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At this year’s Senior Officials’ Meeting of the Global Alliance to Counter Migrant Smuggling, ICMPD cited political and technical dialogues, whole-of-route cooperation, and state capacity as vital pillars in countering migrant smuggling. On 1 July 2026, high-level representatives of government, EU and UN agencies, and international organisations highlighted the need for operational cooperation and political commitment; and reflected on strengthening situational awareness and cooperation with countries of origin and transit, and supporting joint responses to migrant smuggling.

Twenty years ago, representatives from Europe and Africa gathered in Rabat with a shared conviction: migration can only be addressed effectively through constructive dialogue, partnership, and shared responsibility. The meeting resulted in the adoption of the Rabat Declaration on 11 July 2006 and laid the foundations for what would become the Rabat Process, bringing together countries of origin, transit and destination along the migration routes connecting Central, West and North Africa with Europe.

On 9 July 2026, the Migration Resource Centre (MRC) hosted the latest edition of its “Yak Piyola Choy with Media” event, bringing together media representatives and migration stakeholders to strengthen cooperation on promoting safe and regular migration. The event also marked the 10th anniversary of the MRC network.

When the first Migrant Resource Centre opened in Pakistan, Syed Umer Wazir Shah was one of its first Counsellors. Ten years on, he helps oversee a network of MRCs across Pakistan and into regional initiatives in Afghanistan and Sri Lanka.   

Earlier this year an Eritrean was convicted to serve 20 years in prison for smuggling migrants into the Netherlands, while his accomplice was extradited from the United Arab Emirates to face criminal charges in a Dutch court. Along with co-conspirators, they were charged with inflicting abuse and exploiting migrants in the Mediterranean, before smuggling them across treacherous waters into Europe. 

The Government of Sri Lanka and ICMPD along with national media organisations, gathered today to strengthen cooperation towards safe, regular and orderly migration. The meeting in Colombo sought to promote accurate, ethical and solution-oriented reporting to help the public with better-informed migration decisions. Through the Migrant Information Centre, the meeting brought together over 30 officials and representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE); as well as media professionals.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE), and ICMPD through the Migrant Information Centre (MIC), convened today government institutions and recruitment agencies to advance safe, fair and ethical labour migration recruitment. Participating stakeholders discussed transparency, compliance, and practical cooperation to protect Sri Lankan migrant workers and job seekers.

ICMPD joined the Sri Lanka government in hosting the Conference on Combatting and Addressing Trafficking of Human Beings today, renewing commitment to prevention, victim protection, and coordinated action. To commemorate the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, more than 80 representatives of government, law enforcement and protection authorities, National Anti-Trafficking Task Force, and High Commissions and Embassies joined civil society, academia, development partners, international organisations, media, and survivor-support organisations.

ICMPD commemorated the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons in Pakistan, joining national institutions, UN and international organisations, civil society, and the diplomatic community in committing to a victim-centred, whole-of-route response to the evolving forms of human trafficking.

The Migrant Resource Centre in Kyrgyzstan, in collaboration with local partners DVV International Kyrgyzstan and Youth of Osh, provided training to 46 young people to prepare for their journey to live and study in Germany. Between 27 July and 5 August in Bishkek, three groups received training sessions essential soft skills, critical pre-departure knowledge, and a fundamental understanding of their legal rights and responsibilities, thereby empowering them to navigate and thrive in their new environments effectively.

The Migrant Resource Centre in Baghdad, along with Iraq’s Ministry of Migration and Displacement  and the Ministry of Interior, highlighted the experiences and challenges of victims of human trafficking and the importance of access to accurate information to protect their rights and safety.

Ghana is quietly rebuilding two systems that decide whether people are recognised by the state: a child's birth record, and the protection owed to a refugee. Under two new Demand-Driven Facility actions implemented by FMM West Africa Phase II, the Ghana Births and Deaths Registry and Health Service are teaming up to close a registration gap that still leaves about one in four children under five without an official record. Meanwhile, the Ghana Refugee Board is turning a hard look at its own gaps into a plan for reform.

