The project “Strengthening the Migration and Asylum Management System in the Republic of North Macedonia (MANOMA)” – ICMPD/2023/MPF-357-010, was implemented by the European Project Implementation Centre of the Polish Ministry of Interior (EPIC MoIA) in cooperation with the Polish Border Guard, the Office for Foreigners, the Ministry of Interior of the Czech Republic, Slovenia, Slovakia, Hungary, and Frontex.
It was co-financed by the EU under the Migration Partnership Instrument (MPF), managed by the ICMPD, from the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund. The project budget amounted to €479 308, 24, including EU co-financing of €455 342,83 (95%).
The overall objective of the project was to improve the detection, protection and orderly return of irregular migrants arriving in the Republic of North Macedonia, whereas specific objectives included increasing capacities of border management authorities from North Macedonia in the field of migration management, detection of irregular migration and orderly management of return and improving culturally and gender-sensitive management of centres for foreigners.
The project’s target groups were the Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of Social Policy, Demography and Youth of the Republic of North Macedonia.
The project consisted of two components:
- Component 1: Migration and Return Management (content coordination: Polish Border Guard, the Ministry of Interior of the Czech Republic and Frontex)
- Component 2: Asylum and Reception (content coordination: Polish Office for Foreigners together with the Ministry of Interior of Slovenia, Slovakia and Hungary)
Project implementation period was: January 1st, 2024 – August 31st, 2025 (after extension, initial completion date: May 31st, 2025).
The scope of the project included five workshops/training sessions (four in North Macedonia and one in Poland) covering:
- Migration management, detection of illegal migration and return management;
- Training for escorts organizing returns by air;
- International protection of foreigners;
- Intercultural communication and conflict resolution in intercultural environments;
- Initial integration of asylum seekers and integration of foreigners benefiting from international protection.
In addition, three study visits to detention and reception centers in Poland, the Czech Republic and Slovenia were organized, along with the project launch/closing events and three Project Steering Committee meetings.
A total number of 126 representatives from the Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of Social Policy, Demography, and Youth were trained.
The content-related part of the project was completed on June 26th, 2025 – project closing meeting held in Skopje (North Macedonia). During the event, the project partners summarized products and results achieved, presented the benefits the N. Macedonian side gained from the project, discussed opportunities for further cooperation and possibilities for implementation of similar projects in future. The final report will be submitted to the Contracting Authority (ICMPD) at the end of August 2025, followed by an audit and final financial settlement.
