This is the second Regional Policy Paper of the Balkan Refugee and Migration Council (BRMC). It main purpose is to present to the general and professional public, as well as to stakeholders, the migration situation in the Western Balkans (WB) region during 2019 and early 2020. In the first part of the document, the main points are updates of the national legal, policy, and institutional frameworks, as well as an overview of regional cooperation, the European integration process, and cooperation with the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex). Activities of various international mechanisms in the region and their reports related to the issues of border management and migration are also presented.
In the second part, the main focus is on the practice and particular case studies in WB countries. The final section provides recommendations for further improvements in legislation and practice. In addition to old topics, one section of this Policy Paper is dedicated to COVID-19 related state emergency measures and their impact on migrants.