EU Commissioners to attend the EU-Western Balkans Ministerial Forum on Justice and Home Affairs, 26-27 October 2023

Brussels, 25 October 2023

Tomorrow, Commissioner for Home Affairs Ylva Johansson will participate in the EU-Western Balkans Ministerial Forum on Justice and Home Affairs in Skopje, Republic of North Macedonia. The Commissioner and ministers/representatives from the Western Balkans will discuss progress made on the implementation of the 2018 Joint Action Plan on Counter-Terrorism for the Western Balkans and future actions. The ministers will also discuss countering the impact of drugs on society, managing migration and asylum, the fight against migrant smuggling, and trafficking in human beings.

Following the meeting, Commissioner Johansson will give a press conference alongside the Spanish Minister of Interior, Fernando Grande-Marlaska, and the Minister of Interior of North Macedonia, Oliver Spasovski, at +/-5:30 CEST.

On Friday, Commissioner for Justice Didier Reynders will participate in the meeting of Justice Ministers from the EU and Western Balkans. The first part of the session will focus on the rule of law and judicial reforms, where the ministers will exchange on ways to strengthen public trust in the judiciary.

The second part will be devoted to discussing Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, as well as the ongoing efforts to improve coordination in the investigation and prosecution of Russia’s crimes. Commissioner Reynders will also update the Ministers on the implementation of the restrictive measures against Russia, including the work of the Freeze and Seize Task Force.

Following the meeting, Commissioner Reynders will give a press conference alongside the Spanish Minister of Justice, Pilar Llop Cuenca, at +/- 12:00 CEST.

In the margins of the meeting of Justice Ministers from the EU and Western Balkans, Didier Reynders will also have bilateral meetings with Justice Minister of North Macedonia Krenar Lloga and Deputy PM for EU Affairs of North Macedonia Bojan Marichikj.