Building of the administration, operational capacity of border services, the cooperation and capacities of the countries for undertaking thorough activities for preventing crime, as well as joint, coordinated measures for combating organized crime by enhancing various forms of trans-border cooperation, as part of the border police tasks, in support of an effective fight against illegal migration and cross-border crime are some of the conclusions of the 9th Annual Ministerial Conference on Cooperation in the field of Border Security in South Eastern Europe (SEE).

The two-day conference in Skopje advocated further setting up of joint centers for facilitating the exchange of information and data, as well as coordination of the activities related to education, training, programmes with the European Agency for the Management of Operational Cooperation at the External Borders (FRONTEX) and Europol.

The conference's attendants agreed Friday at a press conference that substantial progress had been made for the last ten years in the region, especially in the sphere of combating the illegal migration.

"This is rather significant segment of the security affairs, as the concept for having secure and safe borders, based on the border management standards, is one of the vital prerequisites not only for safe borders, but also for the security of citizens in general. By meeting the EU standards in this sphere we are coming closer to the desired goal - fill-fledged EU membership," Macedonia's Minister of Interior Gordana Jankuloska said.

Theodor H. Winkler, Director of DCAF (Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces), hailed the region's tangible progress, saying that it is coming closer to the EU. Progress has been also made in terms of the visa liberalization, he added.

Montenegrin MoI Ivan Brajovic considers that SEE countries will still have to deal with numerous challenges. These gatherings, he said, present an excellent opportunity for further building of mutual trust and joint fight against all forms of crime.  

Serbian MoI Ivica Dacic underlined the need of further cooperation for borders to be opened for citizens, goods and capital, but impassable for crime and terrorism.