Šabac, November 5, 2024 – A two-day workshop titled “Framework of Cooperation and Support for NSZ Migration Service Centers” was held at the “Sloboda” Hotel in Šabac, organised by Returning Point in collaboration with the National Employment Service (NSZ). The event gathered representatives from the Migration Service Centers (MSC) in Kraljevo, Novi Pazar, Vranje, Novi Sad, Niš, Kruševac, Bor, Subotica, and Belgrade, as well as representatives of the National Employment Service (NSZ), with support from the Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD) and the United Nations Development Program in Serbia (UNDP).
The main focus of the workshop was to align the work of MSCs and Returning Point to provide comprehensive support to returnees, including the development of new procedures, improving communication and information exchange, and strengthening capacities to offer local services to returnees. Through several sessions, participants mapped existing challenges and explored opportunities to enhance future coordination between institutions and organisations working with migrants and returnees.
In the opening session, Uroš Živković, Program Director of Returning Point, presented the organisation’s history and goals, its previous activities focused on supporting returnees, and the new direction towards collaboration with MSCs. One of the key takeaways from the first day of the workshop was that MSCs should expand their work to include returnees, who have become an increasingly important target group in recent years.
Specific activities were discussed, with an emphasis on the importance of MSCs connecting with local actors to establish an integrated approach to migration at the local level, enabling more effective solutions for returnee issues.
The closing session of the workshop focused on mapping the next steps, confirming the importance of continuous information exchange and the enhancement of shared resources to monitor progress and address existing issues. Participants expressed hope that through joint efforts, the commitment of all parties involved, and improved coordination, the foundation will be laid for more effective and comprehensive support for returnees in Serbia.
