POLICE-RELATED ACTIVITIES OF FIELD OPERATIONS SOUTH-EASTERN EUROPE Montenegro) in Shkodra, Pogradec, Ulcin and Ohrid, a trilateral meeting between Albania, Montenegro and North Macedonia was organized for the first time in Saranda. In addition, a strategic meeting at the central level was organized in December with the participation of Border Police directors from the region. The topics covered included the challenges faced to enhance border security and fight criminal activities along the border, measures taken in regard to migration flows, initiatives taken to cope with the upcoming tourist season, and the situation at the police co-operation centres in terms of their challenges and operability. From 29 July to 2 August, an assessment of the ‘green border’ between Albania and Montenegro was conducted by the Presence, with the support of European Police Assistance Mission in Albania (PAMECA V). The team, formed by two Albanian border police experts and an international Frontex expert, visited and assessed the Border Crossing Points (BCP) in Muriqan, Han I Hotit, Bashkim and Bajze in Shkodra. An evaluation report was subsequently drafted and submitted to the ASP for consideration. From 15 to 17 October, the Presence organized a cross border ‘Hot Pursuit’ simulation exercise between Albanian and Montenegrin Border Police agencies held at the Muriqan BCP. The exercise discussed the Cross-Border ‘Hot Pursuit’ Protocol, which has been drafted and negotiated between both countries, but not signed as yet. During the event, participants increased their knowledge on cross-border ‘hot pursuit’ concepts and shared practical working experiences. Counter-Terrorism & P/C VERLT During the reporting period, with the aim of increasing the knowledge of ‘first-line’ actors and inter-institutional cooperation with the Countering Violent Extremism (CVE) Centre at the local level, the Presence supported the National Co-ordination Centre in organizing outreach meetings in the regions of Berat, Elbasan, Kukes, Dibra, Gjirokastra and Korça. In total, 30 meetings were organized in 30 administrative units, with 991 participants, including representatives from the LSCs, police, religious communities, civil society, media, and youth. The aim was to discuss the current situation related to radicalization and violent extremism, to inform local actors about ongoing and upcoming activities of the Centre as well as to support the Centre in co-ordinating, integrating and synchronizing its activities with local actors and establishing local P/C VERLT networks. During a number of these meetings, the Head of Community Policing in the ASP General Directorate explained the role of a community policing officer and the importance of the ASP’s co-operation with the local community in the early identification and prevention of VERTL. The meetings presented an opportunity for the Presence and the CVE Centre to better understand Border police officers from Albania and Montenegro and OSCE staff during the Cross-Border ‘Hot Pursuit’ Simulation Exercise, Shkodra, Albania, 17 October 2019. (Oltjon Milo) the challenges faced in relation to safety and security at the local level, since they were raised by the participants and community representatives themselves. From 4 to 6 February, the Presence participated in the “Regional P/C VERLT working meeting” in Sarajevo, in support of the development of a guidebook on pre-criminal interventions and referral mechanisms. The Presence facilitated the participation in a meeting of three Albanian experts from the Centre, civil society and LSC. The guidebook reflected a comprehensive approach, including an understanding of the scope and objectives of referral mechanisms and P/C VERLT, the roles of and relationships among key institutions and stakeholders, the relevant legal and policy frameworks and protocols, psycho-social care capacities and resource needs, human rights compliant assessment tools, and information sharing protocols. On 21 March, the Presence facilitated the attendance of the Director from the Anti-terrorism Directorate in the ASP at a conference on “New Approaches and Methods in Combating and Preventing Jihadist Terrorism” organized by the German Ministry of Interior, Digitalization and Migration in Stuttgart. From 25 to 26 March, the Presence sponsored the participation of the Deputy Minister of Interior  and the National Co-ordinator on CVE at an OSCE–wide Counter-Terrorism conference “Taking Stock of Efforts to Prevent and Counter Terrorism and VERLT in the OSCE area” in Bratislava. The conference brought together policymakers, national co-ordinators, senior experts and practitioners from participating States.  Experts from the 45