News

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.

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 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 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.

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. 

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. 

The Prague Process Training Academy is entering a new phase by launching the E-learning Platform.

The platform is meant to serve the Prague Process states and partners with educational material for self-paced independent remote learning on migration and asylum. In times when in-person learning is reduced, e-learning tools become a safe and effective alternative to face-to-face classroom settings offering a convenient way for busy professionals to gain, enrich or refresh knowledge on migration matters.

The platform currently hosts three online courses on labour migration, identification and profiling, and integrated border management (IBM). The first two courses feature a series of short videos, quizzes and further readings. Meanwhile, the IBM course comprises rich written material with quizzes. All courses are available in English and Russian and can be repeated multiple times and adjusted to individual schedules without the risk to lose progress. Upon completing a course, successful participants receive a certificate of completion.

In order to access courses, users should register on the platform and enrol in the courses of their choice. The registration process is simple and straightforward, and the enrolment is done in one click. You are invited to watch a short explainer video to get around.

On 14-15 April 2024, a workshop on International Cooperation was convened in collaboration with the European Union Advisory Mission to Iraq (EUAM-I) and the National Security Advisory of Iraq within the framework of Iraq's National Integrated Border Management (IBM) Strategy in Baghdad. 

The ICMPD team from the Regional Office Silk Routes visited Baghdad for a round of high-level bilateral meetings and events. On 15 April, a meeting was held with the Ministry of Interior, one of the key partners for ICMPD in Iraq, focusing on enhancing the ongoing cooperation, particularly within the framework of border management initiatives.

On 17 April 2024, ICMPD’s Director General, Michael Spindelegger, participated in the 27th European Police Congress in Berlin, Germany. The congress provides an international platform for political and police decision-makers to convene and foster dialogue. During this year’s event, experts from 20 different nations participated in around 30 forums, discussing relevant developments in the field. 

On 15-17 April 2024, a delegation from Georgia, comprising representatives from state institutions and startup associations, embarked on a productive visit to Belgium to foster innovative approaches to mobility and entrepreneurship. The mission aimed to explore circular migration possibilities between the two nations, with a particular emphasis on facilitating entrepreneurial ventures.

On 16th April, ICMPD organised together with the Institute of Law Studies of the Polish Academy of Sciences a workshop in Warsaw dedicated to enhancing human rights monitoring in the context of forced returns. The workshop took place within the framework of the Horizon Europe project “Finding Agreement in Return” (FAiR) which assesses the legitimacy and effectiveness of the EU’s return policies.

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.

On 26 April 2024, the Secretary to the Ministry of Labour and Foreign Employment, Mr R. P. A. Wimalaweera, and Ms Sedef Dearing, Director for Migration Dialogues and Cooperation, International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD) opened the Migrant Information Centre (MIC) in Sri Lanka. 

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 15 November, the Border Management Programme in Central Asia (BOMCA) held an official reception in Tashkent marking the 20th anniversary of the EU flagship initiative for the region. The hallmark event gathered over 150 participants representing donor institutions, national counterparts, implementing consortium, and international stakeholders. The occasion provided the opportunity to reflect on achievements and success stories as well as to thank programme partners for their cooperation over the years. The event was held together with the Central Asia Drug Action Programme, the second flagship initiative for the region launched jointly with BOMCA. 

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. 

ICMPD recently published the Second Edition of the Legal Guide for Foreigners in Libya to provide interested parties with up-to-date information on migration legislation in the State of Libya. 

This year constitutes the Prague Process’ 15th anniversary and thereby an opportunity to reflect upon the origins and evolution of the Process since its establishment in 2009.

On 25 April 2024, the Athens Thematic Meeting on the “External dimension of migration management - Tools for regular pathways” was held in Athens, Greece as a flagship event under the Greek chairmanship of ICMPD’s Steering Group in 2024.

Published under the EU-funded and ICMPD-implemented “Support to the Implementation of the Mobility Partnership with Azerbaijan (MOBILAZE 2)” project, the Migration Textbook provides a comprehensive overview of the migration field, exploring its historical roots, current trends, and future prospects. The textbook covers a wide range of migration-related topics, from migration theories to governance, and from migration management in Azerbaijan to integration and security.