Slovenia's Boštjan Poklukar said initiatives such as the Brdo-Brijuni Process facilitated better cooperation and the search for common answers to the challenges in the region, the Slovenian Interior Ministry said in a press release.

The 8th conference of Brdo-Brijuni Process interior ministers was held in collaboration with the Integrative Internal Security Governance (IISG) in the Western Balkans.

The IISG is a new approach to internal security governance capacity-building and reform introduced by Brdo-Brijuni Process members with the support of international and European organisations, including the European Commission.

"I'm glad the initiative effectively supports Western Balkan countries in transferring EU standards regarding police work, border security and the fight against the most dangerous threats to internal security," Poklukar was quoted as saying.

"In this manner the IISG significantly contributes to improving the security situation in the region," said Poklukar, the presiding member of the Brdo-Brijuni Process.

The IISG was also praised by his Macedonian counterpart Oliver Spasovski, saying it was a means of enhancing external cooperation, but noting that Western Balkan countries should more efficiently use the assistance coming from EU members.

The director of the Slovenian intelligence agency SOVA, Rajko Kozmelj, bid farewell as the head of the IISG, and was replaced by Ramiz Huremagić.

On the sidelines of the regional conference, Poklukar held several bilateral meetings, including with Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces director Thomas Guerber, Bosnian Security Minister Dragan Mektić, Kosovo's Interior Minister Ekrem Mustafa and Montenegrin Interior Ministry State Secretary Dragan Pejanović.

On Monday the Slovenian minister met his Macedonian counterpart as well as the Macedonian prime minister and speaker as part of an official visit to Skopje.