Ministry of Security of BiH organized the promotion of the Strategy in the Area of Migration and Asylum and Action Plan for the period 2016-2020, today in Sarajevo. This strategic document defines the policy in the area of migration and asylum according to the highest international and European standards. As in other areas, Bosnia and Herzegovina wants to use the current positive trends in managing migration and asylum processes towards the European and Euro-Atlantic integration.

These documents are the result of joint efforts of all institutions in BiH dealing with issues of migration and asylum, and the support was also provided by Governments of Switzerland and Liechtenstein in the framework of Partnership in migration with BiH and through the project "Support to the Immigration and Asylum Management System".

Minister Dragan Mektić thanked the governments of these friendly countries, and the International Organization for Migration (IOM), for providing technical support to the project implementation.

“Everything we do in the area of migration and asylum, we are trying to align with EU standards and we have a clear ambition to be actively involved in defining and developing immigration and asylum system at the regional level”, said Mektic.

Director for Cooperation of the Embassy of Switzerland in Bosnia and Herzegovina Joseph Guntern stressed that the implementation of the strategy in the area of migration and asylum policy in practice means the establishment of high-quality capacities in the relevant institutions.

Professionals should be prepared for a modern management system, and to make available the technical capacity for speedy handling and exchange of information in accordance with international standards. Ministry of Security, with the support of IOM, magnified the effect in the field of migration management, and provides services tailored to the needs of migrants. Switzerland is very pleased with the results of this joint project, "said Guntern.

The Head of Mission of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Bosnia and Herzegovina Gianluca Rocco said that what the Ministry of Security achieved with this project in ensuring the development and implementation of the Strategy and Action Plan for Migration is one of the best examples in the region of the Western Balkans.

"Cooperation between the national institutions, the IOM and the Government of Switzerland and Liechtenstein have already created excellent results and will still provide support to BiH on its path towards EU integration," said Rocco.