Service for foreigners affairs of the Ministry of Security of Bosnia and Herzegovina-Complete Specialized Escort Training in Austria

In a significant move towards enhancing the  of its  the Services for foreigners Ministry  of Security Bosnia and Herzegovina has successfully concluded a three-day specialized escort training program. This initiative, which took place from August 26 to August 28 2024, was hosted at the prestigious Task Force Cobra police tactical unit of the Federal Ministry of Interior in Austria. The training was organized by HWI International in partnership with the Joint Coordination Platform (JCP), that coordinates training and communication with ECO Cobra and ensures that these efforts are aligned with Frontex-and other relevant international standards.

A total of 12 police officers, representing a balanced mix of men and women and all actively engaged in border control, participated in this intensive programme. The curriculum of the training was specifically designed to meet the demanding requirements necessary for officers who are part of a pool of forced return escorts. It included a variety of courses, with particular focus on the Course for Forced Return Escort Leaders in Return Operations and the Course for Readmission Officers. These courses aim to boost the leaders’ competence and skills across various phases of return operations, including pre-return, in-flight, and hand-over phases.

Feedback from the participants has been overwhelmingly positive, indicating a high level of satisfaction with both the comprehensive nature of the training and the expertise of the in-structors. The officers praised the practical skills and theoretical knowledge they acquired, which are crucial for their roles in return operations and interventions.

This training marks a crucial step in enhancing the operational control effectiveness illegal entry of migrants and their records, control of movement on the territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and deportation from Bosnia and Herzegovina in accordance with the EU directive, aligning its practices with all international standards and strengthening cooperation with European Union security frameworks.

The training was organized as part of the project “Strengthening Migration Management, Asylum and Return Processes in the Western Balkans” financed by the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF) and the Federal Ministry of the Interior of Austria.

More about the project: https://hwi.ba/en/projects/refugees-migrants-displaced-persons/strengthening-migration-management-asylum-and-return-processes-in-the-western-balkans/22