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ICMPD and the Ministry of Interior of Tunisia hosted the seventh International Border Management Conference (IBMC) in Tunis, on 27-28 November 2024 with the theme, “Border Management and Capacity Partnerships: Joint Leadership and Shared Responsibilities to govern and partner in the present to adapt to or shape uncertain futures."

On 11 February 2025, a two-day training on Irregular Migration, Migrant Smuggling, and Human Trafficking was successfully conducted in Erbil, Kurdistan Region of Iraq, implemented under the NORAQ cooperation framework. This capacity-building initiative was organised in collaboration with the Ministry of Interior of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq and the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD), in the scope of projects “Migration Awareness, Access to Reintegration, and Strengthening Capacities in Iraq (MAARC)” and “Sweden-Iraq Cooperation on Migration Governance (SICOM)”.

On the occasion of the Kingdom of Sweden taking on the Chairmanship of International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD) Steering Group for 2025, European Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration Magnus Brunner outlined the EU’s migration priorities such as improving return policies, promoting labour mobility, and combatting migrant smuggling. Mr Brunner also called for a “flexible, responsive and pragmatic” approach, and commended ICMPD’s work along key migratory routes, and its multi-dimensional way of thinking.

High-level delegates from Bangladesh, Iraq and Pakistan, along with Türkiye and Hungary, and the European Commission, are strengthening efforts for sustainable reintegration for returning migrants in the Silk Routes region. At the Thematic Working Group of Budapest Process countries last week, delegates and representatives called for reintegration efforts to be embedded in broader national development frameworks, and that these must target the structural and community-level drivers of migration that often reflect the challenges returnees face on their return.

From 29 April to 2 May 2025, the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD) held meetings with representatives of the Georgian diaspora in Rome, Italy. The discussions took place under the EU-funded STREAMinG Phase 2 project. The aim was to strengthen the capacities of Georgian diaspora organisations in the areas of reintegration, investment opportunities, and legal frameworks in both Italy and Georgia, with a special focus on women’s empowerment.

An impact-driven initiative in Ogun State, Nigeria, is placing local school communities at the forefront of efforts to combat human trafficking—a pressing threat to children across the country. The School Anti-Trafficking Education and Advocacy Project (STEAP), funded by the Government of the Netherlands and implemented by the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD), is positioning School-Based Management Committees (SBMCs) as key agents of change in the fight against trafficking.

A new initiative is equipping secondary schools across Ogun, Benue, Enugu, Delta, and Edo states to take an active role in preventing human trafficking. Through the School Anti-Trafficking Education and Advocacy Project (STEAP), in collaboration with the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), young leaders are being trained to raise awareness, educate peers and strengthen resilience within their schools and communities.

Only days after Russia’s full-scale military invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the European Union activated the Temporary Protection Directive (TPD). It effectively provided more than four million displaced Ukrainians protection from the war; legal rights to stay, work, and benefit from social services; as well as support for integration. As its name suggests however, it was always meant to be temporary.

ICMPD Director General Michael Spindelegger met with Ireland’s Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration Jim O’Callaghan, and Minister of State for Migration Colm Brophy to discuss strengthening work together on the country’s migration priorities. On 14-15 May 2025, Mr Spindelegger and Deputy Director General Sedef Dearing were joined by senior ICMPD staff as part of their first official visit to Dublin, following Ireland’s accession as ICMPD Member State last year.

ICMPD Director General Michael Spindelegger and Deputy Director General Sedef Dearing met with His Excellency Rachid Meddah, Director General of Migration Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and National Community Abroad of the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria on 17 June 2025.

ICMPD Director General Michael Spindelegger met with Bulgarian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Innovation and Growth, His Excellency Tomislav Donchev on 24 June 2025.

Two high-level side events held in Addis Ababa highlight African-led efforts to operationalise migration frameworks and promote regional integration.

Susanne Raab joins the International Centre for Migration Policy Development as Director General, effective 1 January 2026.

The first fully operational Unity Hub in the European Union opened this week in the Czech Republic. Opened on 2 March 2026, the Ukrainian Consultation and Community Centre in Prague (UCCC) will serve as a unique model for EU states planning for establishing such facilities in support of Ukrainians and Ukrainian state authorities.

ICMPD welcomed Ukrainian diaspora organisations to the newly opened Ukrainian Community and Consultations Centre (UCCC) in Prague, the first fully operational Unity Hub in the European Union. 

ICMPD Director General Susanne Raab welcomed Kari Johnstone, Special Representative for Combatting Human Trafficking for the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), and Deputy Co-ordinator Jean-Benoit Manhes.

ICMPD Deputy Director General and Director of Migration Dialogues and Cooperation Sedef Dearing met with officials from Moldova’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Internal Affairs, General Inspectorate of Border Police, Ombudsman Office, the European Union Delegation to Moldova, Embassy of Ukraine, and the Diaspora Relations Bureau at the State Chancellery. Representing Director General Susanne Raab, Ms Dearing discussed last week ICMPD’s ongoing support and future cooperation for Moldova’s migration governance efforts, EU accession preparations, security challenges, border management, and diaspora engagement.

Between 23–25 March 2026, ICMPD organised three self‑evaluation workshops in Edineț, Chișinău and Cahul for the Border Police Regional Directorates, supporting the launch of the new IBM Programme 2026–2030 and Moldova’s preparations for future evaluation missions.

On 26 March, border-management authorities from Moldova and Ukraine convened at the Palanca–Maiaki-Udobnoe Border Crossing Point for a one‑day meeting of Moldova’s National Joint Risk Analysis Working Group. 

The European Union Ambassador to Uzbekistan and the Austrian Federal Minister for European and International Affairs and the Federal Minister of the Interior visited the Migrant Resource Centre (MRC) in Tashkent on 7 May 2026. EU Ambassador Toivo Klaar, Austrian Foreign Minister Beate Meinl-Reisinger and Interior Minister Gerhard Karner, were joined by ICMPD Deputy Director General Sedef Dearing; along with MRC counsellors and project coordinators, and Austrian media.

The European Union and the Ministry of Labour, Social Security and Migration of the Kyrgyz Republic, and ICMPD opened the second Migrant Resource Centre (MRC) in Kyrgyzstan on 22 May 2026. The Centre will expand access to services for potential migrants across the region on safe and legal migration, and raise awareness on the risks of irregular migration and threats of human trafficking.