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Events

2012, March

15
Mar
00:03

9th DCAF Annual Ministerial Review Conference on Border Security in Southeast Europe

Skopje, Macedonia

The 9th Annual Ministerial Review Conference was hosted by the Ministry of Interior of the Republic of Macedonia and focused on the achievements and impacts of the DCAF Border Security Programme in the ten years of its operation as well as on the future Programme development. Ministers and deputy ministers of the Interior/Security, accompanied by the border police chiefs from the beneficiary countries Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia, Montenegro, and Serbia, as well as EU Member States, Croatia and Moldova, together with representatives of the Danish Presidency of the Council of the EU and the European Commission, Frontex, Europol, EUPM and UNHCR and DCAF participated in the conference. H.E. Amb. Dr. Theodor H. Winkler, Director of DCAF, expressed his high expectations regarding the future development of the Programme, upon entering the new phase of Programme development following the transfer from DCAF Geneva to DCAF Ljubljana, a permanent regional office of DCAF in Slovenia, earlier in 2012. The ministers and other high representatives stressed the importance of cooperation among the individual countries in the field of border security in the Southeast European, as well as the contribution of the Programme to the overall progress and future European perspective of the region as a whole.




2012, April

23
Apr
00:04

Heads of Cabinets at the Ministries of Interior/Security and Border Police Chiefs Confirm the new strategic Regional Action Plan for the Period 2012–2015

Muta, Slovenia

The meeting at the level of heads of cabinets at regional ministries of interior/security and border police chiefs was convened in Muta, Slovenia, from 23–25 April 2013, attended by the DCAF beneficiary countries, Croatia, Slovenia and Frontex. They discussed the restructuring of the DCAF Border Security Programme after being transferred from DCAF Geneva to DCAF Ljubljana in the 10th year of its operation, with the aim to make it more result oriented and strictly adhering to the regional ownership principle. The participants finalised and endorsed the Regional Action Plan of the DCAF Border Security Programme for the period 2012–2015, which grants a more active role to the level of border police chiefs in the strategic monitoring, planning and evaluation of the Programme implementation.




2012, June

05
Jun
00:06

DCAF Working Group on Education and Training

Ljubljana, Slovenia

From 5–6 June 2012, the heads of institutions responsible for (border) police education and training in Albania, BiH, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Slovenia were convened in Ljubljana. The meeting, chaired by Ms Nevenka Tomović, DCAF Leading Expert in Education and Training, saw a fruitful discussion on further opportunities in the regional cooperation in the area of education and training. It was agreed to proceed with the signing of a joint declaration to establish a network of police academies in order to bring their cooperation to a higher level, enabling further region-wide activities and common achievements.




2012, August

13
Aug
00:08

DCAF Annual Train-the-Trainers Summer Training Course in Andermatt

Andermatt, Switzerland

From 13–19 August 2012, DCAF Ljubljana held the first restructured summer course in Andermatt, a week-long course taking place in the mountenous village of Andermatt in Switzerland. The course is devoted to the „train-the-trainers“ concept and the merging of knowledge and skills between the police&border police education and training experts from Southeast Europe, EU Member States, Switzerland and other partners, such as EU agencies Frontex and Cepol, the AEPC and other partner organisations. A new restructured concept under the DCAF Programme led to the start of a new annual tradition in 2012 when approximately 40 participants were hosted by the Swiss Army in the 2nd week of August.

It is an intensive course organised and prepared by DCAF. It merges the knowledge and experience on learning methods and tools among the participants from the Southeast European region, the EU Member States and Switzerland, mostly representatives of police education institutions, police or border guard instructors and members of the academia, all contributing to a common pan-European police culture. In addition to intensive courses, awareness is raised on modern team-building methods, which find their strongest realisation in the group climbing exercise to the famous Via Ferrata mountain. This is facilitated by the Swiss Military Mountaineering Centre (MMSC), who shows us enormous hospitality and contributes to the strong community spirit for the duration of our stay in their military community.




