News

The NAVRR Project, implemented by ICMPD, recently conducted a study visit to Tashkent Uzbekistan, between the dates of 19-20 June 2023 to establish and strengthen migration dialogues between Türkiye and Uzbekistan on the axis of return and reintegration within the framework of Türkiye's National Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration (NAVRR) Mechanism.  

While the discussion around refugees in Europe often centres around their plight, the potential they bring to our societies – ambitions, education, skills – often remains unrecognised. With an eye on the mutual benefits for refugees, host employers, economies, and countries of first asylum, ICMPD’s Policy Unit puts a spotlight on these talents and advocates for their recognition through complementary labour pathways.

On 19 July, ICMPD organised a training for the relevant staff of the recently-established Moldovan Inspectorate for Migration as part of the project “Capacity for a Rights-Based Reception System for Moldova” (CareFor). The training also gathered communication specialists from other agencies such as the Border Police and the Ministry of Interior's central apparatus.

On 17 – 18 July 2023, ICMPD organised a training for Libyan officials on the practical steps in preparation for a Migration Dialogue. The training was conducted within the framework of the EU- and Swiss co-funded Libya’s Migration Technical Assistance Facility (LIBMITAF) project.

The annual World Day against Trafficking in Persons, marked on 30^th July, brings together policy-makers, operational specialists and the general public to reflect upon the response to trafficking in human beings (THB) in their own country, region and globally. This year, the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD) marks this occasion by emphasising the importance of regional approaches in combatting THB and supporting its victims.

On 3 August, the project “Capacity for a Rights-Based Reception System for Moldova” (CareFor) presented the preliminary results of the ex-post evaluation of the mechanism for combating irregular stay in Moldova. The evaluation is a priority of the national sector programme and is to yield lessons learned and recommendations for the ongoing reorganization of the Inspectorate-General for Migration.

The NAVRR Project implemented by ICMPD organised a capacity-building training for Türkiye's National Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration (NAVRR) Mechanism’s National Stakeholders including the Presidency of Migration Management (PMM), the Provincial Directorates of Migration Management, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Turkish Red Crescent between the dates of 26-28 July 2023 in Bolu, Türkiye.

One-and-a-half years after Russia invaded Ukraine, the question of what comes next for people under temporary protection looms large, especially as we approach the halfway mark of the Temporary Protection Directive’s maximum duration. Policymakers are faced with a range of potential strategies, each with its distinct implications, necessitating a thoughtful and ideally coordinated response. To help guide this crucial dialogue, ICMPD is shedding light on potential avenues. 

On 5 September, the CareFor project delivered a psychology training for the administrative staff of the reception centres of the Inspectorate-General for Migration and the National Congress of Ukrainians in Moldova. As part of the project “Capacity for a Rights-Based Reception System for Moldova” (CareFor), the event was aimed at equipping the beneficiaries with an understanding of the psychology essentials required when working with migrants. 

On 6 September, the official handover of two vehicles took place within the framework of the ongoing project ‘Resilience, Reinforcement and Recovery of Ukrainian Migration and Consular Services (RRR-MFA/SMS UA). The project is funded by the Ministry of Interior of the Czech Republic and the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) under the Ministry of Interior of Germany.   

The inauguration of the National Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration (NAVRR) Coordination Centre located in Kumkapı/İstanbul took place on the 7th of September 2023. Among the participants were the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD) Türkiye Country Office, the Presidency of Migration Management (PMM), Turkish Red Crescent and the representatives of the British Embassy in Ankara. 

With an eagerness to promote access to higher education and foster social harmony, the European Union has unveiled the 'European Union Scholarships Project.' Spearheading this initiative is the ICMPD Country Office in Türkiye, in collaboration with Ankara and Hasan Kalyoncu Universities, as well as Marmara Municipalities Union, as co-applicant consortium members, covering different regions in Türkiye. The initiative will benefit Syrian students under temporary protection, students under international protection, as well as students with Turkish citizenship.

On 14 September, the MOBILAZE 2 project officially handed over a Mobile Training Unit to the Border Control Commandment of the State Border Service of the Republic of Azerbaijan. The modified mini-van provides training, communication and special document control equipment with a total value of 120,000 EUR. 

