Director General Susanne Raab met with Swedish Minister for Migration HE Johan Forssell in Stockholm in January, capping Sweden’s successful 2025 Chairmanship of ICMPD’s Steering Group. They discussed the ongoing cooperation along migration routes and with partner countries, return and reintegration, and the EU Pact for Migration and Asylum. As the Director General’s first visit to Sweden, the mission also sets the foundation for continued high-level dialogue and future collaboration aligned with ICMPD’s Strategy 2030.
Among our key priorities for 2026 and beyond is to further strengthen our partnership with Sweden, our other Member States, and partners, to target our activities more strategically, enhance coordination and impact, and ensure that our collective efforts deliver tangible, sustainable results for citizens, and the wider European community. We are cooperating with Sweden across the full spectrum – from strategic exchanges and policy discussions, to developing a broad operational portfolio in countries and regions that are priorities for [Sweden]. At the same time, we maintain an active political dialogue on EU and global migration, ensuring close coordination on shared objectives and emerging challenges.Ms Raab said
At their meeting, Ms Raab and Minister Forssell discussed Sweden’s migration policy direction and key objectives, and how these can be supported through ICMPD’s work and expertise in addressing irregular migration, promoting sustainable return and reintegration, and strengthening cooperation with partner countries along key migratory routes. They also discussed the preparations for the full implementation of the EU Pact, and the development of strategic partnerships in this context. Ms Raab further reiterated ICMPD’s appreciation to Sweden for Mr Forssell’s important contribution to the 10th Vienna Migration Conference last year.
Ms Raab also met with representative of the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA), the Swedish Migration Agency, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Discussions included whole-of-route approaches, migration dialogues, and strengthened external engagement with partner countries. She highlighted ICMPD’s continued support for Sweden’s priorities, emphasising innovative, development-oriented, and evidence-based approaches to migration governance.
Sweden is a key participant in all migration dialogues facilitated by ICMPD (Budapest Process, Prague Process, Khartoum Process and Rabat Processes.) In the Budapest Process, Sweden also leads the Reference Group. Sweden is also an active supporter and partner in ICMPD-led EU initiatives, such as Training for Return Counsellors for the Return and Reintegration Facility (RRF); implements projects in the Western Balkans funded under the Migration Partnerships Facility (MPF); and is a partner in EU-MIDCAP.
Along with Denmark and Norway, Sweden leads the Nordic Cooperation on Return and Reintegration in Iraq (NORAQ), which includes the CAIR (Capacity-building for long-term integration of returnees to Afghanistan and Iraq) project, and the MAARC (Migration Awareness, Access to Reintegration, and Strengthening Capacities in Iraq) project. Sweden also supports the Migrant Resource Centre (MRC) in Uzbekistan. Recently, Sweden has decided to support the establishment of a Ukrainian Unity Hub in Stockholm.
Our discussions with the Ministry of Justice, the Swedish Migration Agency, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and with SIDA illustrates Sweden’s strong multi-faceted work in the field of migration and served to solidify our strong partnership. ICMPD will build on the success of Sweden’s 2025 Chairmanship of our Steering Group, harnessing its contributions to our work, and continue strengthening the cooperation across all our Member States and partner countries.Ms Raab said