An Analysis of the Management of the Migration Processes in Macedonia before and during the Migration Crisis of 2015

In the past few decades the Balkan Peninsula has held the status of being an intensive
crisis territory. Regional countries were confronted with a huge number of refugees
coming from different parts of the world, as well refugees coming from neighbouring
countries. The Republic of Macedonia became a transit country within the Balkan
states. It is one of the so-called “victim“ countries of the migration process. There is a
tendency for migration and asylum processes taking place towards, in and out of
Macedonia, bearing in mind its geographical location. Consequently, there has been a
need for public institutions to regulate migration processes. During the process of
transition, legal acts were signed, amended and annexed which have regulated these
issues. During the process of migration, in 2015 in the Republic of Macedonia as well
as in other countries in the region many measures were undertaken which have been
drastically different to the previous legal bases related to this problem. The main aim
of these measures is to provide legal support, transport, and hygienic and food
supplements to the refugees on the one hand, whilst providing state security on the
other. One serious dilemma for the Republic of Macedonia and other Balkan and
European countries is the doubt in the cause for migration: whether it is the armed
conflicts in the countries which lies at the origin of migration, or is the main aim for
migration which involves looking for better economic living conditions. Bearing in
mind that most of the migrants are not fleeing to their neighboring countries, but are
heading towards the European Union, makes us conclude that most of them are
searching for better economic living conditions.