2012, September

05
Sep
00:09

DCAF Kick-Off Meeting in the Area of the Fight against Illegal Migration

Ljubljana, Slovenia

From 5th to 7th September 2012, a Kick-Off Meeting in the Area of the Fight against Illegal Migration took place in Ljubljana, Slovenia, under the auspices of the DCAF Border Security Programme. Representatives of the border police forces and other relevant authorities responsible for illegal migration, incl. readmission and return, both from the Western Balkan region as well as EU Member States most affected by the overall problematic, together with representatives of EU JHA agencies (namely Albania,Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina,Croatia, Denmark, Europol, Germany, Hungary, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Slovenia, Sweden and DCAF) identified the state-of-play and agreed on further steps to be taken within the Programme, based on what they identified as the main elements of a common regional approach required in order to successfully mitigate the issue of irregular migration flows in the Western Balkan region. Tools to improve region-wide operational cooperation were discussed, while the Programme will facilitate regional operational measures (common and coordinated operations, return operations) in the following years.

The fight against illegal migration is one of the main components of the restructured DCAF Border Security Programme, and is also of high priority for the Southeast European region, including the current importance of measures undertaken to reduce the negative consequences of the Visa Liberalisation for the Western Balkans.




24
Sep
00:09

Regional and DCAF Experts Discuss the Establishment of an Early Warning System and Risk Analysis in the Western Balkan region

Ohrid, Macedonia

The 1st DCAF Workshop on the Establishment of an Early Warning System and Risk Analysis took place in September 2012 in Ohrid, Macedonia, aimed to facilitate the implementation of the European intelligence-led policing concept in the Western Balkans in areas falling under the responsibility of the border police forces. Regional experts recognised the need for the establishment of a web-based application for data and information management, enabling the establishment of regional Early Warning System and Risk Analysis. The system is to complement the existing regional systems for statistical data collection, such as the WBRAN (Western Balkan Risk Analysis Network), in order to facilitate the work of regional border management authorities. The database with all functionalities is to be further developed by IT experts, facilitated by DCAF. The meeting was chaired by Mr Andrej Rupnik, DCAF Senior Advisor, and was attended by experts in the area of statistical and risk analysis from Albania, BiH, Croatia, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Slovenia and DCAF Ljubljana.




26
Sep
13:09

DCAF Meeting on Facilitating Common and Coordinated Measures in the Western Balkan Region

Ohrid, Macedonia

A DCAF Meeting on Facilitating Common and Coordinated Measures in the Western Balkan Region brought together regional practitioners and police experts who proceeded with the planning of the Common and Coordinated Measures in 2012, utilising the useful experience and advice on part of Slovenia, Croatian and DCAF experts. The planning of first region-wide operational measures under the Programme proceeds based on the conclusions of the Kick-Off Meeting in the Area of Illegal Migration (5–7 September 2012, Ljubljana, Slovenia). Through 2012/2013, a first common operation more general in nature is to be conducted and later followed by more targeted ones targeting specific security threats occurring at the regional borders. The participants, police and border police experts, guided by DCAF and Slovenian experts, discussed the preparation and objectives of the “first common operation at border crossing points in the Western Balkan region” to take place from 11th to 18th November 2012.




2012, October

23
Oct
00:10

DCAF Schengen Integration Task Force–Expert-Level Meeting

Ohrid, Macedonia

A DCAF Schengen Task Force Meeting at Expert Level took place 23–26 October 2012 at Ohrid, Macedonia. The expert-level Task Force is composed of experts from Croatia, Slovenia and EU Member States and agencies, and aims to familiarise the beneficiary countries with the current EU legislation, its relevant changes and new developments. After it had been agreed that an evaluation of the countries’ actual preparedness for the fulfilment of Schengen conditions will be conducted via on-line self-evaluation system, the development of this web application had been concluded, pending a testing phase to commence in early 2013. Aided by DCAF and the knowledge and experience transferred by Slovenian and Croatian experts, the Western Balkan countries continue to work on national Integrated Border Management strategies and Schengen-related action plans. The structure of national strategies and action plans was determined, observing the individual needs and statues of respective countries in the overarching process of fulfilling the conditions under Accession Chapter 24 (“Justice, Liberty and Security”). Recommendations for future work priorities within the Task Force were agreed.




