CEB support to BiH and North Macedonia to respond to migration management priorities

(Sarajevo, 29 June 2021)  The Council of Europe Development Bank (CEB) has committed to supporting Bosnia and Herzegovina and North Macedonia to respond to migration management priorities.

With the total funding of 900,000 EUR provided from the CEB’s Migrant and Refugee Fund, IOM will be able to support the ongoing multi-donor efforts to establish a new Temporary Reception Centre Lipa in Bihac, Una-Sana Canton, planned to accommodate a minimum of 1,500 migrants and asylum seekers; and to cover for food and non-food items (NFI).  In North Macedonia, the funding will contribute to the protection of vulnerable migrants and victims of trafficking in human beings in context of COVID-19. IOM will engage in technical cooperation activities by building capacities of relevant stakeholders to support victim-centred identification and referral mechanisms for victims of trafficking in human beings and provision of protection services to migrants.  

In response to the COVID-19 challenges, IOM through the Migrants and Refugee Fund (MRF), will improve access to prevention and response services for migrants, victims of trafficking in human beings and asylum seekers, particularly women, unaccompanied children, the elderly and persons with disabilities or with critical medical conditions. This will be achieved by reducing infection risks among the migrant and asylum-seeking population and supporting national authorities in the COVID-19 protection.

Rolf Wenzel, the Governor of the CEB, said: “The CEB would like to thank the IOM, and in particular to all staff working on the Balkan route, for joining the CEB’s and our donors’ efforts to assist our member countries in timely responding to the challenges posed by the refugee crisis. As we look ahead, in light of the fact that migration migration seems to be no longer an exceptional but a permanent phenomenon, our institutions commit to further enhancing the countries’ capacity and ownership of their response to migration flows so that human rights are upheld and the host communities’ social cohesion is strengthened.” 

“IOM has been supported by the Council of Europe Development Bank (CEB) through its Migrant and Refugee Fund (MRF) since the beginning of the arrival of migrants to the WB countries therefore supporting the countries to cope with the situation. We are thankful that CEB recognized IOM as the most proactive partner on field, strategically present to be ready when the need emerges to provide immediate support to the migrants in need. The newly allocated funds will help IOM continue providing capacity building to the authorities, improve access to information and advocacy for migrants’ inclusion into COVID-19 vaccine strategies but also provide support and raise awareness regarding issues of trafficking and smuggling of migrants.”, said Laura Lungarotti, Sub-Regional Coordinator for the Western Balkans and IOM Bosnia and Herzegovina Chief of Mission.

In October 2015, at the height of the refugee crisis, the CEB established a €28-million Migrant and Refugee Fund to support its member countries in accommodating and/ or integrating migrants and refugees who arrive on their territories. Twenty-two CEB member states have contributed to the MRF.  The CEB and the European Investment Bank (EIB) have also provided funding.

For more information, please contact:

IOM Public Information, Bosnia and Herzegovina:  eselimbegovic@iom.int

IOM Public Information, North Macedonia: VMirkovski@iom.int