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In recent years, Belarus has experienced profound migratory shifts, driven by political repression, geopolitical tensions and regional conflicts. Following the disputed 2020 presidential elections, up to 500,000 Belarusians fled to neighbouring countries, with many seeking stability and opportunities in the European Union (EU). At the same time, Belarus became a transit hub for migrants from the Middle East, as part of state-orchestrated migration flows aimed at pressuring the EU, and a refuge for over 20,000 Ukrainians displaced by war. These dynamics have challenged regional migration policies, highlighting tensions between national security, economic interests and humanitarian obligations. The evolving landscape underscores the need for EU Member States to develop balanced and adaptive migration strategies that effectively respond to state-orchestrated migration pressures from Belarus. This Policy Brief discusses Belarus’ migration trends and their implications for the EU.

This publication was produced in the framework of the Prague Process Migration Observatory. The Prague Process is funded by the European Union through the Migration Partnership Facility (MPF), which is implemented by the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD).

The EU’s temporary protection (TP) regime for persons displaced by the war in Ukraine has now entered its fourth year, with a legal end date currently set for 4 March 2026. As the deadline approaches, a critical policy question looms: What future awaits the more than 4 million beneficiaries of temporary protection (BTPs) currently residing in EU Member States (MSs)?

This policy paper explores the strategic options available to the EU and its MSs following the expiration of the current Council Implementing Decision (Council of the European Union, 2024). Should the TP mechanism be extended, replaced with a new EU-wide instrument, or terminated, leaving MSs to chart their own course? Each path carries distinct legal, political, practical and humanitarian implications. By examining the tradeoffs and potential consequences of different policy directions, this paper aims to inform ongoing and upcoming discussions on the future of TP, balancing the interests of the EU and its MSs, Ukraine, and, above all, the BTPs currently residing in the EU.

The Eastern Europe and Central Asia (EECA) Migration Outlook presents an analysis of the key events and trends that shaped migration in the EECA region in 2024.

This roadmap offers a comprehensive overview of the project, documenting the project’s implementation across its stages. The Background and Context section highlights how EMLINK aligns with national policies and the rationale for fostering entrepreneurial mobility. The Objectives of the Roadmap emphasise its dual purpose as an implementation guide and a resource for future entrepreneurial mobility programmes. 

This publication was produced with the financial support of the European Union, implemented by ICMPD through the Migration Partnership Facility. Its contents are the sole responsibility of ICMPD and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union.

Despite the emphasis placed on return within EU migration management strategies, existing policies often fail to address the lived realities of returnees. They frequently result in exclusion, stigma, and in some cases, inefficient migration management outcomes. As the research highlights, prevailing return policies often silence returnees, overlooking their agency and perspectives.

Drawing on fieldwork conducted in Georgia, Iraq, Nigeria and Türkiye, the brief explores how dominant narratives and discourses disconnect returnees from return and reintegration policies, and offers practical, actionable steps for policymakers and practitioners seeking to develop return and reintegration frameworks that are more effective, human-centred, and grounded in the realities of returnees themselves.

Key recommendations focus on enhancing meaningful engagement of returnees in policymaking processes, strengthening operational strategies to meet returnees’ needs, and improving communication channels to bridge the gap between policy and practice.

Authors

Nazanine NOZARIAN (ICMPD), Madeleine HOELD (ICMPD), Sabeth KESSLER (ICMPD), Nassim MAJIDI (Samuel Hall), Juliette SAMMAN (Samuel Hall), Lisa PFISTER (Samuel Hall), Marta ROCHA (Samuel Hall), Daniel PROVOST (Samuel Hall)

The Annual Report takes stock of the milestones, opportunities and challenges in the past year, along with recurring issues that have surfaced to reshape the migration discourse.

This conference report synthesises the key insights, debates, and good practices from VMC2024, providing a comprehensive overview of the evolving migration governance landscape. The 15 session summaries cover a range of critical topics, from advancing the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum to strengthening labour mobility frameworks and migration diplomacy. Additionally, a key takeaways commentary distils five central themes of the discussions: optimising route-based migration approaches, enhancing the external dimension of migration policy, strengthening labour mobility partnerships, ensuring the EU Pact remains fit for purpose, and addressing public demands for stricter policies while maintaining protection frameworks.

This analytical report explores the challenges Ukraine and Moldova face in aligning their migration, asylum, and border management policies with EU standards as part of their accession process. Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, both countries received EU candidate status, sparking a renewed focus on the enlargement process. Ukraine’s unique position as a country in active conflict and Moldova’s geopolitical vulnerabilities amplify the complexity of their accession.

The Compact Acceleration Course (CAC) curriculum was designed to support a cohort of innovative Georgian start-ups selected for their potential to scale internationally and to establish strategic partnerships within the European Union, particularly in Belgium. As part of the ICMPD EMLINK project, the CAC curriculum aims to equip entrepreneurs with the tools, knowledge, and networks necessary to accelerate their growth and enter new markets.

This publication was produced with the financial support of the European Union, implemented by ICMPD through the Migration Partnership Facility. Its contents are the sole responsibility of ICMPD and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union.

This report analyses the policies and practices of countries that have successfully engaged their diaspora communities and aims to provide valuable insights and policy recommendations. A well-defined and comprehensive diaspora engagement strategy will not only strengthen collaboration between Ukrainian diaspora organisations and government institutions but also facilitate long-term and sustainable support mechanisms. Through this research, the aim was to provide a knowledge base that will guide the development and then implementation of targeted policies and programmes, leading to a more impactful approach to diaspora engagement in Ukraine.

Authors:

Giulia Mori, Júlia Puigdomènech Vidal, Melissa Siegel, Maastricht University & UNU-MERIT.

ICMPD’s Regional Migration Outlook for the Silk Routes region presents a brief analysis of recent regional migration and policy trends and provides an outlook on developments and events to watch out for in 2025.

This publication provides a regional perspective on ICMPD’s Migration Outlook 2025, delving into key current and emerging migration trends in the Mediterranean region, with a focus on the countries of North Africa and the Middle East.

Dieser Bericht fasst die wichtigsten Ergebnisse der INTAKE Studie zur Arbeitsmarktintegration von geflüchteten Frauen aus der Ukraine in Österreich, Deutschland und Polen zusammen. Die Studie basiert auf einer vergleichenden Analyse der rechtlichen Rahmenbedingungen, der Arbeitsmärkte und der Integrationssysteme in den drei genannten Ländern. Datengrundlage sind Interviews mit Expert:innen und geflüchteten Frauen, die Analyse bestehender Studien zur Arbeitsmarktintegration von Geflüchteten sowie den Integrationssystemen in den drei Ländern. Zudem wurde eine Social- Media-Analyse öffentlich zugänglicher Gruppen ukrainischer Geflüchteter auf den Plattformen Facebook und Telegram durchgeführt. Der Bericht wurde aus Mitteln des EU AMIF – Programms sowie des österreichischen Bundeskanzleramts finanziert.

Technological advancements are reshaping border management across the EU and beyond. In this ICMPD Working Paper, the authors examine the current state-of-the-art in border management technologies, assessing both their operational benefits and the risks they pose. It provides an overview of the latest advancements and trends in this regard, as related to its role in contemporary border management, with a specific focus on their application within the EU. 

Drawing on expert discussions ICMPD has convened or participated in across international and regional fora, this paper analyses these technological developments as related to their functionality for border management processes (border surveillance and pre-screening; risk analysis, nowcasting, early warning, and forecasting; database management and interoperability; and process facilitation). It also highlights key findings and takeaways policymakers and practitioners should take into account as they consider integrating new technological advancements in their border management strategies.