MARRI at a glance

WHAT IS MARRI?

MARRI is the “Migration, Asylum, Refugees Regional Initiative” - built on a merger between the former “Migration and Asylum Initiative” (MAI) and the “Regional Return Initiative” (RRI). MARRI aims at a better management of population movements in the Western Balkans by promoting integration at three levels:One, MARRI develops closer regional cooperation, which is particularly important when addressing dynamic, cross-border movements of people. Two, MARRI promotes a comprehensive, integrated and coherent approach to the related issues of asylum, migration, border management, visa policies and refugee return and settlement - the common denominator being people on the move. Three, a comprehensive approach, to be effective, requires that interlocutors dealing with various issues, and representing interests of foreign policy, security policy, economic and development policy as well as justice and home affairs are all involved in the
management of population movements.

The MARRI Programme of Action (PoA) has been developed in support of and complementarity to the Stabilisation and Association Process (SAP). Indeed, the EU Summit in Thessaloniki in June 2003 expressed its full support for MARRI. The MARRI PoA was endorsed, in principle, at a meeting of the MARRI Steering Committee in Vienna on 8 July 2003. Based on comments received by the Steering Committee, the PoA was distributed end of July 2003.

MARRI seeks to balance the interests of state and human security. On state security, the PoA is supporting States to develop and strengthen their legislative basis, capacities, information exchange and resources with a view to a better management of asylum, migration and visa policies and being in control of their borders. On human security, MARRI seeks to empower and protect the citizens of the Western Balkans by promoting a wider freedom of movement and non-discriminatory access to economic and social rights in pursuit of housing, jobs and education.

WHAT IS THE MARRI PROGRAMME OF ACTION?

The PoA (a document of 45 pages) represents a strategic and operational framework for better-coordinated action in the areas of migration, asylum, border management, visa and refugee return and settlement. It suggests a sense of direction and priorities and it seeks to take into account and build on action already underway nationally, among other things under the National Action Plans developed by States in cooperation with MARRI bilaterally, notably under the CARDS programme, as well as multilaterally. The PoA will be the basis for the elaboration of concrete projects in areas identified by the Western Balkan states, donors, the EC and international organizations as priorities and worthy of support.

WHAT ARE THE NEXT STEPS?

As agreed by the Steering Committee in July 2003, the MARRI Secretariat is compiling a number of rough project outlines for presentation to the next Steering Committee focusing on Implementation in November 2003. The projects are in the areas of a proposal for a forum for regional dialogue on migration/asylum/refugees, capacity building and training with a regional and integrated focus, information exchange and better access to documentation, targeted cooperation among source, transit and destination countries to reduce irregular migration, data exchange,
housing and closure of collective centers related to refugee return and settlement. A major strategic and operational change of direction in the area of refugees is under discussion with states in the Western Balkans and with other members of the Steering Committee. A discussion paper will also be shared with the Steering Committee for discussion at its meeting on 26 November.. The new focus will be on issues such as freedom of movement, citizenship and non-discriminatory access to rights. Relevant projects are being developed in support of this qualitative change aimed at reaching lasting solutions to the problems of displacement in the Western Balkans.

In the course of the month of September, the Programme of Action was discussed with relevant sectors of the European Commission in order to ensure complementarity with the CARDS program. In addition, a meeting between MARRI and senior civil servants from the five Western Balkan countries was held in Elsinore, Denmark on 25 September to discuss the project outlines and in particular the proposal to establish a regional Forum on the MARRI themes on information
exchange and to discuss and seek to resolve issues of common and regional concern.

These discussions were followed by a letter from the Chair of MARRI to the relevant ministers in the region seeking their formal endorsement of the proposal to establish the regional Forum. Talks with relevant international organizations were held early October to seek their comments and support for some of the more specific activities being planned including the change of refugee focus and the proposal for the establishment of a regional Forum.. The concrete initiatives being prepared will be presented for implementation and financing at the above-mentioned Steering Committee meeting.

Parallel to the development of projects under MARRI, a number of initiatives aimed at maintaining and further anchoring political support for MARRI are underway.The Nordic consultative group of Justice and Home Affairs ministers met with their counterparts from the Western Balkans and with MARRI in Elsinore, Denmark on 24 September to discuss improved cooperation and ways and means to support the Sap countries in their efforts towards European integration . The MARRI Chair met with the Italian EU Presidency to discuss MARRIs role and contribution to the
implementation of the Thessaloniki AgendaMARRI has also discussed with the Chair of the SEECP to devote part of a forthcoming ministerial meeting to the implementation of MARRI.

Meanwhile, progress is being achieved in implementing the National Action Plans for Croatia and Macedonia and in developing National Action Plans for Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia and Monetengro.. Netherlands agreed to support the development of the Plan for Albania and a joint Dutch/MARRI delegation visited Tirana. A meeting of the Country Team/MARRI, the EC and the authorities was held in Sarajevo to consider a first draft of the NAP. A follow up meeting will be held in Sarajevo in November. Finally ,discussions continued with the authorities of Serbia and Montenegro and members of the Country team to identify and deal with the obstacles still in the way of completing the National Action Plans.

HOW IS MARRI MANAGED?

The MARRI Steering Committee, composed of Western Balkan States, other SP member states, EC, OSCE, UNHCR, IOM, ICMPD and NGOs, meets 2-3 times a year, under the Chairmanship of Soren Jessen-Petersen, to provide strategic guidance and support for MARRI. The MARRI Secretariat, based in Vienna, and the Liaison Office in Brussels, provide support in the development of concrete initiatives based on the Programme of Action and by keeping member states informed about developments in the subject areas of MARRI. To ensure ownership of the MARRI process, it is intended to move the administrative and substantive management of MARRI to the Western Balkan region in the second half of 2004.