Rome, Italy – A delegation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) is currently participating in a study visit to the Ministry of the Interior of the Republic of Italy, taking place from 18 - 21 February 2025. The visit provides an opportunity for BiH representatives to explore best practices in migrant registration, data management, and system interoperability, offering valuable insights into secure data exchange mechanisms and European Union (EU) standards in this field.

The delegation consisting of representatives from the Ministry of Security, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of BiH, the BiH Service for Foreigners' Affairs, and the BiH Border Police will engage with several departments and services within the Italian Ministry of the Interior - Department of Public Security in Rome. Key highlights of the visit include the visits to Central Directorate of Criminal Police (International Police Cooperation Service – Operational Center and Passenger Information Unit, EU New Architecture for the Interoperability Programme) the Forensic Police Service, the Central Directorate for Immigration and Border Police, and “front-line” units such as the Border Police Office at Leonardo da Vinci International Airport in Rome – Fiumicino.

“We are very grateful to the Government of Italy for their continued cooperation and support in strengthening migration management in line with EU standards and practices. I would also like to extend my thanks to the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the EU4FAST project for facilitating this visit,” said Mr. Ognjen Zekić, Assistant Minister for Migration at the Ministry of Security of BiH. He added: “This study visit represents a significant opportunity for Bosnia and Herzegovina to learn from Italy’s extensive experience, helping us enhance our capacities to combat irregular migration and human trafficking, particularly through improved migrant registration systems and interoperability.”

Mr. Žarko Laketa, Director of the BiH Service for Foreigners' Affairs, emphasized the importance of international collaboration, stating: “As an autonomous administrative body under the Ministry of Security of BiH, the Service for Foreigners' Affairs plays a crucial role in managing migration and regulating the residency status of foreign nationals. Strengthening cooperation, sharing experiences, and engaging in dialogue with EU countries are essential for developing joint solutions to the challenges posed by increasing migration flows.”

The study visit is organized by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) through a project funded by the Directorate General for Italians Abroad and Migration Policies of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, along with the EU4FAST project.