Migration, Asylum, Refugees, Regional Initiative
| Type | Intergovernmental Initiative |
|---|---|
| Purpose | Enhance Regional Cooperation |
| Location |
|
Region | Western Balkan |
| Services | Capacity Building & Information Exchange |
Director | Sashko Kocev (2018 - present) |
| Website | http://marri-rc.org.mk/ |
Migration, Asylum, Refugees, Regional Initiative (MARRI) is a regional intergovernmental initiative of six participants: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo*, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia[1]. Its main mandate is migration management and includes issues of asylum, border management, trafficking in human beings, visa policy and consular cooperation and return/readmission of refugees and migrants. MARRI Regional Centre is based in Skopje, North Macedonia. Working language of MARRI is English.
History[edit]
MARRI was established in 2004 within the context of the Stability Pact through the South-East European Cooperation Process (SEECP), initially composed of Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia & Montenegro, Macedonia and Albania. After the dissolution of Serbia & Montenegro in 2006, Serbia became the legal successor of the union, while the newly independent Montenegro re-applied for membership in MARRI and joined the Initiative in October 2006[2]. In 2015 Croatia withdrew its membership with MARRI and few months later Kosovo*[3] became a full-fledged Participant of the Initiative.
Aims and functions[edit]
MARRI supports the governments of Western Balkan by promoting the regional cooperation[4] in the area of migration. Its focus is placed on harmonization of the legal frameworks of its Participants with the European Union legislation, capacity building and information exchange. MARRI cooperates with governments beyond Western Balkans, international organisations[5][6], civil society and academia in developing products in migration-related areas and provides platform for enhancing the regional dialog in the area of migration.
Legal documents[edit]
MARRI’s basic documents are MARRI Guidelines and Rules of Procedures and MARRI RC Statute. The legal status of the Regional Centre is regulated with a Host Agreement between MARRI and the Government of the Republic of North Macedonia as a Host of the Regional Centre.
Structure[edit]
Presidency-in-Office – Manages the Initiative on annual basis. It rotates among six MARRI Participants following the alphabetical order.
MARRI Regional Forum – The highest permanent body of MARRI that provides political and strategic framework for the Initiative and supports the activities of MARRI. The members of the Forum are the Ministers of Interior/Security of MARRI Participants. It has the mandate to amend MARRI basic documents, to approve or refuse participation in the Initiative, to appoint the MARRI Regional Centre Director and other strategic decisions.
MARRI Regional Committee – A permanent body that coordinates the activities and provides guidance for the Initiative. It provides recommendations for the decisions taken by the Forum. Members of the Committee are high representatives from the respective Ministries of Foreign Affairs of MARRI Participants.
MARRI Regional Centre – A permanent body and executive Secretariat of MARRI. It provides conceptual and administrative support to both the decision-making (Forum) and operational structures (Committee) of the Initiative. All MARRI Participants second one representative to the Regional Centre serving as a link between the Regional Centre and their respective authorities. MARRI Participant Representatives advocate the interests of the administrations and promote the exchange of information among Participants. The Center is managed by Director who is elected among the Participants for a three-year term.
Directors[edit]
- Thomas Birath (2004 - 2005)
- Alenka Prvinsek (2006 - 2007)
- Trpe Stojanovski (2007 - 2015)
- Tamara Mugosa (2015 - 2018)
- Sashko Kocev (2018 - present)
Partners[edit]
- International Organization for Migration (IOM)
- International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD)
- German International Cooperation (GIZ)
- South East Europe Police Chiefs Association (SEPCA)
- Regional Cooperation Council (RCC)
- European Agency for the Management of Operational Cooperation at the External Borders of the Members States of the EU (Frontex)[7]
- Regional Arms Control Verification and Implementation Assistance Centre (RACVIAC)
- Central European Initiative Executive Secretariat (CEI)[8]
- Police Cooperation Convention for Southeast Europe (PCC SEE)[9]
- European Association of Airport and Seaport Police (EAASP)
∗This designation is without prejudice to positions on the status and is in line with UNSCR 1244 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo Declaration of Independence
References[edit]
- ↑ http://www.mfa.gov.rs/en/foreign-policy/eu/regional-initiatives/marri
- ↑ http://www.mvp.gov.me/rubrike/multilateralni-odnosi/Regionalne-organizacije/Regionalna_inicijativa_za_migracijec_azil_i_izbjeg/
- ↑ "Kosovo becomes member of MARRI"Independent Balkan News Agency
- ↑ 2018 Commission Report on the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (2018/2145(INI)) http://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/A-8-2018-0341_EN.html
- ↑ "IOM-MARRI Regional Strategic Exchange for Western Balkans Focuses on Coordinated Migration Response"IOM news
- ↑ EASO mission to MARRI European Asylum Support Office
- ↑ https://frontex.europa.eu/assets/Key_Documents/Working_Arrangements/WA_with_MARRI.pdf
- ↑ "CEI and MARRI sign MoU in Skopje" CEI news
- ↑ "PCC SEE Secretariat signs a memorandum of understanding with the MARRI Regional Centre" PCC SEE news
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