News

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."

Migration has become more central to political and policy discourse in Europe, particularly in recent years. Political parties that use migration as a rallying piece in their platforms have become more prominent, building on the narrative of increasing irregular migration. Often, such discourse draws on data in an inflammatory way, suggesting ever mounting numbers. But a new Policy Brief, which accompanies a more detailed working paper and a new public database, suggests there has been no definitive change in the number and share of irregular migrant population in the region since the estimates made in the Clandestino Project in 2008.

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.

In the framework of the ICMPD EMLINK project Compact Acceleration Course, 10 Georgian startups participated in a comprehensive 10-day tour to Belgium from 14-24 October 2024, designed to immerse them in the country’s dynamic entrepreneurial ecosystem and startup infrastructure. The tour offered a strategic platform for Georgian startups to broaden their networks and establish connections with investors, accelerators, incubators, and research institutes. Furthermore, they gained invaluable insights into EU projects and available support for startups operating in both Belgium and Georgia.

The Vienna Migration Conference on 22-23 October 2024 highlighted discussions on pathways for safe and regular migration, addressing irregular arrivals, enhancing approaches to labour migration, and the efforts needed for the implementation the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum. Hosted by ICMPD, this year’s VMC gathered over 300 delegates from government, private sector, academia and research, think tanks, international organisations, and civil society.

On 20 November 2024, the conference "Migration and Border Cooperation in Central Asia - State and Civil Society Approach" took place in Brussels within the framework of the EU’s International Partnerships InfoPoint. The event, organised by the BOMCA and PROTECT projects - both implemented by ICMPD’s Regional Office for Eastern Europe and Central Asia - highlighted two key European Union-funded initiatives aimed at strengthening cooperation between civil society organisations and state migration authorities in Central Asia.

On 28 May 2024, ICMPD and the HEROES project launched the "Manual for Early Identification of Potential Victims of Trafficking in Human Beings and Child Sexual Abuse and Child Sexual Exploitation". The Manual elaborates on the legal definitions of the THB and CSA/E phenomena and provides examples of existing tools for early identification. 

Today is the International Migrants Day. On this occasion we reflect on our work in another year of continued or escalating wars and conflicts, rising climate change, and socio-economic deprivations that have displaced 120 million¹ people in their own countries or forced them to cross borders for their safety.

In December 2024, the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) reached a significant milestone with the successful conclusion of the Modernising the Nigeria Immigration Service Workforce (MoNIS) Project. Supported by the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD) and the Government of Denmark, this initiative has redefined standards for institutional efficiency, inclusivity, and innovation within the NIS.

Vienna, 17 January 2025 – ICMPD selects a new Director General this year. This follows the end of the second and final five-year term of the incumbent, Director General Michael Spindelegger, in December 2025.

ICMPD has opened a new Migrant Resource Centre (MRC) in Sulaymaniyah, in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KR-I). The MRC promotes safe and regular migration processes for prospective migrants, combat trafficking and people-smuggling through raising awareness, pre-departure counselling for emigrants, post-arrival briefings to migrant workers, and re-integration support for returnees and internally displaced populations.

As of 2025, JVAP Follow-up has entered a new phase with the launch of an updated website and a revamped data collection platform. This marks a significant milestone for collaboration and transparency in addressing migration among African and European partners.

The Strengthening Border Security (SBS) project in Ghana has successfully concluded, marking a major step in enhancing national and regional border security. Funded by the European Union Emergency Trust Fund for Africa and implemented by the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD) in collaboration with the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS), the initiative has advanced Ghana’s border management capabilities, contributing to improved security across West Africa.

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. 

High-level representatives from 45 partner countries and international organisations met in Portugal on 29-30 January 2025 to culminate the country’s Chairmanship of the Rabat Process, and hand the Chairmanship over to Nigeria for 2025. Portugal is the second country to chair the Dialogue since the adoption of the current multi-annual strategic framework, the Cadiz Action Plan 2023-2027.

The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) of Pakistan has reported a 16% increase in the prevention of irregular migration attempts from the country in 2024, based on new border management systems developed with the support of ICMPD and international donors.

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)”.

After Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, most displaced persons seeking protection in Europe initially expected to stay only temporarily. As the war persisted however, many reconsidered their plans and adapted to prolonged displacement.

The Government of Pakistan, through the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development (MOPHRD), has formally launched the Sustainable Reintegration of Returnees and Improved Migration Management project, known as R&R Pakistan.

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.

In commemoration of International Women’s Day, ICMPD hosted a webinar titled Women on the Move: Advancing Gender Mainstreaming in Immigration Services Across West Africa. The session focused on the importance of gender equity in immigration services, particularly in Ghana and Nigeria, and brought together key stakeholders to share insights, challenges, and best practices in fostering a more gender-balanced workforce.

BOMCA 10 has launched a Call for applications for Central Asian CSOs to participate in the Boot Camp on the Project Management Cycle, set to take place in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, in May 2025. Applications are accepted until 4 April 2025. 

ICMPD Director General Michael Spindelegger met with a high-level delegation from the Republic of Uzbekistan led by Mr Bekhzod Musaev, Director of the Migration Agency under the Cabinet of Ministers and Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr Olimjon Abdullaev.

On 22 November 2021, the annual Prague Process Senior Officials’ Meeting (SOM) took place in an online format. Formally hosted by the Czech Republic in its capacity of Prague Process Chair, the SOM gathered officials from the Prague Process countries, the European Commission, the EU Council, EASO, Frontex, IOM and ICMPD. Participating states were invited to comment on the first drafts of the Ministerial Declaration and Action Plan, as well as to reflect on current migration challenges at national, regional and international levels.