State Secretary Denis Zobarič attends the Berlin Process meeting in Podgorica
SLOVENIA, September 16 - Meetings of the Berlin Process interior ministers have been taking place since 2018. The aim of these meetings is to strengthen cooperation between EU member states and Western Balkan countries and to support reforms and progress in the latter's path to EU integration.
Joint fight against organised crime and closer police cooperation
During the first session, which was entitled Strengthening Resilience against Organised Crime, the State Secretary emphasised that the Western Balkans are extremely vulnerable to the activities of transnational criminal organisations due to their strategic location. These organisations are becoming increasingly adaptable and interconnected.
With Slovenia identifying criminal groups from the Western Balkans as one of the greatest threats, State Secretary Zobarič emphasised the importance of quickly exchanging information and maintaining close operational links between police forces. "The fight against organised crime must be our shared priority. Timely information sharing, operational cooperation and a proactive approach by police forces are key to successfully combating criminal organisations, which are increasingly resorting to violence and endangering the lives of both the public and police officers," he warned.
He also emphasised the importance of cooperation through the EMPACT programme, the support of EU agencies – particularly Europol – and the role of public-private partnerships, such as the European Ports Alliance. He cited the enhanced cooperation between the Slovenian police and the Port of Koper in preventing organised crime as an example of good practice.
During the discussion, all participants emphasised the importance of Europol's role in helping member states combat organised crime. They also emphasised the importance of the timely exchange of information and of personal contact between investigators, as well as the necessity of confiscating the proceeds of crime.
Effective return of migrants and partnerships in border management
The second panel focused on Strengthening Capacities and Partnerships in the Area of Border Management and Combating Irregular Migration. The main topics were effective return and cooperation with the countries in the Western Balkans.
The State Secretary emphasised the significant potential of partners in the region, particularly with regard to their contacts in countries of origin and third countries, as well as existing return agreements. "Effective return is one of the fundamental aspects of a credible migration policy. Our Western Balkan partners have great potential in this area, which is why we must listen to their concrete proposals and strengthen our cooperation on return and readmission," he said.
An important mechanism in this regard is the Western Balkans Return Mechanism (WBRM). This mechanism strengthens cooperation between countries in the region on the return of persons to their countries of origin, contributes to the strengthening of institutional capacity and improves migrants’ access to information and assistance. Slovenia is also striving to enhance the role of the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex), particularly with regard to return and readmission, and the implementation of a coordinated visa policy.
All of these efforts are important parts of a comprehensive approach to managing migration flows and preventing the abuse of visa regimes.
The participants agreed that significant progress had been made in recent years in terms of border control and cross-border cooperation between countries in the region. Thanks to improved controls, the pressure of irregular border crossings has eased. However, migrant smuggling is on the rise and will require greater attention and a joint regional response in the future. Therefore, when addressing the issue of irregular migration flows in the Western Balkans, it is crucial that countries in the region and the Berlin Process partners continue to collaborate, broadening their focus to include countries of origin and transit outside the Western Balkans.
Joint commitments for a safer region
At the end of the meeting, the participants reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening regional and international cooperation in tackling organised crime and irregular migration. This commitment is based on the exchange of information, closer collaboration between law enforcement agencies, aligning visa policies with EU standards, and effectively managing borders while respecting fundamental human rights.
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