Tirana, Albania - April 18, 2024 – Tirana hosted the second Regional Steering Committee meeting of Phase III of the EU Regional Support to Protection-Sensitive Migration Management Systems in the Western Balkans, aimed to reinforce partnerships for the successful implementation of the Program.  

The meeting brought together high-ranking representatives of institutions in charge of borders management, asylum and reception from all Western Balkans partners, the European Commission’s Directorate-General for EU Neighbourhood and Enlargement and implementing partners. 

Participants discussed and endorsed the Workplan with activities on statistics and mechanisms for identification, registration and referral of mixed migration movements; international protection; returns and alternatives to detention; contingency planning and crisis response. 

Countries remained committed to contributing to better cooperation towards effective and protection-sensitive migration management in the region and further alignment of regional asylum, reception systems and practices with EU acquis.