News

On 31 January 2024, the Migrant Information and Orientation Desk was inaugurated within the framework of the European Union-funded project "Mediterranean City-to-City Migration - Reinforcing Urban Capacity Partnerships ” (MC2CM-RUCP), implemented by the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD). 

On 1 February 2024, Morocco handed over the Chairmanship of the Rabat Process to Portugal at a Senior Officials Meeting held in Rabat. Portugal will chair the migration dialogue for one year and prioritise specific areas of the Dialogue’s current action plan.

On 23 January 2024, the final step of the scheme development and design process took place, with the Inspire project bringing together Ghanaian government officials, employment agencies, as well as representatives of the German Embassy and the Ghana-European Centre in Ghana and experts. The Inspire project facilitated a workshop to thoroughly discuss and validate the outcome of more than a year-long consultations.

On 13-15 December 2023, a Moot Court Competition on Trafficking in Human Beings took place in a collaborative effort between the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD), the Ministry of Justice of Georgia, and the Training Centre of Justice of Georgia. The event, held within the framework of the EU-funded STREAMinG Phase 2 project, aimed to raise awareness on the critical issue of human trafficking. 

Libya’s Migration Technical Assistance Facility (LIBMITAF) marks the successful conclusion of its project, implemented from 2021 to 2023 with financial support from the European Union (EU) and the Swiss Confederation. Throughout the project duration, LIBMITAF supported Libyan institutions in various areas of migration governance. As the project concludes, it is time to reflect on the achievements with our Libyan partners.

On 25-27 March, 2024, a training on migration issues took place in a collaborative effort between the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD) and the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GiZ). The event, held within the framework of the EU-funded STREAMinG Phase 2 project, aimed to strengthen the knowledge of the members of the Network of Civil Society for Migration (NCSM) on critical migration issues in Georgia.

On 21-22 March 2024, a hybrid event was organised offering a platform for stakeholders’ cooperation and exchange, including representatives from the public and private sectors to foster trust and understanding of entrepreneurial mobility as a safe channel for temporary migration with a focus on start-ups and entrepreneurs in both Georgia and Belgium. 

From 7-13 July 2024 the 11th International Summer School on Migration will take place in Georgia. The ICMPD Summer School is a collaborative effort among the EU-funded projects “Implementing the Mobility Partnership in Azerbaijan” (MOBILAZE 2), “Strengthening Development Impact of Migration in Georgia” (STREAMinG 2), and the Prague Process, with all three initiatives led by ICMPD.

On 12 March 2024, the closing event for the joint EU-ICMPD MIgration EU eXpertise (MIEUX) Initiative took place in Brussels. The event convened around 100 participants in representation of the wide variety of migration experts and partner institutions that MIEUX has brought together during its 15-year tenure. 

On 07 March 2024, the ENHANCER Business Networking Event was organised in coordination with the Directorate General of Development Agencies within the Ministry of Industry and Technology in Kayseri. Co-hosted by the Kayseri Chamber of Commerce, the event succeeded in hosting 174 Turkish and Syrian existing and potential entrepreneurs from Kayseri.

As the EU approaches elections that will determine its next leadership and migration policy direction, ICMPD is developing strategic recommendations for the next five years. In this endeavour, ICMPD is engaging with stakeholders across Europe to discuss the progress made during the current Commission and where advances remain to be achieved. Their perspectives will help shape ICMPD’s policy advice on the direction of EU migration policy at this critical juncture.

The MIgration EU eXpertise Initiative started operations in 2009 and ran until April 2024. During its fifteen-year lifecycle, new challenges and pressing responsibilities in terms of migration management and governance pushed partner countries across Asia, Africa, the European Neighbourhood and Latin America and the Caribbean to look for practical and adaptable solutions. 

On 22-23 February 2024, the NAVRR project organised a dynamic workshop on the establishment of the Community Engagement Programme, in a collaborative effort between ICMPD and the Presidency of Migration Management. The event brought together key stakeholders including representatives from the Presidency of Migration Management, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency, the Turkish Red Crescent, and local NGOs.

