ICMPD Director General Michael Spindelegger met with North Macedonia’s Minister of Interior Pance Toskovski and Minister of European Affairs Orhan Murtezani to discuss regional migration developments, strengthening border management, EU integration support, and the evolving European migration outlook impacted by the developments, including the Middle East.
The high-level meetings in Skopje on 14-15 July 2025 also included Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Zoran Dimitrovski, and Deputy Head of Mission of the EU Delegation to North Macedonia Ben Nupnau. Also present were ICMPD’s Special Representative for the Western Balkans Melita Gruevska Graham, Skopje Head of Office Elena Petreska, and Senior Protocol Officer Slavka Zborovianova.
Mr Spindelegger commended the country’s improved border management efforts in the wider European context. Current efforts include deployment of mobile teams, improved surveillance systems, and enhanced cooperation with migration partners. ICMPD has committed to support the country with technical expertise and capacity-development for police training, through tailored mechanisms such as its Member States Programme, Migration Partnership Facility, and the Migration Capacity Partnership Med (MCP Med) Training Institute.
At his meetings with Minister Murtezani and Minister Dimitrovski, Mr Spindelegger reaffirmed ICMPD’s support for North Macedonia’s EU integration process, in advancing Chapters 23 (Judiciary and Fundamental Rights) and 24 (Justice, Freedom and Security). At his meeting at the EU Delegation in Skopje, the discussion centred on the country’s reform progress, capacity-development needs, and available EU support. ICMPD’s technical expertise, field presence, and being a pillar-assessed organisation, were praised as key assets to strengthen future cooperation.
Regarding the ongoing situation in the Middle East, Mr Spindelegger shared insights from his recent trilateral meetings in Sofia in June, between ICMPD Member States Bulgaria, Greece, and Türkiye. Minister Toskovski emphasised that while North Macedonia is unlikely to become a destination country for displaced populations, his country will continue to be a transit point in the event of increased cross-border movement.
The ICMPD delegation also met with Ms Angela Boranieva, the Director-elect of the MARRI Regional Centre, who will formally assume duties on 1 August 2025; and Ms Simona Krstevska, its incumbent Director. They discussed strategic planning and MARRI’s preparations for their strategy development process.
The high-level visit concluded with joint commitments to deepen cooperation and follow-through with further technical-level meetings, and reinforcing ICMPD’s ongoing engagement with the North Macedonia government and actors to support its migration governance efforts.
ICMPD Director General Michael Spindelegger, ICMPD's Special Representative for the Western Balkans Melita Gruevska Graham, and ICMPD Skopje Head of Office Elena Petreska meeting with Minister of European Affairs Orhan Murtezani