OSCE supports bilateral co-operation on countering human trafficking between North Macedonia, Bulgaria and Greece

The OSCE Mission to Skopje supported a series of bilateral meetings that took place between North Macedonia and Bulgaria, most recently on 28 June 2019, to work out an agreement to set up more streamlined procedures and direct channels of communication to exchange information regarding trafficking cases.

The Mission is currently also supporting ongoing consultations in Ohrid between North Macedonia and Greece aimed at strengthening co-operation between the two countries in countering human trafficking.

“We have to foster stronger partnerships to ensure the rights of all victims, grounded in international law, as well as to bring traffickers and criminal groups to justice,” said Head of the OSCE Mission to Skopje Clemens Koja. “Building bridges of closer co-operation is a stepping stone and a firm pledge towards our common goal. The Mission continues to promote regional co-operation, in an effort to identify and protect victims of trafficking in human beings and punish traffickers.”

Magdalena Nestorovska, National Co-ordinator for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings and Illegal Migration and leader of the North Macedonia’s negotiation team, said: “The fight against human trafficking, as a form of organized crime, is high on the Government’s political agenda. Regional and cross-border co-operation is crucial in these efforts. North Macedonia has signed bilateral co-operation protocols with some four Western Balkan countries. I am very happy that we are opening a new chapter with our neighbours, Bulgaria and Greece. Their experiences as EU member states will be valuable on our path towards EU integration. And all this could have not happened without our partners and friends at the OSCE.”