Tirana, Albania, 22-23 May 2024 – The Fourth Meeting of the Eastern European Informal Working Group (EE IWG) on Passenger Data Exchange was jointly organized by the OSCE Presence in Albania and IOM Albania, in partnership with the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism under the framework of the Countering Terrorist Travel Programme.

The meeting kicked off with remarks from the Ministry of Interior of Albania and the Department of Criminal Police, OSCE, IOM and Home Office, United Kingdom. 

Represented by Donatella Bradic, Senior Program Coordinator for Western Balkans, during the opening remarks IOM highlighted that collectively the Passengers Information Units in the Western Balkans have come a long way but still a lot of work is ahead regarding legislation, PIU establishment, airline engagement, IT systems/infrastructure and data protection. 

Updates on the activities of the Eastern European Informal Working Group and thematic breakout sessions with practical cases from other EE IWG members were shared among important stakeholders. Pier Rossi-Longhi, Senior Regional Immigration and Border Governance, Specialist at the IOM Regional Office for Southeast Europe, Eastern Europe and Central Asia, presented the work in Western Balkans and wider IOM support to Advance Passenger Information and Passenger Name Records (API/PNR).

Through the Western Balkans Integrated Management Capacity Building Facility (WBIBM), funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark, IOM enhances border management among Western Balkans authorities supporting their effective rights-based response to border security challenges by facilitating the adoption and implementation of international standards related to passenger data (API/PNR).