27/11/2024

Marko Vujević, Director of the Agency for Education and Professional Training met today with representatives of the project “EU Support to Strengthen the Fight against Migrant Smuggling and Trafficking in Human Beings in the Western Balkans” (EU4FAST). This project is supported by the German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ), Ministry of the Interior of Italy, France's CIVIPOL, Centre for International Legal Cooperation of the Netherlands, Ministry of the Interior of Croatia, Ministry of the Interior of Slovenia, Austria's Criminal Intelligence Service (CIS), and German Federal Police (BPOL).

As part of their working visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina, representatives of the German Federal Police, Marvin Binge and Armin Hansmann, along with Mirsad Buzar from GIZ, the project coordinator, visited AEPTM today. During the meeting, they outlined proposals for cooperation, particularly focusing on organizing training programs related to counterfeit documents and travel identification for members of the Border Police of Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as anti-corruption efforts. They emphasized that these training sessions would not be limited to Bosnia and Herzegovina but would involve the regional collaboration and joint engagement by police academies from the countries in the region where similar languages are spoken.

Director Vujević expressed his satisfaction with the proposed projects and stated that the Agency would fully utilize its available capacities to participate in these initiatives.

The EU4FAST project is designed to improve conditions for preventing and combating migrant smuggling and human trafficking in the Western Balkans. This is achieved through collaboration with law enforcement and judicial bodies, fostering interinstitutional and interregional cooperation. The project's goals include strengthening partnerships with EU member states and justice and home affairs agencies, actively involving Western Balkan authorities in EMPACT initiatives, and training frontline personnel to identify and support potential victims of human trafficking. Additionally, the project seeks to assist border services in preventing and suppressing migrant smuggling and human trafficking, ensuring alignment with EU standards and human rights.