On 19-23 February, Moldova hosted a border assessment exercise carried out by ICMPD experts within the framework of SCOP 3.1 project. The purpose was to take stock of current infrastructure, equipment, and training needs along Integrated Border Management (IBM) key areas. 

The European Union Scholarships Project launches in collaboration with ICMPD, Ankara University, Hasan Kalyoncu University, and the Marmara Municipalities Union. The initiative aims to foster higher education access and bolster employment pathways for students under temporary protection (SuTPs), international protection (IPs), and Turkish citizens. 

International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD) in the framework of the EU-funded project “Strengthening the Partnership between Belgium and Georgia through Temporary Mobility of Entrepreneurs (Entrepreneurial Mobility Link” (EMLINK) is launching the call for start-ups! 

On February 20, the Inspire Project concluded its two-year implementation with a closing event in Brussels, organised by ICMPD. Seventy-two participants (online and in-person) were brought together to reflect on the journey and accomplishments, including representatives from the public and private sectors of Inspire's focus countries, national and international organisations, migration specialists, and the European Commission.

Marking two years of war, of resilience and resistance, of support by the EU public, and of institutional support through the Temporary Protection Directive, ICMPD hosted two events focusing on two critical topics: the recovery of Ukraine and the future for people under temporary protection. These events provided an important opportunity to commemorate, take stock, and look ahead, in conjunction with the Mission of Ukraine, with a focus on what can come after temporary protection and how Ukraine’s human capital can contribute to the recovery of the country. 

On 5 March 2024, The International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD) officially launched the project "Improving Migration Management in Selected Silk Routes and Central Asian Countries,". The project, funded by the European Union, is a testament to the EU and ICMPD's commitment to migration management. It will set up the Migrant Resource Centre (MRC) in Osh in partnership with the Ministry of Labour, Social Security and Migration. 

On 01 - 03 March 2024, Mr. Michael Spindelegger attended the 3rd Antalya Diplomacy Forum (ADF) in Türkiye organised by the Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Forum 2024 was inaugurated by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the President of Türkiye. It brought together over 4,700 participants from 148 countries to discuss pressing global issues under the theme "Think Together, Act Together." 

On 24 January 2024, Greece and ICMPD jointly organised a high-level event titled “A holistic approach for balanced migration partnerships” in Brussels. The event marked the handover of the Chairmanship of ICMPD’s Steering Group from Türkiye to Greece with speeches by Ambassador Faruk Kaymakcı, Permanent Delegate of Türkiye to the EU, and Ambassador Ioannis Vrailas, Permanent Representative of Greece to the EU. Ylva Johansson, European Commissioner for Home Affairs, Dimitrios Kairidis, Minister for Migration and Asylum of Greece, and ICMPD Director General Michael Spindelegger participated in the panel discussion moderated by ICMPD’s Brussels Mission Director Ralph Genetzke. Vice-President of the European Commission Margaritis Schinas delivered closing remarks.

On 26 January, ICMPD held the Steering Group meeting of the SCOP 3.1 project. The purpose of the event was to take stock of the project's progress, agree on the work plan for its successful completion, and exchange ideas on possible ways forward beyond the project life cycle. 

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 International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD) will hold the eighth annual Vienna Migration Conference (VMC) on 10-11 October. The most important migration conference in Europe will bring together decision-makers and high-level stakeholders from Europe, Africa and Asia ahead of key European and the EU 2024 elections, where, once again, migration will prove a central theme of the global debate.

This annual flagship event, which was supported by the Government of the Netherlands, the European Union, Austria, the Czech Republic, Kingdom of  Denmark, Germany, Swiss Confederation, organised in close collaboration with ICMPD's esteemed partners, has become a vital platform for practitioners, policy makers, donors, and experts to engage in dialogue on cutting-edge developments, good practices, and the latest trends in the field of border management.