2012, November

11
Nov
00:11

The First Common Operation in the Western Balkan Region facilitated by DCAF yields significant results

Western Balkan region

For the first time in history, the border police authorities of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Slovenia joined forces and conducted a common operation in border inspections at seven regional border crossings, facilitated by the DCAF Border Security Programme. The first Common Operation in the Western Balkan Region took place between 11th and 18th November 2012, and was the first one ever to take place in the Western Balkans, utilising the Police Cooperation Convention for Southeast Europe (PCC SEE) as the legal basis. 5 states hosted foreign uniformed and armed police officers at their Border Crossing Points and 7 states sent their experts abroad. The common endeavour represents an excellent example of transferring EU/Schengen standards to the region. At the same time, it demonstrated the preparedness of the Western Balkan countries to cooperate and share the responsibility for their own security. Operational measures, facilitated under the auspices of the Programme, aim at threats to regional border integrity, i.e. those of organized and cross-border crime and illegal migration, which have for a long time had no regard for borders and have affected not only the region itself but the entire European security area. 




19
Nov
00:11

DCAF Schengen Task Force at Strategic Level Meets in Brussels

Brussels, Belgium

The first meeting of the Strategic-Level DCAF Schengen Integration Task Force was hosted by the Slovenian Permanent Representation to the EU in Brussels, Belgium, from 19 to 21 November 2012. It brought together the political (state secretaries), top police management (chiefs of border police) and top expert levels (heads of EU integration services) of the beneficiary countries (Albania, BiH, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia) and donor countries (Croatia, Slovenia), as well as high representatives of EU institutions and agencies (European Commission, Council, Europol, Frontex). The aim is to ensure an integrated and coordinated national approach, shared between the regional ministries and (border) police authorities, towards the fulfilment of obligations under the EU Accession Chapter 24 ("Justice, Liberty and Security"). The modalities in this area have recently seen important changes and new responsibilities have been given to aspiring Candidate Countries. Schengen integration process is a key element of fulfilling the obligations under Accession Chapter 24, and is also a crucial component of the Programme. The DCAF Task Force at expert level meets twice a year to offer assistance to regional (border) police authorities, utilising useful experience of Croatian and Slovenian EU/Schengen accession processes and offering a platform.

The meeting was chaired by Mr Ivan Bizjak, DCAF Leading Expert, Schengen Integration Task Force. Participants identified role and opportunities for the newly established high-level platform: (1) contributing to those areas of Schengen integration that are not strictly limited to the responsibilities of the border police services; (2) offering mutual support between the beneficiary countries regarding EU Accession Chapter 24; (3) providing strategic input for the ministerial discussions; (4) supporting the successful obtainment of EU funds as well as a rational use of those funds on regional level. Strong support for the Programme’s approach was received from of EU institutions (Commission – DH HOME and DG ELARG, Council General Secretariat), EU JHA agencies (Frontex, Europol), and UNDP Sarajevo.




27
Nov
00:11

Establishment of the Western Balkan Network of Police Academies under the Auspices of the DCAF Border Security Programme

Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina

The "Joint Declaration on Cooperation between the Institutions for Police Education and Training in the Western Balkans" was signed in Mostar (BiH) on 27th November 2012, formally establishing a network of police academies and other national institutions responsible for police education and training. Bringing the network to life will enable the regional actors in education and training to take over tasks within the Border Security Programme and to gain a more clearly defined common ownership over the activities and further initiatives. Considering the regional EU perspective and our mutual interest to enhance the effectiveness of the police forces, close cooperation and transferring knowledge on European cooperation instruments and mechanisms with the support of CEPOL, Frontex and Europol is an important element of the Network's mission.

