ICMPD Director General Susanne Raab opened the Euro-Mediterranean Migration Partnerships Forum in Malta last week with a commitment towards a stronger cooperation between the two regions. On 29-30 September in Valletta, Ms Raab joined Malta’s Minister for Foreign Affairs and European Affairs Chris Fearne at a high-level panel discussion that examined the migration cooperation architecture of the Mediterranean; setting the stage for participating senior political and institutional leaders to explore operational cooperation and leadership in building regional resilience.
Migration requires trusted relationships, political dialogue, and capable institutions. It is crucial that we foster migration partnerships that withstand political pressures, operational complexity, and an increasingly volatile environment.Ms Raab highlighted at the panel discussion.
She stressed how ICMPD helps bridge European and partner countries; and highlighted the need for preparedness and improving capacities to detect and respond quickly to emerging migration-related developments, including those amplified through digitalisation and social media.
The panel discussion was moderated by ICMPD Deputy Director General and Migration Dialogues and Cooperation Head Sedef Dearing; and included EU Agency for Asylum Executive Director Nina Gregori, with ICMPD Head of Mediterranean Region Julien Simon hosting the programme. Ms Raab also emphasised the centrality of the region as migration is reshaped by continued conflict and displacements, demographic change, labour-market pressures, technological transformation, and constrained resources.
In her welcome remarks, Ms Raab acknowledged Malta’s hosting of the Migration Partnerships Forum, and its strategic and central role in the evolving dynamics of migratory routes in and along the Mediterranean.
Nowhere do these different dimensions intersect more visibly than in the Mediterranean. Hence, this Forum marks a decade of cooperation that enables us to move from trust to capacities, to partnerships, and resilience.Ms Raab said in her opening remarks.
Also joining the panel discussion were Mr Neville Aquilina, Malta’s Director General for Global Issues, International Development and Economic Affairs at the [Ministry for Foreign and European Affairs], and Mr Bassim Al Dahamasheh, Governor and Director of the Nationality Directorate for Foreign Affairs and Investment at Jordan’s Ministry of Interior. The session explored why migration partnerships matter especially now – amidst growing uncertainty and interlinked crises. It linked these developments with the growing relevance of the Migration Capacity Partnerships for the Mediterranean (MCP Med), in strengthening preparedness towards 2030 through a more resilient, operational, and jointly owned cooperation.
Another plenary discussion centred on moving from individual projects towards coherent systems and governance architecture, connecting operational experience with political dialogue. Leading the discussion were Karim Abulenein, Deputy Assistant Minister for International Migration for Egypt’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Henrik Ankerstjerne, Deputy Permanent Secretary for International Cooperation for Denmark’s Ministry of Immigration and Integration; and Katerina Wolfova, Head of Unit for the Pact for the Mediterranean, at the European Commission Directorate-General for the Middle East, North Africa and the Gulf.
The 10th anniversary event also featured ICMPD’s projects and partnerships in parallel sessions, panel discussions, and side-events that covered imminent themes in migration in development; some of which included:
- Strengthening next-generation migration systems through evidence-based decision-making
- Protecting space for partnerships via communication in times of disinformation and crises
- Women, peace, and security in the Mediterranean migration governance contexts
- Connecting operational experience with political dialogues towards coherent systems in governance architecture
- Debates on the ethical aspects on the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in public policies and migration governance
- Strengthening human rights-based integrated border management in the Mediterranean
- Advancing quality and innovation in migration education through stronger academic partnerships between European and Southern Mediterranean institutions
- Diaspora engagement in recovery and reconstruction contexts, through enabling sustainable, inclusive and locally owned contributions to resilient societies
- Supporting recovery, resilience and transformation in complex environments, and how migration cooperation improves institutions, service delivery and social protection systems
- Participants were also invited to identify future priorities directly and become co-creators of the Mediterranean cooperation agenda towards 2030
Another plenary featured how labour migration partnerships create opportunities while helping manage migration pressures; and highlighted economic resilience as a pillar of future Mediterranean cooperation, with a focus on legal pathways, skills mobility, and demographic sustainability. Joining the panel were Malcolm Cutajar, Malta’s Ambassador for Migration at the Ministry for Home Affairs and Security; Oleg Chirita, ICMPD Deputy Head of Brussels Mission and Head of Programme for Global Initiatives; and Anita Vella, Head of Unit for Legal pathways and Mobility at the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Migration and Home Affairs.
Ms Raab also took the opportunity to visit ICMPD’s Mediterranean Training Institute, to meet with some participants and trainees; as well as meet partners, colleagues, and counterparts at the concurrent State of Asylum Conference hosted by the EUAA in Malta. In addition to Ms Raab’s discussions with representatives from ICMPD Member States Malta and the Netherlands, she also met with senior officials from partner countries in the region, including Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, and Syria.
Finally, Ms Raab pointed to ICMPD’s work across border management, capacity development, investment in people and education, opportunities in countries of origin and transit, efforts to address irregular migration, and legal pathways as interconnected elements of partnership.
In a volatile world, strengthening sovereignty and resilience lies in the relationships and capacities that endure; and this is also where migration diplomacy becomes operational: Political dialogue creates space. Operational cooperation creates capacity. Capacity makes political commitments executable.Ms Raab concluded.
