13-14 December, Tirana – The second inaugural meeting of the Regional Group of Readmission Specialists from Western Balkans happened in Tirana.

In two days, authorities presented priority areas for harmonized, effective and rights-based return, readmission and reintegration from the Western Balkans and discussed the existing collaboration, achievements, challenges and plans for strengthening cooperation with the EU and Countries of Origin through the RGRS, more specifically: 

•  Advancing regional collaboration
• Harmonized capacity building of return and readmission stakeholders in the WB
• Cooperation with Countries of Origin
• Collaboration with EU Member States. 

The two-day meeting was divided into four working groups, moderated by authorities of Albania, Bosnia and Hercegovina, Kosovo*, and Montenegro. 

Working Group 1. Ongoing initiatives on capacity building in the Western Balkans on return and readmission (FRONTEX, JCP, and IOM) I Stakeholder needs and priorities I Harmonization of capacities in the region.

Working Group 2. Overview of Statistics of Return and Readmission in the Western Balkans by Partners; Regional Initiatives to Strengthen Collaboration – challenges, gaps and Future Priorities; Digitalization as a Means to Enhance Coordination in the Region. 

Working Group 3. Overview of existing collaboration, achievements, challenges, and plans; Strengthening collaboration through RGRS; Stakeholder needs and priorities - EU practices of interest and support; Digitalization of procedures to improve return cooperation.

Working Group 4. Overview of priority countries of origin, ongoing cooperation and challenges; Joint approach on cooperation on migration governance with countries of origin; Digitalization of procedures to improve return cooperation; Cooperation for sustainable reintegration support.

This event was organized within the scope of the regional projects „Western Balkans Readmission Capacity Building Facility” (WBCAP) and “Western Balkans Integrated Border Management Capacity Building Facility” (WBIBM) funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark.