Budva (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Hungary hosted the EU-Western Balkans Ministerial Forum, focusing on cooperation against organized crime, migration, and digital justice developments.
The Ministers of Home Affairs and Justice of Hungary, as representatives of the Presidency of the Council of the European Union, together with the EU Commission, represented by the EU Commissioners for Home Affairs and Justice, had a meeting on 28-29 October 2024 in Budva, Montenegro, with their counterparts from the Western Balkans at the annual EU-Western Balkans Ministerial Forum on Justice and Home Affairs.
The session was also accompanied by representatives of the European External Action Service, EU agencies, and the incoming Polish and Danish presidencies of the Council of the EU, with the spokespeople of the South Eastern and Eastern Europe Clearinghouse for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (SEESAC) and of the Council of Europe partaking as guests. The gathering reaffirmed the strong regional dedication and close cooperation on Justice and Home Affairs.
How does the forum aim to tackle organised crime and human trafficking?
In the subject of the Fight against transnational organised crime and illicit trafficking, representatives and delegates agreed to continue boosting cooperation to counter regional and transnational criminal organised networks engaged in illicit trafficking, including migrant smuggling and trafficking in human beings, drugs, and gun trafficking.
How will the forum enhance border management strategies?
The European Union and Western Balkan partners recognised the progress made on the performance of the EU Action Plan on the Western Balkans presented by the Commission in December 2022. The European Union and the Western Balkans restated their joint commitment to address irregular migration, intending to support the protection of borders and to fight migrant smuggling, in line with the Global Alliance to Counter Migrant Smuggling.
What steps are being taken to strengthen judicial collaboration?
The European Union and the Western Balkans also examined recent developments concerning the digitalisation of justice and maintained an exchange of ideas on the opportunities and the main challenges of the potential of utilising interoperable solutions and new digital technologies, including artificial intelligence.
Regarding cross-border judicial collaboration in criminal issues, the EU and Western Balkans reiterated their dedication to supporting judicial cooperation in criminal matters, with a priority on enhancing investigations and prosecutions to gain conviction in cases with cross-border elements, in particular regarding the fight against organised crime.
