Enhancing cooperation among the Prague Process states

News

The 2nd Prague Process Policy Talk ‘From COVID-19 to the EU’s Pact on Migration and Asylum’ with Mr Jean-Louis De Brouwer, Director of the European Affairs Program, Egmont Institute, and Mr Ralph Genetzke, Director, Head of Brussels Mission, ICMPD, took place on 28 January 2021. The talk was moderated by Mr Martijn Pluim, Director, Migration Dialogues and Cooperation at ICMPD.

The distinguished panellists discussed the key migration policies to watch in 2021, focusing on the EU and its neighbourhood. Building on the main lessons from 2020, they looked into the various implications of COVID-19 on migration and mobility, trying to sketch out the ‘new normal’ following an eventual recovery from the ongoing health emergency. The internal and external dimensions of the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum was assessed from an international cooperation perspective. The conversation shed light on the megatrends of climate change and digitalisation.

You may watch the recording in English or in Russian.

We are glad to share the new issue of the Prague Process Quarterly Review covering various developments, events and activities of the fourth quarter of 2020.

Since 2013, this tool provides the latest updates about the Process and highlights relevant migration-related developments in the region.

In 2020, the Prague Process organized over a dozen online events and published an equal number of analytical publications, covering regional and country-specific issues. In mid-November 2020, the Prague Process Senior Officials’ Meeting resulted in the adoption of the new Roadmap towards the Ministerial Conference in 2022. This Quarterly Review provides a snapshot of the recent activities implemented within the Prague Process. It looks at the EU’s new Multiannual Framework 2021-2027 and migration actions within it. The review also features an Infographic on Migrant Integration across the Prague Process region and shares some recent insights related to the deepening migrant pay gap before drawing important conclusions from the year 2020.  The usual section of interesting reads entails a few reading recommendations, including the latest analytical papers produced by the Prague Process.

The issue is availiable for download in English and Russian.

To see all issues please go to the section "Quarterly Review" under News & Events.

The 9th Prague Process webinar ‘From refugee crises to labour migration and back? Lessons for migration policies in the Western Balkans’  with Prof. Anna Krasteva, New Bulgarian University, took place on 17 December 2020.

The webinar dived into the migration realities of the Western Balkan region torn between the urgency of refugee management and the legacy of forced migration on the one side, and the need to prioritize labour migration as a tool for national and regional development on the other side. Prof. Krasteva explained how and whether a labour migration policy could change the existing profile of the WB region, as well as provided related policy recommendations inspired by the EU’s New Pact on Migration and Asylum.

The webinar recording is available in two formats: the first contains the presentation of Prof. Krasveta only while the second one represents the full-length video recording of the webinar, entailing also the Q&A session.

To watch the shorter version, please go here

To watch the full-length video, please go here

This year the annual Prague Process Senior Officials’ Meeting (SOM) took place in a virtual format on 16 November 2020. Formally hosted by Germany in the course of its Presidency of the Council of the EU, the SOM gathered some 80 senior-level officials from over 36 countries, the European Commission, the EU Council, Frontex, IOM and ICMPD. The event provided an opportunity for participating states to share their current migration policy priorities and needs in terms of international cooperation, as well as to take stock of the Prague Process achievements over the past two years and learn about the activities planned for 2021.

The third International Border Management Conference took place remotely on 23-24 November 2020. It focused on the key challenges for border management expected in the future while also addressing the particular challenges related to morphing and biometric technologies. Apart from border guards, police and customs agencies, the third edition of this ICMPD flagship event also brought together a wide range of other actors from the public and private sectors. During the two thematic roundtables, invited speakers presented their daily practices and achievements, exchanged views and discussed potential developments in border governance as a way to address global risks.

On the occasion of the annual Prague Process Senior Officials' Meeting and ahead of ICMPD's annual flagship event - the Vienna Migration Conference - the Republic of Lithuania, being the current Chair of the Prague Process Strategic Group handed over this important role to the Czech Republic, which will lead the Process in 2021.

The achievements of this important milestone and priorities for the future were summarised in the official statements of the outgoing and incoming Chairs of the Process.

We invite you to watch the statements by following the links:

The Prague Process Migration Observatory announces the release of the new analytical paper 'Building better return and reintegration programs' authored by Glen Swan.

Return and reintegration programs are an important part of overall migration management. Most countries place significant emphasis on entry requirements to regulate migration inflows, and equal emphasis on return and reintegration is necessary. This paper predominantly looks at the voluntary return and addresses those return programs that link with some form of post-return assistance (reception assistance, post-arrival assistance, reintegration assistance) in the country of origin. It identifies efficiencies and methods that represent best practice and increase performance of the program. It also identifies new perspectives and new ways of viewing traditional policy and program settings. Return and reintegration programs are governed by traditional program settings and function in a standardised manner. However, it is important to recognise the limitations of general program settings. This paper examines the function and utility of these programs. Additionally, there is a discussion of major program features and operational challenges. The paper includes findings from a short examination of return and reintegration programs for all fifty Prague Process participant states.

To preview and download the new analytical report please use this link.

On 28 January 2021, the Prague Process organises its 2nd Policy Talk ‘Migration Outlook for 2021: From COVID-19 to the EU’s Pact on Migration and Asylum’ with Mr Jean-Louis De Brouwer, Director of the European Affairs Program, Egmont Institute, and Mr Ralph Genetzke, Director, Head of Brussels Mission, ICMPD. The talk will be moderated by Mr Martijn Pluim, Director, Migration Dialogues and Cooperation at ICMPD.

The distinguished panellists will discuss the key migration policies to watch in 2021, focusing on the EU and its neighbourhood. Building on the main lessons from 2020, they will look into the various implications of COVID-19 on migration and mobility, trying to sketch out the ‘new normal’ following an eventual recovery from the ongoing health emergency. The internal and external dimensions of the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum shall be assessed from an international cooperation perspective. The conversation shall also shed light on the megatrends of climate change and digitalisation.

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