DCAF has been mandated to provide support and facilitate the work of the newly established Network. A second meeting is to take place in late 2013.




2012, December

10
Dec
00:12

Meeting of Heads of Cabinets and Border Police Chiefs

Belgrade, Serbia

From 10–11 December 2012, the second meeting at the level of heads of cabinets at the ministries of interior/security and border police chiefs of countries participating in the DCAF Border Security Programme was held in Belgrade, Serbia, attended also by Croatia, Slovenia, European Police College (CEPOL) and DCAF. The meeting was co-chaired by Mr Nenad Banović, Head of Serbian Border Police Directorate, and Mr Vanja Vukić, head of cabinet at the Ministry of the Interior of the Republic of Serbia. DCAF leading experts presented the work in the three components of the restructured Programme, namely Education and Training, Schengen Integration Task Force, and Common and Coordinated Measures, receiving an input from the participating countries on the future implementation in accordance with the Regional Action Plan guiding our work in the period 2012–2015. A work programme for 2013 was finalised. A good part of discussion was devoted to the regional challenges in the area of irregular migration flows, providing the DCAF Ljubljana office with the mandate to facilitate regional cooperation in this area and raising awareness in cooperation within the European and international strategic framework.




11
Dec
00:12

DCAF Working Group on Legal Reform

Ljubljana, Slovenia

Ljubljana, Slovenia - The Meeting of the DCAF Working Group on Legal Reform, held 11–12 December 2012 in Ljubljana, Slovenia, brought together regional and EU legal experts and representatives of services responsible for illegal migration, incl. readmission and return. As mandated by the regional Chiefs of Border Police Services and in accordance with the need identified under other frameworks, the Working Group on Legal Reform devoted attention to ensuring an efficient regional approach toward the issue of irregular migration flows in the Southeast European region. Possibilities were discussed to introduce the measure of Common Return on a regional scale, where Frontex and Slovenia provided useful experience and good practices. Options were discussed how to initiate a regional project for the facilitation of common Return Flights, which would very much contribute to an efficient regional return. A legal solution (regional memorandum of understanding) was identified to enable regional operational measures in this area. It is to be discussed and finalised by the Working Group on Legal Reform by the end of 2013.

Illegal migration remains one of the gravest challenges met by the regional border police services. Therefore, we will continue to conduct our work in the same direction, seeking the most appropriate legal solutions to address the issue of Readmission and Return – especially a regional memorandum of understanding to establish a region-wide mechanism to enable common return flights to the (extra-regional) countries of origin.  The DCAF Working Group on Legal Reform will continue to monitor the EU legislative framework, and ensure the harmonisation of national legislations of the beneficiary countries with the EU acquis and standards.




21
Dec
00:12

A DCAF-facilitated Coordinated Operation at Border Crossings in the Western Balkan Region

Western Balkan region

A coordinated operation at border crossing points in the Western Balkan was facilitated by DCAF from 21st to 24th December 2012, and was conducted as synchronized action of regional border authorities at altogether 29 Border Crossing Points in the territory of the Western Balkan region, aiming specifically at detecting stolen vehicles. The operation and its results represent a significant contribution to the building of knowledge and capabilities of regional border management authorities in the implementation of this cross-border police cooperation measure. Together with EU/Schengen Member States, such as Slovenia, DCAF-facilitated cross-border operational measures aim to combat all forms of cross-border crime and illegal migration as one of the most pertinent threats not only to regional security but also the security of the entire European area. The legal basis for this common measure is provided by the bilateral police cooperation agreements and the Police Cooperation Convention for Southeast Europe (PCC SEE), a convention providing for cross-border operational police cooperation in the Southeast European region based on Schengen tools and standards, and whose membership has recently been expanded to 11 countries from the Western Balkan region (6) and the European Union (5).