Publications

The project Resilience, Reinforcement and Recovery of Ukrainian Migration and Consular Services (RRR) is implemented by the International Centre for Migration Policy Development with the overall objective to contribute to the resilience, reinforcement and recovery of Ukrainian migration and consular governance by strengthening the capacities of national authorities to ensure the safe international mobility of Ukrainian citizens, including preparations for sustainable return. Module 1 of the project specifically aims to establish Ukrainian Consultation Centres in EU MS hosting the most Ukrainian refugees, mainly in Poland, Czech Republic and Germany, in close coordination with local state authorities, Ukrainian diaspora organisations and the civil society of hosting countries. The Consultation Centres (CCs) will support consular capacity in providing consular assistance to Ukrainians abroad regarding documentation, integration information in the hosting societies and preparedness/consultations for future voluntary return and reintegration back home. 

ICMPD is seeking applications from qualified and result-oriented professionals, to support the establishment of such Centre in Berlin, Germany, in addition to the overall coordination and implementation of activities within the framework of the Consultation Centre.

The project Resilience, Reinforcement and Recovery of Ukrainian Migration and Consular Services (RRR) is implemented by the International Centre for Migration Policy Development with the overall objective to contribute to the resilience, reinforcement and recovery of Ukrainian migration and consular governance by strengthening the capacities of national authorities to ensure the safe international mobility of Ukrainian citizens, including preparations for sustainable return. Module 1 of the project specifically aims to establish Ukrainian Consultation Centres in EU MS hosting the most Ukrainian refugees, mainly in Poland, Czech Republic and Germany, in close coordination with local state authorities, Ukrainian diaspora organisations and the civil society of hosting countries. The Consultation Centres (CCs) will support consular capacity in providing consular assistance to Ukrainians abroad regarding documentation, integration information in the hosting societies and preparedness/consultations for future voluntary return and reintegration back home. 

ICMPD is seeking applications from qualified and result-oriented professionals, to support the establishment of such Centre in Berlin, Germany, in addition to the overall coordination and implementation of activities within the framework of the Consultation Centre.

The present migration textbook provides a comprehensive overview of the migration field, exploring its historical roots, current trends, and future prospects. It covers a wide range of issues from across the migration spectrum, including the causes and consequences of migration, the experiences of migrants, the social and economic impacts of migration on sending and receiving countries, and the policies governing migration.

In 2025, the political world and the world of migration will continue to experience high levels of volatility. This will be marked by systemic rivalry between the world’s great powers, a polynodal international order, greater state fragility, an increasing number of violent conflicts, rising terrorism, the weaponisation of energy and food insecurity. Below are the ten key migration issues to look out for in 2025 that can shape international migration.

This policy brief highlights main directions in Russia’s migration policy since the 2022 invasion and underscores the implications of these developments for the Prague Process region. It calls for strategic action to strengthen cooperation with Central Asian states to create alternative labour migration pathways and reduce reliance on Russia, counter the use of migrants as a hybrid tool to challenge European members and work to return displaced Ukrainians, particularly children, home from Russia.

Authors: 

Jeff Sahadeo and Nicholas Morrison | This publication was produced in the framework of the Prague Process Migration Observatory. The Prague Process is funded by the European Union through the Migration Partnership Facility (MPF), which is implemented by the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD).

Der vorliegende Bericht präsentiert die Ergebnisse des Forschungsprojekts FIMAS reCOV, das die Integrationsprozesse von Geflüchteten in Österreich untersucht. Im Fokus stehen die Integrationsentwicklungen der Ankunftskohorte 2014-2018, bestehend aus Asylberechtigten und subsidiär Schutzberechtigten, die in diesem Zeitraum aus den Hauptherkunftsländern Syrien, Afghanistan, Irak und Iran nach Österreich geflüchtet sind. Die Analyse basiert auf den Umfrage-Daten von fünf Erhebungswellen der FIMAS-Längsschnittstudie, die in den Jahren 2018 bis 2024 durchgeführt wurde, insgesamt über 9.800 Befragungen von Geflüchteten.

This brief assesses the state of Ukraine’s energy system, and its impact on the population, and discusses the potential for further forced migration to the EU.

Authors:

Franck Düvell, Institute for Migration Research and Intercultural Studies (IMIS), Osnabruck University. | This publication was produced in the framework of the Prague Process Migration Observatory. The Prague Process is funded by the European Union through the Migration Partnership Facility (MPF), which is implemented by the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD).

