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.
About the initiative
The Migration Partnership Facility (MPF) is an EU-funded initiative supporting the external dimension of EU migration policy. Launched in January 2016, the MPF supports dialogue and cooperation on migration and mobility between EU Member States and priority partner countries outside the EU.
Summary
Grants
Since its launch, the MPF has funded over 60 projects involving a majority of European Member States (EU MS) with key partner countries. The MPF operates mainly through grants aligned with priorities outlined in its Calls for Proposals. These cover two main thematic areas:
- Support to the EU's migration priorities with partner countries
- Support to dialogue and cooperation on Legal and Labour Migration (i.e., the EU's Talent Partnerships)
Geographically, the MPF covers the Western Balkans and Türkiye, Eastern Partnership countries, the Southern Neighbourhood, the Silk Route countries, and Sub-Saharan Africa.
Technical Assistance and Support
In its latest phase, the MPF introduced a Technical Assistance and Support (TAS) component, allowing EU Member States to request technical assistance from ICMPD for specific tasks. Through this component the European Commission may request for ICMPD to respond to emerging priorities and strategic interests.
Dialogue
MPF facilitates migration dialogues between European Member States and Western Balkans, the Middle East, Central Asia, Silk Routes and South Asia by supporting the Prague Process, with a primary focus on Eastern Partnership (EaP) countries, and the Budapest Process, with a primary focus on the Silk Routes region.
Knowledge Management and Communication
The MPF is an information hub for disseminating knowledge and harnessing insights from the grant projects that it funds. MPF compiles lessons learned, prepares policy briefs or other analytical documents and identifies the most effective means of disseminating the information, all the while creating an enabling environment to discuss topics. This approach fosters knowledge exchange and policy-oriented learning and transfer, informing the design of future actions supported by the MPF or other initiatives that shape EU migration policy and practice change.