Recommendations on the governance of migration and cooperation in Western Balkans and Central European countries

Policies on emergency reception
Concerning the emergency aid, it is important to agree on clear coordination and task sharing schedule between CSOs on the field and registration centres, as well as the creation of a code of conduct in reception structures. Moreover, there is a necessity to improve professionalization of aid workers
(providing trainings on safety, psychological supervision and cultural backgrounds).
We have to focus on the protection of vulnerable groups among refugees, individualisation of processes, and on the quality of practical information delivery. The Balkan route can be reopened soon, we need to
be prepared.

Recommendations:

• Focus on protection of vulnerable groups. This particular component is not put into practice even though each structure has this component among their priorities
• Clear coordination structure on site. The local authorities together with UNHCR should be responsible for overall coordination. There should be a clear overview of who is responsible for what.
• Registration of organizations and individuals working on site: there is a need for clear rules for registration, authorities should not misuse registration process to prevent providing of aid namely from independent volunteers. Registration is important in order to avoid abuse of refugees – authorities have to know who is working on site.
• Professionalization of aid: A clear Code of Conduct should be devised which will be followed by organisations and individuals; Training needs to be provided for aid workers on refugee cultural background; Supervision needs to be provided for aid workers.
• Individualization of all processes – „small groups policy“