Regional workshop: Migration and remittances in the Western Balkans
On 29 August 2013 in Skopje took place the regional workshop: “Migration and remittances in the Western Balkans” jointly organized by Analytica and Albanian Centre for Socio-Economic Research (ACSER). The main idea behind the workshop is presenting the final results of the project “Migration and development in Albania and Macedonia: the effects of remittances on education and health of family members left behind” which was implemented by Analytica and ACSER and prepared in the framework of the RRPP program, and also initiating a debate on the research conducted in Macedonia and the region of Western Balkans on the topic of migration and remittances.
[readon2 url="http://analyticamk.org/images/stories/files/Migration_and_remittances_in_the_Western_Balkans/RRPP workshop conference proceedings COMPLETE.pdf"]Conference proceedings[/readon2] | [readon2 url="http://analyticamk.org/images/stories/files/Migration_and_remittances_in_the_Western_Balkans/RRPP_workshop_agenda.pdf"]Agenda[/readon2] | [readon2 url="http://analyticamk.org/images/stories/files/Migration_and_remittances_in_the_Western_Balkans/RRPP_workshop_conference_conclusions.pdf"]Conclusions[/readon2] | [readon2 url="http://analyticamk.org/images/stories/files/Migration_and_remittances_in_the_Western_Balkans/RRPP_workshop_conference_conclusions_MK.pdf"]Conclusions MK[/readon2] | [readon2 url="http://analyticamk.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=385:presentations&catid=55:migration&Itemid=167"]Presentations[/readon2]
On 29 August 2013 in Skopje took place the regional workshop: “Migration and remittances in the Western Balkans” jointly organized by Analytica and Albanian Centre for Socio-Economic Research (ACSER). The main idea behind the workshop is presenting the final results of the project “Migration and development in Albania and Macedonia: the effects of remittances on education and health of family members left behind” which was implemented by Analytica and ACSER and prepared in the framework of the RRPP program, and also initiating a debate on the research conducted in Macedonia and the region of Western Balkans on the topic of migration and remittances.
Present at the workshop were researchers from academia, civil society organizations from Macedonia, Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina, representatives from the National Bank of the Republic of Macedonia, representatives from the World Bank, International Organization for Migration, International Centre for Migration Policy Development, Migration, Asylum, Refugees Regional Initiative (MARRI), Economic Chamber of North-West Macedonia as well as representatives from the private sector.
Major topics were the positive and negative impacts of migration and remittances on the family members left behind in Macedonia and Albania; whether remittances in Macedonia affect poverty and inequality; the negative long term effects of remittance inflow in Bosnia and Herzegovina; the impact of remittances in macroeconomic stabilization and development in Macedonia; the role of emigration and remittances as adjustment mechanisms in the labor market on the example of Macedonia; whether migration has any impact on the women empowerment in traditionally patriarchal countries as Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Macedonia; and the use and prospects of remittances in Macedonia.
The topic of migration and remittances is very relevant both on macro and micro level in the region of Western Balkans, thus greater attention both in research circles and at policy level should be given to it. There is lack of empirical research, mainly due to lack of necessary data to determine the impact of remittances on children's health status in Albania and Macedonia. In this regard, Albania and Macedonia should further strengthen their statistics and data collection systems to enable better analysis of the migration and remittances’ impact since for example there is no accurate data of the percentage of remittances. Governments should introduce more family–friendly policies which could contribute to smoothing the direct negative effects of parental migration and any potential negative effect on the welfare of the children. Policies which allow migrants to easily invest in their country of origin can help the developing of the positive impact of migration and remittances.
Pictures of the conference may be found here.
For more information about the conference, please contact Ms Ana Stojilovska, local coordinator of the project for Macedonia: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and Ms Jovanka Joshevska, researcher on the project This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
