The second workshop of Pilot Project 5 was held in Tbilisi (Georgia) on 9 and 10 June 2015. The event was co-organised by Poland and Romania (Leaders of the Pilot Project 5) and Georgia.

During the workshop representatives of 14 countries and 2 international organisations (ICMPD and IOM) had a possibility to familiarise themselves with best practices regarding cooperation with diplomatic representations of third countries in establishing and confirming identity of migrants staying without documents in Pilot Project 5 countries. Participants agreed that it is of vital importance to establish and maintain good contacts with diplomatic representations’ (also informal ones) as effective collaboration contributes to an increase in the efficiency and implementation of return policy.

The practice of diplomatic representations in establishing and confirming identity of own citizens and in issuing documents for them was presented. Along with best practices in this field. The means of establishing and updating databases collecting information on own nationals as well as on foreigners are essential in fostering the above-mentioned procedures.

Participants agreed that respect for human dignity and human rights of migrants should be a priority – this applies to ensuring respect for the rule of law as well as to the need to analyse on a case-by-case basis the individual situation of a migrant, including his/her medical conditions. It is not surprising that establishing and confirming the identity of minors staying without documents  and those migrants who refuse to cooperate with the receiving authorities were scrutinized during the workshop.

Participants were also welcomed by the Migration Department and Accommodation centre of the Ministry of Interior of Georgia. They benefited from the presentation of Georgian experiences in establishing and confirming identity of migrants and applying detention and alternatives to detention of migrants who are illegally staying in Georgia.

Finally, other initiatives aiming at strengthening the capacities of the participating states were presented in order to ensure coherence among the various activities and to share best practices and lessons learned. Representatives of ICMPD and IOM were invited to make presentations on their respective ongoing initiatives such as the so-called ENIGMMA project, the outputs of which were outlined, as well as the facilitation of voluntary returns implemented by IOM , including support in obtaining return documents.