TASK FORCE STATUS: From 2000 as 2 separate initiatives,

until 2004 when merged into one single initiative - still active

The Stability Pact aims to support the management of population movement (asylum, legal and illegal migration, displacement) in South Eastern Europe. In particular irregular population movements and unresolved displacement issues remain among the critical factors creating instability within South Eastern Europe. The Stability Pact priorities are in line with the EU integration process for the region and focus on:

• Asylum: The Stability Pact supports developing and harmonizing legislation, status determination procedures, and reception of asylum seekers to meet European and international standards. To reach these goals regional cooperation is key in particular regarding capacity building, training and information exchange.
  
• Migration in and from South Eastern Europe is becoming more complex and multi-directional, with increasing interaction between the different dimensions - humanitarian, economic, social and labour. The Stability Pact supports the development of regional partnership arrangements to better manage the different aspects of migration in the region, while promoting harmonization with EU standards.
  
• Border Management: Integrated Border Management plays a vital role in combating irregular migration, trafficking in human beings, trafficking in drugs and arms and smuggling of merchandise. For more information please see Ohrid Process on Border Management and Security (http://www.stabilitypact.org/specials/030522-ohrid/index.asp)
  
• Free Movement of Persons: Following the Thessaloniki Agenda, the Stability Pact aims to achieve full visa freedom for citizens for travel between the Western Balkan countries. Furthermore the Stability Pact promotes, in line with EU requirements, the reduction of travel restrictions within SEE.
  
• Return/Settlement of Refugees and Displaced Persons: The Stability Pact promotes durable solutions for refugees and displacement issues in the Western Balkan countries. Supporting those who choose to return remains the primary objective through the promotion of conditions enabling sustainable returns to take place. These efforts are complemented with support for those who do not choose to return and seek to integrate elsewhere in the Western Balkans, with a particular focus on non-discriminatory access to basic services and the realization of social and human rights, supported by data exchange.

The Migration, Asylum, Refugees Regional Initiative (MARRI)

The Migration, Asylum, Refugees Regional Initiative (MARRI) is  the result of a merger between the former Regional Return Initiative (RRI) and the Migration and Asylum Initiative (MAI). 

Since July 2004 the initiative is under regional ownership as part of the South-East European Cooperation Process. The MARRI Initiative is governed by its participating states, Albania, Bosnia Herzegovina, Croatia, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia, who meet twice a year at the MARRI Regional Forum.

The MARRI Regional Centre in Skopje was opened in September 2004 to serve as a Secretariat to the MARRI Regional Forum and to implement MARRI program activities. It consists of  staff members from each of the MARRI Member States, and is headed by Mrs Alenka Prvinsek. Since May 2006, it  was granted the legal status of an international organisation  by the government of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia . Bosnia and Herzegovina currently holds the Presidency of the Regional Forum, until the MARRI Ministerial Regional Forum to be held in Sarajevo in April 200 7.

Documents

• NEWS:
  

  The European Commission, represented by Vice President Franco Frattini and the Ministers of Interior of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia and Montenegro signed on 13 April, in Zagreb, an agreement on visa facilitation and readmission agreements. The aim of the agreements is to make it easier for citizens of the Western Balkan countries, in particular those who travel most, to acquire visas for the EU. The initialled drafts of the Visa Facilitation agreements ensure to maintain the visa handling fee of 35€ instead of 60 € for all Western Balkan citizens and a total exemption from the visa fee for certain categories of applicants. The EC will work now towards finalising the procedures to lead to ratification. All agreements should be concluded and enter into force before the end of 2007.

  [Link to the news report of the EC]
  
  
• The Migration, Asylum, Refugee Regional Initiative (MARRI) Regional Centre organised the first meeting of the Regional Working Group on Document Security and Establishment of Identity, on 5-6 February, in Skopje (More information). This meeting was a follow-up to the Workshop organised in November 2006, where it was decided to create a Regional Working Group on Document Security and Establishment of Identity, composed of relevant experts from national institutions [Read more on the November Workshop]
  
  

• MARRI Action Plan for 2007

• MARRI Regional Centre Report, Regional Table/Working Table III, Bucharest, November 2006

• MARRI Regional Forum
  • April 2007:   Sarajevo Declaration
  • April 2006: Belgrade Declaration
  • April 2006:  Minutes  &  Declaration
  • April 2004: Herceg Novi:Joint Statement, Ministerial SEECP Meeting/Regional Forum of MARRI

please Contact:

Regional Cooperation Council