SKOPJE DECLARATION ON ASYLUM, MIGRATION AND NGO COOPERATION
PREAMBLE
We, the participants of the Regional NGO Round Table on Asylum and Migration Issues –
regional trends and NGO good practice (Skopje, 16 – 17 December 2013) , representatives of
NGO’s from Western Balkan, as well as EU countries, active in the field of asylum and
migration,
Taking into account the cross-border nature, challenges and complexity of the increased mixed
movements throughout the Balkan borders, including persons in need of international
protection,
Encouraged by the commitment by the Western Balkan Governments for Regional Approach
to Refugee Protection and International Migration, supported by UNHCR and IOM, and
welcoming UNHCR and IOM suggestions for areas where more coordinated and joint action
at both national and regional levels can contribute to resolving the region’s particular
challenges,
Recognizing the MARRI initiative for promoting closer regional cooperation and a
comprehensive, integrated, and coherent approach to the issues of migration, asylum,
border management, visa policies and consular cooperation, refugee return and settlement
in order to meet International and European standards,
Taking note of the Recommendations/Conclusions of the Report on UNHCR’s Annual
Conclusions with Non-Governmental Organizations (Geneva, 11 – 13 June 2013),
Underlying the importance of the Information Sharing Protocol “Zagreb Protocol” as a tool
for intensifying cross-border cooperation between NGO partners,
Recognizing ECRE’s Strategy for work on advocacy and support of capacity building activities
and the Strategic Plan 2014-2016,
Stressing the importance of building an effective asylum system as one of the challenges for
closing the chapters 23 and 24 of the Copenhagen criteria for the EU candidate countries,
Welcoming the support from NGO’s from the EU member states and the EU institutions on
capacity building and sharing of good practices,
Calling on the importance of the ECtHR judgments related to the cases of Asylum seekers
and protection of human rights,
The signatories solemnly agree:
To develop structural mechanisms for improving the NGO cross border communication and
cooperation that would ensure coordination of the ongoing regional initiatives,
To work on exchange of good practices, methodology and experiences, in order to develop
practical cooperation on issues of common concern in the area of international migration
and refugee protection,
To exchange information, and other relevant reports and publications by creating an
information platform which will be accessible to all interested parties,
To encourage NGO’s to sign the Information Sharing Protocol “Zagreb Protocol” as a tool for
strengthening cross-border cooperation between NGO partners,
To support UNHCR and IOM suggestions for comprehensive regional approach in Western
Balkan in regard to Refugee Protection and International migration,
To cooperate with ECRE in advocacy, lobbying and exchange of information,
To support the Government officials in their efforts to address mixed migration in a more
predictable, efficient and protection-sensitive manner,
To closely cooperate with entry officials on improving the protection-sensitive entry
systems,
To develop border monitoring mechanisms in partnership with the relevant governmental
institutions,
To contribute to the reduction of the use and duration of detention for asylum seeker and
migrants, and to urge authorities on improvement of the detention conditions when
needed,
To encourage Government officials to develop standard operating procedures that are in
line with international standards and adequate reception conditions during the RSD
procedure.
To promote successful court decisions as an important advocacy tool for strategic litigation,
To work on identifying and providing assistance to persons with specific needs/vulnerable
groups such as victims of trafficking, unaccompanied minors and separated children or
women at risk,
To encourage Government officials to set minimum standards of reception conditions for
asylum seeker guaranteeing a dignified standard of living,
To work on prevention of any forms of xenophobia,
To develop an action plan for future activities, and
To initiate and conduct joint meetings in order to coordinate and develop mechanisms for
implementation of the action plan.
Signatory NGOs
1. Albanian Helsinki Committee – Albania
2. APC (Asylum protection center) - Serbia
3. BCHR (Belgrade center for human rights) - Serbia
4. Bulgarian Helsinki Committee - Bulgaria
5. CLC (Croatian Law center) - Croatia
6. CRP/K - Kosovo
7. Dutch Council for Refugees- The Netherlands
8. European Council on Refugees and Exiles- ECRE
9. FLD (Fondacija Lokalne Demokratije) - Bosnia and Herzegovina
10. Grupa 484 - Serbia
11. Helsinki Citizen Assembly - Turkey
12. Macedonian Young Lawyers Association - Macedonia
13. Montenegro Legal center - Montenegro
14. PIC - Slovenia
15. PRAXIS - Serbia
16. RMSA (Refugee and Migrant services Albania) – Albania
17. Vasa Prava - Bosnia and Herzegovina
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