News

On 17 – 18 July 2023, ICMPD organised a training for Libyan officials on the practical steps in preparation for a Migration Dialogue. The training was conducted within the framework of the EU- and Swiss co-funded Libya’s Migration Technical Assistance Facility (LIBMITAF) project.

While the discussion around refugees in Europe often centres around their plight, the potential they bring to our societies – ambitions, education, skills – often remains unrecognised. With an eye on the mutual benefits for refugees, host employers, economies, and countries of first asylum, ICMPD’s Policy Unit puts a spotlight on these talents and advocates for their recognition through complementary labour pathways.

On 19 July, ICMPD organised a training for the relevant staff of the recently-established Moldovan Inspectorate for Migration as part of the project “Capacity for a Rights-Based Reception System for Moldova” (CareFor). The training also gathered communication specialists from other agencies such as the Border Police and the Ministry of Interior's central apparatus.

Diaspora engagement is one of the core components of the RRR-MFA/SMS UA project. Ukraine has a well-organised diaspora, actively engaged and motivated, with a high level of participation. Therefore, the project considers close cooperation and collaboration with prominent Ukrainian diaspora organisations as an integral part of the programme and supported several recent events carried out precisely for diaspora empowerment.

On 15 July, a graduation ceremony took place to honour the accomplishments of the CoPS trainees in Enugu, Nigeria. The event was well-attended by key stakeholders, trainers, trainees, and media members. Students that stood out received several awards during the ceremony.

Between the 27^th and 29^th of June 2023, under the scope of the KOMPLEKS project, ICMPD organized a study visit for representatives of Polish local authorities and project partners to the Netherlands.

From 3-7 July 2023, ICMPD and the African Union Commission (AUC) organised a “Training of Trainers” (ToT) in Nairobi, Kenya, with participants from across the African continent to be certified as trainers for the AU Migration Governance Training Programme.

On 4 July 2023, Türkiye and ICMPD organised a high-level event titled "Migratory flows and regional challenges - Türkiye's way forward on migration" in Brussels. The European Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement, Olivér Várhelyi, delivered a keynote speech. The President of Türkiye's Presidency of Migration Management, Savaş Ünlü, Deputy Director-General for Migration and Home Affairs of the European Commission, Johannes Luchner and ICMPD Director General Michael Spindelegger participated in the panel moderated by ICMPD's Brussels Mission Director Ralph Genetzke.

The NAVRR Project, implemented by ICMPD, recently conducted a study visit to Tashkent Uzbekistan, between the dates of 19-20 June 2023 to establish and strengthen migration dialogues between Türkiye and Uzbekistan on the axis of return and reintegration within the framework of Türkiye's National Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration (NAVRR) Mechanism.  

On 6 July, ICMPD organised a workshop with Moldovan stakeholders as part of the project “Capacity for a Rights-Based Reception System for Moldova” (CareFor) to update the national migration data indicators’ framework. The data indicators on migration and asylum require adjustment to European standards, especially after Moldova recently gained the candidate status and became an observer to the European Migration Network.

On 19-21 June 2023, the MOBILAZE 2 project organised a study visit on migration policy sectors - management and implementation - for a delegation from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Labour and Social Protection of Population and State Migration Service of the Republic of Azerbaijan in Tallinn, Estonia.  The purpose of the study visit was to further strengthen the capacities of relevant Azerbaijani state institutions in the area of migration management to learn about the Estonian experience in migration policies development and implementation including migration procedures and residence regulations, visa policy, integration policies, digitalisation, e-residencies, Start-up visas, etc.

Dhermi, 12 June 2023 – the official Project Closing and 2nd Handover Ceremony took place at the Border Police station to hand over equipment worth EUR 2.4 million to the Border and Migration Police of the Albanian State Police of the Ministry of Interior of Albania.

After Russia's military aggression against Ukraine in 2022, millions of Ukrainians sought refuge in EU countries. To assist them, the EU Council activated the Temporary Protection Directive, granting access to healthcare, accommodation, employment, education, and social protection. Despite ongoing war, Ukrainian refugees face challenges in settling and rebuilding their lives. The RRR-MFA/SMS project, funded by Germany and the Czech Republic, established Ukrainian Consultation Centers in Germany, Poland, and the Czech Republic. We interviewed the project team to learn more about this flagship initiative.

On 13 - 14 June 2023, the MOBILAZE 2 project in cooperation with the Ombudsman’s Office of the Republic of Azerbaijan organised training on Ensuring the Rights of Vulnerable Migrants, Migration and Asylum Management and Monitoring Mechanisms in Nakhchivan for the law-enforcement agencies involved in migration management.

On 9 June, a training on human rights pertaining to forced return operations has been delivered to relevant actors in Moldova. The training was organised by ICMPD, in partnership with the Moldovan Ombudsman Office, within the framework of the project “Capacity for a Rights-Based Reception System for Moldova” (CareFor).