Technological advancements are reshaping border management across the EU and beyond. In this ICMPD Working Paper, the authors examine the current state-of-the-art in border management technologies, assessing both their operational benefits and the risks they pose. It provides an overview of the latest advancements and trends in this regard, as related to its role in contemporary border management, with a specific focus on their application within the EU. 

Drawing on expert discussions ICMPD has convened or participated in across international and regional fora, this paper analyses these technological developments as related to their functionality for border management processes (border surveillance and pre-screening; risk analysis, nowcasting, early warning, and forecasting; database management and interoperability; and process facilitation). It also highlights key findings and takeaways policymakers and practitioners should take into account as they consider integrating new technological advancements in their border management strategies.

Dieser Bericht fasst die wichtigsten Ergebnisse der INTAKE Studie zur Arbeitsmarktintegration von geflüchteten Frauen aus der Ukraine in Österreich, Deutschland und Polen zusammen. Die Studie basiert auf einer vergleichenden Analyse der rechtlichen Rahmenbedingungen, der Arbeitsmärkte und der Integrationssysteme in den drei genannten Ländern. Datengrundlage sind Interviews mit Expert:innen und geflüchteten Frauen, die Analyse bestehender Studien zur Arbeitsmarktintegration von Geflüchteten sowie den Integrationssystemen in den drei Ländern. Zudem wurde eine Social- Media-Analyse öffentlich zugänglicher Gruppen ukrainischer Geflüchteter auf den Plattformen Facebook und Telegram durchgeführt. Der Bericht wurde aus Mitteln des EU AMIF – Programms sowie des österreichischen Bundeskanzleramts finanziert.

As part of the EUROMED Migration (EMM) studies, in partnership with the European Union Institute Migration Policy Centre Observatory on Public Attitudes to Migration (OPAM), EMM is proud to give exclusive access to the publication ‘Storytelling as Strategic Communication on Migration.’ Practitioners regularly recommend storytelling as an effective means of strategic communication about migration. Storytelling is distinct from other forms of communication due to its ability to clear and retain attention, disarm critical thought, and provide an opportunity for the storyteller to demonstrate a large range of skills and thus enhance their credibility. Experimental evidence supports the notion that storytelling is more persuasive than, for example, appeals to authority using experts. This report provides the first review of the academic literature on the characteristics and effects of storytelling and how this might be best used for migration communication and outlines seven best practices according to these criteria and demonstrates them using examples. 

This publication provides a regional perspective on ICMPD’s Migration Outlook 2025, delving into key current and emerging migration trends in the Mediterranean region, with a focus on the countries of North Africa and the Middle East.

ICMPD’s Regional Migration Outlook for the Silk Routes region presents a brief analysis of recent regional migration and policy trends and provides an outlook on developments and events to watch out for in 2025.

The Compact Acceleration Course (CAC) curriculum was designed to support a cohort of innovative Georgian start-ups selected for their potential to scale internationally and to establish strategic partnerships within the European Union, particularly in Belgium. As part of the ICMPD EMLINK project, the CAC curriculum aims to equip entrepreneurs with the tools, knowledge, and networks necessary to accelerate their growth and enter new markets.

This publication was produced with the financial support of the European Union, implemented by ICMPD through the Migration Partnership Facility. Its contents are the sole responsibility of ICMPD and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union.

This conference report synthesises the key insights, debates, and good practices from VMC2024, providing a comprehensive overview of the evolving migration governance landscape. The 15 session summaries cover a range of critical topics, from advancing the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum to strengthening labour mobility frameworks and migration diplomacy. Additionally, a key takeaways commentary distils five central themes of the discussions: optimising route-based migration approaches, enhancing the external dimension of migration policy, strengthening labour mobility partnerships, ensuring the EU Pact remains fit for purpose, and addressing public demands for stricter policies while maintaining protection frameworks.

This analytical report explores the challenges Ukraine and Moldova face in aligning their migration, asylum, and border management policies with EU standards as part of their accession process. Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, both countries received EU candidate status, sparking a renewed focus on the enlargement process. Ukraine’s unique position as a country in active conflict and Moldova’s geopolitical vulnerabilities amplify the complexity of their accession.

The aim of this mapping report was to identify the key stakeholders from public sector working on migration management in respective countries as well as the private sector entities, organisations and funds that support start-ups, scaleups and SME development, in scope with the EMLINK project objectives. In order to gain comprehensive overview for the mapping and insights into the focus of the work of the key stakeholders, the experts from Georgia and from Belgium have been identified to develop this report together with the ICMPD EMLINK project team.

