Western Balkans Border Police Forum addresses migration security

North Macedonia's Minister of Internal Affairs, Panče Toshkovski, addressed the Western Balkans Border Police Chiefs Forum held in Skopje on August 26-27. The forum, organized under the Berlin Process, included representatives from the Western Balkans, European Union member states, the United Kingdom, and the International Organization for Migration (IOM).

Toshkovski emphasized that migration is a critical modern challenge, noting that the Western Balkans serves as both a transit region and a vital partner in the collective European response to migration and security issues. He stated that pressures from irregular migration flows and the exploitation of vulnerable groups by criminal networks are global and European challenges rather than localized ones.

The Minister called for moving beyond declarations toward concrete cooperation mechanisms to build a shared European space of security and trust. He further noted that the Berlin Process serves as a credible path for Western Balkan countries to demonstrate their readiness and alignment with European standards, benefiting both the region and the EU.