMPD has held a Negotiations Skills Training in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, from 13-15 March 2019. Funded by the Swiss State Secretariat for Migration (SEM), the training offered strengthening skills on theoretical and practical elements necessary to identify an actual negotiation process and to manage the course of negotiations.
Training on management of cultural diversity in migration centres
25-26.06.2020
To improve the competencies and skills of the staff of the Ministry of Security of Bosnia and Herzegovina in managing the diverse migrant population more safely and efficiently and to mitigate the challenges stemming from the cultural diversity of the migrant population accommodated in reception centres, ICMPD provided an online StAMM Training on management of cultural diversity in migration centres to 15 Inspectors of the Service for Foreigners‘ Affairs (Ministry of Security) of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Concepts of diversity, management of diversity, the identification of socio-cultural factors that influence the behaviour of individuals and groups and the importance of these elements for observation were introduced and analysis as tools for conflict management presented. Participants received training on recognizing stages in conflict and determined the appropriate action to be taken, depending on the recognized stage of the conflict. Group exercises were applied to sensitize participants to prejudices and to reduce bias in working in intercultural settings.
To strengthen capacities, capabilities, and skills of the participants in working in migration centres in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the participants had a chance to increase their knowledge of some historical, political, social and cultural characteristics of Pakistan, Afghanistan, Algeria, and Morroco as main countries of origin of migrants present in the centres.
The training was funded by the Swiss State Secretariat for Migration (SEM).