Despite the emphasis placed on return within EU migration management strategies, existing policies often fail to address the lived realities of returnees. They frequently result in exclusion, stigma, and in some cases, inefficient migration management outcomes. As the research highlights, prevailing return policies often silence returnees, overlooking their agency and perspectives.

Drawing on fieldwork conducted in Georgia, Iraq, Nigeria and Türkiye, the brief explores how dominant narratives and discourses disconnect returnees from return and reintegration policies, and offers practical, actionable steps for policymakers and practitioners seeking to develop return and reintegration frameworks that are more effective, human-centred, and grounded in the realities of returnees themselves.

Key recommendations focus on enhancing meaningful engagement of returnees in policymaking processes, strengthening operational strategies to meet returnees’ needs, and improving communication channels to bridge the gap between policy and practice.

Authors

Nazanine NOZARIAN (ICMPD), Madeleine HOELD (ICMPD), Sabeth KESSLER (ICMPD), Nassim MAJIDI (Samuel Hall), Juliette SAMMAN (Samuel Hall), Lisa PFISTER (Samuel Hall), Marta ROCHA (Samuel Hall), Daniel PROVOST (Samuel Hall)

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.

This roadmap offers a comprehensive overview of the project, documenting the project’s implementation across its stages. The Background and Context section highlights how EMLINK aligns with national policies and the rationale for fostering entrepreneurial mobility. The Objectives of the Roadmap emphasise its dual purpose as an implementation guide and a resource for future entrepreneurial mobility programmes. 

This publication was produced with the financial support of the European Union, implemented by ICMPD through the Migration Partnership Facility. Its contents are the sole responsibility of ICMPD and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union.

The Eastern Europe and Central Asia (EECA) Migration Outlook presents an analysis of the key events and trends that shaped migration in the EECA region in 2024.

This report analyses the policies and practices of countries that have successfully engaged their diaspora communities and aims to provide valuable insights and policy recommendations. A well-defined and comprehensive diaspora engagement strategy will not only strengthen collaboration between Ukrainian diaspora organisations and government institutions but also facilitate long-term and sustainable support mechanisms. Through this research, the aim was to provide a knowledge base that will guide the development and then implementation of targeted policies and programmes, leading to a more impactful approach to diaspora engagement in Ukraine.

Authors:

Giulia Mori, Júlia Puigdomènech Vidal, Melissa Siegel, Maastricht University & UNU-MERIT.

Complementary pathways provide an avenue for refugees to take up a job in another country, enabling them to use their skills to forge a sustainable future and helping to meet employer and labour market needs in countries of destination. Germany’s Western Balkans Regulation provides a model for the expansion of refugee labour mobility in Germany and other EU countries. Developed with an annual cap and a particular scope, such as a geographic focus on one or more third countries or on specific labour market sectors, an expansion of this approach would ease mobility requirements for people in need of protection who have secured a job offer. The possible expansion of the Regulation’s model to reach people in need of protection has the potential to introduce fresh ideas and positive change to EU migration and asylum policy more broadly.

Authors

Martin Wagner, Caitlin Katsiaficas & Gizem Güzelant (ICMPD)

Historical and recent trends of emigration from the Western Balkan region, comprising Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia, have led to the formation of diverse diaspora groups across the world, with prominent representation in the Western European countries. Diaspora members often maintain close transnational socioeconomic ties with their countries of origin. These ties are most commonly reflected through the transfer of remittances at the individual or household level, but also increasingly through investment, entrepreneurship, or knowledge transfer etc., with the potential to create a greater impact on the socioeconomic development of the Western Balkan countries.

This report synthesises the overall findings of the ECONDIAS project and takes stock of the country-specific, and EU-level policy and institutional landscape on migration-development nexus, and identifies relevant stakeholders and practices to draw context-specific lessons on success and impeding factors for diaspora-led investment in countries of origin.

The Regional Migration Outlook for Eastern Europe and Central Asia (EECA) presents an analysis of the key events and trends that shaped migration in the EECA region in 2023. Simultaneously, it offers a cautious outlook into areas and issues that may affect migration and mobility to, within and from EECA in 2024. In a non-exhaustive way, the publication addresses developments in the twelve EECA countries (based on ICMPD’s regional division) – Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan. The analysis is based on ICMPD’s regional expertise and desk research from official and public data sources.