In the past year alone, Cabo Verde has seen a steep increase in migrant arrivals on boats, mostly aiming for the Canary Islands — the closest European destination they can try to reach. Dozens arrived on the island of São Vicente; while in 2023, from those who survived the journey, 38 arrived in Sal and 90 in Boa Vista.

ICMPD Director-General Michael Spindelegger joined heads of state and ministers at the Trans-Mediterranean Migration Forum in Tripoli, Libya on 17 July 2024. In a statement, Mr Spindelegger called for strengthened collaboration between Europe and Africa to address the complexities of irregular migration.

Vienna, 31 July 2024 — ICMPD is growing with another member: Ireland is the 21st Member State to join ICMPD’s work in finding innovative solutions to regional migration challenges. Ireland’s accession is the latest after Germany (2020), Greece (2021), and the Netherlands (2023) joined ICMPD in recent years.

Addressing highly complex, often invisible crimes in a targeted way also requires a highly coordinated approach. As human trafficking and the online sexual exploitation of children increasingly become lucrative enterprises for the criminal syndicates globally and even more challenging to track, the best way to tackle them begins with having the right data.

The International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD) hosts its annual Vienna Migration Conference (VMC) on 22-23 October 2024. This year’s discussions take place during a pivotal election year and will feature diverse topics that are set to shape the European migration agenda. These include strategies for safer routes, handling irregular arrivals, and labour migration. The public sentiment on migration in light of socio-economic and geopolitical volatility, and ways forward to implement the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum, will also be prominently discussed.

ICMPD hosted the handover ceremonies for the next phase of the SCOP 3.1 project, in support of Moldova’s border management sector. Safety and surveillance equipment and transport facilities were formally turned over to national authorities, intended for border monitoring and coordination, preventing cross-border crime, and enhancing the operational capacity of the Border Police.

Human trafficking, like migration, is a highly complex issue. It requires not only the resources but also the right data to address its underlying root causes and impact. Understanding human trafficking better involves taking stock of the community’s attitudes, perceptions, and perspectives – particularly those who are directly affected, including children.

Of the 1.2 billion young people joining the global workforce by 2030, around 450 million of them are from Africa. With their dynamic strength, creativity, and skills, these young movers are not only stakeholders in migration and labour policies now – they would also be vital architects of the future. Meanwhile, Europe undergoes profound demographic changes marked by ageing populations and growing labour shortage in essential sectors.

ICMPD Director General Michael Spindelegger met with Ukraine Vice Prime Minister Oleksiy Chernyshov, to discuss the newly established Ministry of Unity that he will lead as Minister, as well as ongoing cooperation on border management and supporting the needs for the return and reintegration of Ukrainians. 

Strengthening the local economy while enhancing entrepreneurship capacities of migrants to contribute more productively with their skills and business ideas, as well as creating jobs enriches the host communities. This is the main thrust of the ENHANCER (Entrepreneurship Capacities for Sustainable Socio-Economic Integration) Project, launched in 2020, amidst the COVID-19 pandemic that saw enterprises and workers losing their businesses and jobs.

ICMPD’s EU-funded Project PROTECT hosted a training on “The Role of Media in Forming Migration Questions” last November in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, as a part of a monthly training series on migration themes organised for the country’s Migration Service.

The research project “Re-thinking approaches to labour migration. Potential and gaps in EU Member States’ Migration Infrastructures”, mapped labour market needs and analysed the national migration systems of all 27 member states between early 2023 and early 2024. After an initial presentation in late November during the annual conference of the Labour Migration Practitioners’ Network, ICMPD makes available a mapping of labour migration pathways across the EU countries.

The International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD) has released its annual forecast of the 10 migration issues that can shape international migration in 2025. For the first time in years, irregular migration and asylum figures in Europe have decoupled from global trends on displacement. Much suggests that this trend is the result of more restrictive migration policies globally, but it is still too early to speak of a sustainable development. The downward trend, however, will reinforce political debates in Europe that primarily focus on control, externalisation and return.