Second consecutive donor conference on the growing influx of refugees and migrants was held at the Secretariat for European Affairs in order to coordinate efforts and actions of all stakeholders in dealing with this challenge on a global level.

The participants were addressed by the Deputy Prime Minister for European Affairs at the Government of the Republic of Macedonia, PhD Fatmir Besimi, H.E. Mr. Aivo Orav, ambassador and chief of Delegation of the EU in the Republic of Macedonia, Ms. Suzana Saliu Director of the Crisis Management Centre, as well as representatives from the Ministry of interior and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The ambassadors of the EU Member States in the Republic of Macedonia, representatives of international organisations involved in the process, and representatives of the state institutions were guests and participants at the event.

In his address, Besimi referred to the specific activities undertaken in the coordination of handling the situation and coordination in terms of defining the needs to deal with the situation by the institutions.

During the conference the need of further international and European support was highlighted, particularly in the wake of the cold winter months in order to achieve a dignified and humane treatment of all those people. It was also emphasised that Macedonia is doing everything in its power and remains committed to the fulfilment of tasks in terms of dealing with this huge challenge such as securing timely exchange of information and effective cooperation, support to refugees in providing temporary shelter, rest, food, medical care, management of migration flows by providing full registration of arrivals, with maximum use of biometrics, in particular fingerprints, increased border control, improving police and judicial cooperation and increased action against smuggling of migrants and trafficking with the support of Europol, Frontex and Interpol.

At the end of the conference, Deputy Prime Minister Besimi thanked all the donors for their support and called the other international and European stakeholders to for contribution, so that Macedonia can adequately deal with the situation.