The presentation of Standard Operating and Referral Procedures
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Improving return procedures through alignment with European Union standards and strengthening regional cooperation was the focus of an event dedicated to the presentation of Standard Operating and Referral Procedures (SORP) and practical guidelines in the return process, held from April 27 to 29, 2026, in Sarajevo.
The event brought together representatives of relevant institutions from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro, and North Macedonia, as well as representatives of the Joint Coordination Platform (JCP) and Hilfswerk International, with the aim of strengthening the capacities of the Western Balkan countries.
During the program, guidelines and instructions for improving existing return procedures were presented, with a specific focus on alignment with current EU standards while respecting fundamental rights. Special attention was directed toward procedural guarantees, operational roles in counseling and decision-making, coordination among institutions, and the protection of vulnerable categories.
Participants discussed practical challenges and the capacities required to implement the SORP guidelines in different national contexts, including cooperation in the fields of readmission, identification, and documentation, cooperation with countries of origin and consular services, as well as protection-sensitive processes and monitoring mechanisms.
Through interactive discussions and group work, opportunities for adapting the guidelines to the specific characteristics of institutional systems in the beneficiary countries were considered, along with the next steps for their integration into everyday institutional practice. The event contributed to a deeper understanding of the importance of standardized rules, the need for their continuous review and improvement, and the significance of a harmonized approach to return in line with European Union standards.
The activity was held 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.