On 14 September, ICMPD’s Director General Michael Spindelegger was on mission to Bulgaria, meeting the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ms. Mariya Gabriel and the Minister of Interior, Mr. Kalin Stoyanov. 

On 26 -27 September, an ICMPD delegation, led by Director General Michael Spindelegger, embarked on its first bilateral visit to Samos and Athens following Greece's accession to ICMPD in 2021. The delegation was welcomed by Mr. Dimitrios Kairidis, Minister of Migration and Asylum, and visited the Closed Controlled Access Centre in Samos.

The NAVRR Project actively supports the engagement of Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) with Türkiye's National Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration Mechanism (NAVRR). This initiative, led by ICMPD in close partnership with the Presidency of Migration Management, recently organised a significant event in Ankara on October 4-5, 2023.

On 27 September, ICMPD held an event in Chisinau, kicking off a new action in support of Moldovan migration sector development while also celebrating the results of two others. The event gathered management-level representatives of national authorities, the donor community, and partner NGOs. 

The eighth annual Vienna Migration Conference (VMC2023) took place on 10 and 11 October 2023, gathering key stakeholders from the migration policy world. Discussions centred on pressing topics in migration governance, including how to facilitate safe and regular migration, protecting migrants’ rights at borders, what the future of work might look like, and the role of policy in securing needed workers. A range of speakers took stock of where we stand and where we need to go, sharing successful initiatives and ideas for the road ahead.

On 13 October 2023, the EU-funded EU4IBM-Resilience project officially handed over 500 sets of mobile radio stations with accessories to the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine (SBGS), worth over half a million euros. The enhancement of technical capacities of the Ukrainian border management services is one of the project's key initiatives financed by the European Union.

Thursday, 5 October, the Migrant Resource Centre Pakistan organised a significant community awareness session in Kharian, district Gujrat. The aim of this event was to raise awareness and empower more than 120 outgoing, aspirant, and returning migrants, and their families. The session focused on the importance of safe and informed migration practices. This event received substantial attention and participation from a diverse range of stakeholders dedicated to supporting migrant communities. Distinguished attendees included representatives from the EU Delegation, the Embassies of Norway and France, the Federal Investigation Agency, the Social Welfare and Labour Departments, local community organizations, and the media.

A central challenge of a modern-day response to human trafficking, nationally and internationally, is putting in place co-operative frameworks to enable state actors to fulfil their obligations to protect and promote the human rights of trafficked persons and co-ordinate their efforts in a strategic partnership with civil society. On the occasion of the European Union (EU) Anti-Trafficking Day on 18 October 2023, the Anti-Trafficking Programme of the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD) stresses the importance of cross-border and multi-agency cooperation in combating trafficking in human beings and protecting its victims.

On 2-3 October, ICMPD Director General, Mr. Michael Spindelegger, embarked on a mission to Ankara, Türkiye. This visit involved a series of productive meetings and engagements designed to promote cooperation and tackle key issues.

On 02 November 2023, the third project Steering Group meeting of the EU Support in Strengthening Integrated Border Management in Ukraine – Resilience (EU4IBM-Resilience) project took place in Kyiv. The meeting was moderated by the ICMPD Head of Region Eastern Europe and Central Asia Radim Žák. Among the guests were the EU Delegation to Ukraine, the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine, the State Customs Service of Ukraine, and other partners and stakeholders.

On 20 October 2023, the Government of India (GoI) and the European Union (EU) took a step forward in their cooperation on migration and mobility by launching Phase II of the India-EU Cooperation and Dialogue on Migration and Mobility project, also known as the India-EU CAMM support project. The launch gathered high-level officials from both India and the EU, EU Member States, as well as various stakeholders, including state-level representatives, the private sector and academia at the Chanakya Hall, Sushma Swaraj Bhavan (Ministry of External Affairs) in New Delhi.

On 19-20 November 2023, the Inspire project team organised a consultative workshop in Accra, Ghana, to discuss the design of the Ghana-Germany skills partnership scheme. The workshop brought together representatives from various stakeholders, including government agencies, civil society, and development partners, to exchange views and experiences on labour migration governance in Ghana and explore the potential of establishing a skills partnership scheme between the two countries.