News

The NAVRR Project actively supports the engagement of Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) with Türkiye's National Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration Mechanism (NAVRR). This initiative, led by ICMPD in close partnership with the Presidency of Migration Management, recently organised a significant event in Ankara on October 4-5, 2023.

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.

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. 

On 26 -27 September, an ICMPD delegation, led by Director General Michael Spindelegger, embarked on its first bilateral visit to Samos and Athens following Greece's accession to ICMPD in 2021. The delegation was welcomed by Mr. Dimitrios Kairidis, Minister of Migration and Asylum, and visited the Closed Controlled Access Centre in Samos.

On 14 September, the MOBILAZE 2 project officially handed over a Mobile Training Unit to the Border Control Commandment of the State Border Service of the Republic of Azerbaijan. The modified mini-van provides training, communication and special document control equipment with a total value of 120,000 EUR. 

On 14 September, ICMPD’s Director General Michael Spindelegger was on mission to Bulgaria, meeting the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ms. Mariya Gabriel and the Minister of Interior, Mr. Kalin Stoyanov. 

The inauguration of the National Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration (NAVRR) Coordination Centre located in Kumkapı/İstanbul took place on the 7th of September 2023. Among the participants were the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD) Türkiye Country Office, the Presidency of Migration Management (PMM), Turkish Red Crescent and the representatives of the British Embassy in Ankara. 

With an eagerness to promote access to higher education and foster social harmony, the European Union has unveiled the 'European Union Scholarships Project.' Spearheading this initiative is the ICMPD Country Office in Türkiye, in collaboration with Ankara and Hasan Kalyoncu Universities, as well as Marmara Municipalities Union, as co-applicant consortium members, covering different regions in Türkiye. The initiative will benefit Syrian students under temporary protection, students under international protection, as well as students with Turkish citizenship.

On 6 September, the official handover of two vehicles took place within the framework of the ongoing project ‘Resilience, Reinforcement and Recovery of Ukrainian Migration and Consular Services (RRR-MFA/SMS UA). The project is funded by the Ministry of Interior of the Czech Republic and the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) under the Ministry of Interior of Germany.   

A delegation led by ICMPD's Director General Michael Spindelegger was on mission in Pakistan and met with high-level gouverment partners in Pakistan. He met Mr. Syrus Sajjad Qazi, Secretary from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Faisal Nisar, Joint Secretary from the Ministry of Interior, Mr. Jawad  Sohrab Malik Special Assistant to the Prime Minster on Overseas Pakistanis and Mr. Mohsin Butt, Director General, Federal Investigation Agency.

On 5 September, the CareFor project delivered a psychology training for the administrative staff of the reception centres of the Inspectorate-General for Migration and the National Congress of Ukrainians in Moldova. As part of the project “Capacity for a Rights-Based Reception System for Moldova” (CareFor), the event was aimed at equipping the beneficiaries with an understanding of the psychology essentials required when working with migrants. 

One-and-a-half years after Russia invaded Ukraine, the question of what comes next for people under temporary protection looms large, especially as we approach the halfway mark of the Temporary Protection Directive’s maximum duration. Policymakers are faced with a range of potential strategies, each with its distinct implications, necessitating a thoughtful and ideally coordinated response. To help guide this crucial dialogue, ICMPD is shedding light on potential avenues. 

The NAVRR Project implemented by ICMPD organised a capacity-building training for Türkiye's National Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration (NAVRR) Mechanism’s National Stakeholders including the Presidency of Migration Management (PMM), the Provincial Directorates of Migration Management, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Turkish Red Crescent between the dates of 26-28 July 2023 in Bolu, Türkiye.

On 3 August, the project “Capacity for a Rights-Based Reception System for Moldova” (CareFor) presented the preliminary results of the ex-post evaluation of the mechanism for combating irregular stay in Moldova. The evaluation is a priority of the national sector programme and is to yield lessons learned and recommendations for the ongoing reorganization of the Inspectorate-General for Migration.

The annual World Day against Trafficking in Persons, marked on 30^th July, brings together policy-makers, operational specialists and the general public to reflect upon the response to trafficking in human beings (THB) in their own country, region and globally. This year, the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD) marks this occasion by emphasising the importance of regional approaches in combatting THB and supporting its victims.