What is ICMPD?

The International Centre for Migration Policy Development is an inter-governmental organisation with UN Observer status, created in 1993 at the initiative of Switzerland and Austria. The purpose of the Centre is to promote innovative, comprehensive and sustainable migration policies and to function as a service exchange mechanism for governments and organisations in the wider European region.

International Co-operation and Dialogue on Migration Policy

More than 30 governments actively support ICMPD in various ways. The 11 ICMPD Member States are Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden and Switzerland. Bilateral co-operation agreements and Memoranda of Understanding have been concluded with Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Canada, Cyprus, Estonia, Georgia, Latvia, Lebanon, Lithuania, FYR Macedonia, Russia, Sri Lanka, Turkey and Ukraine.

The Centre shares close co-operation with the European Commission, international organisations such as Europol, Frontex, the International Organization for Migration, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, the Council of Europe, the United Nations Development Programme, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, Interpol and many others.

The basic infrastructure is financed by the Member States as well as through various projects. In addition, Australia, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, the Netherlands, Norway and the UK provide regular financial contributions, and grants to ICMPD for projects have been rendered by France, Germany, Liechtenstein and the USA. The European Commission is the biggest donor by way of project grants, followed by Austria, Switzerland, UK and Sweden.

Addressing Current and Future Migration Policy Challenges

ICMPD is active in various fields related to migration management in which countries currently face challenges: from visa policy and border management to asylum and readmission to trafficking in human beings. Two Departments specialise in migration policy, research and consultancy services.