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Employment is a vital strategy for refugees from Ukraine seeking to rebuild their lives abroad or sustain themselves until it is safe to return. To this end, the first-ever activation of the EU Temporary Protection Directive provides for immediate access to the EU labour market for the over 4 million people who have registered under the scheme. However, this is not the only innovation that has emerged since the seismic events of spring 2022, and represents but the first step in facilitating the employment of refugees from Ukraine.

Upon the invitation of the Ministry of Justice of Georgia, the Prague Process organised the Workshop on the Potential of Digitalisation in the Migration Context in Tbilisi, Georgia, on 24-26 October 2023. The workshop gathered over 70 participants from 16 countries as well as the European Commission, EUAA, IOM, EU Delegation to Georgia, Erasmus University Rotterdam, and independent experts. It represented the first activity of the newly launched Prague Process Digital Lab, a designated area of work within the Prague Process Training Academy and Migration Observatory, which will explore digitalisation as a horizontal issue across the various thematic areas of the Prague Process Action Plan.

On 10-12 October 2023, the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees of Germany (BAMF) in Nuremberg hosted a Prague Process Study Visit. This visit constituted the first activity of Thematic Component 3 (Asylum/Labour migration), bringing together asylum practitioners, decision-makers and policy officials responsible for asylum from 13 countries. It provided a comprehensive insight into the work of the BAMF, incl. the legislative framework, institutional setting, operational practices and various innovative approaches to overcome the manifold challenges confronted.

A Baseline Study on Migration Data Management in Azerbaijan has been published by the EU-funded MOBILAZE 2 project. The study was conducted by ICMPD and EU member states experts. The main objective of this study is to provide comprehensive insight into the current state and practices of migration data management in the Republic of Azerbaijan, with a particular focus on the existing procedures and tools available for data collection, analysis and application. The particular gaps and needs observed in this regard are then laid out and recommendations for improvement are given. The MOBILAZE 2 project team would like to thank all participating Azerbaijani state institutions who gave their valuable insight and recommendations for this study.

This webinar presented the capacity development work of the EU-funded Migration EU Expertise (MIEUX+) Initiative in several Prague Process countries. Joined by experts and partners, MIEUX+ provided insights on a variety of migration topics, illustrated through its recent actions in Azerbaijan, Georgia and Moldova. The thematic scope ranged from integration, to applying a whole-of-government approach and from crisis preparedness to diaspora engagement. The webinar thus presented a number of lessons learned and good practices to inspire the further operationalisation of the Prague Process Action Plan 2023-2027.

You may watch the recording in English and Russian.

Since Russia’s full-fledged invasion of Ukraine, over 13 million people have been displaced internally and internationally, with over 5 million registered for temporary protection across the EU. The war, solidified by political repressions, also sparked considerable outward migration from Russia. Moreover, the war has affected the social, economic, security, political and demographic realities across the entire region and will define the way forward in the years to come.

You may watch the recording in English and Russian.

Following the successful adoption of the Ministerial Declaration and the Prague Process Action Plan 2023-2027 in October 2022, the fourth phase of cooperation was officially launched during the Prague Process Senior Officials’ Meeting (SOM) in Lisbon on 27-28 April 2023, graciously hosted by Portugal. During this important event,  the Czech Republic, the European Commission and the Prague Process Secretariat came together to present the 'Comprehensive Action Plan Support (CAPS)' concept to the Prague Process participating states, who overwhelmingly supported the initiative. The CAPS concept, which is set to be unveiled in autumn 2023, will carry on the work of the Prague Process's major pillars - Dialogue, Training Academy, and Migration Observatory – while also strengthening cooperation within the three targeted thematic components, which will address the key priorities identified among participating states.

On 11-12 May 2023, the Prague Process Secretariat took part in the European Migration Network (EMN) Conference, hosted by the Swedish EU Presidency. The following key takeaways shall inform the Prague Process states and future actions in this field. 

The disasters recently witnessed in Pakistan, France or Germany are a stark reminder of the estimated 3,5 Billion people living in areas severely affected by climate change and environmental degradation and disasters. Their impact on migration is here to stay, often involving socioeconomic struggle and armed conflicts.

This e-course on Integrated Border Management (IBM) is the result of collaboration between the Prague Process and the ICMPD Border Management and Security Programme. A wide range of IBM-related subjects, from definitions to the development of a national IBM Strategy and Action Plan, are covered in this intermediate-level course.  It aims to provide knowledge on IBM, its details and challenges in order to improve state actors’ capacities to comprehend, manage and utilise essential elements. Moreover, the course raises awareness on such issues as fundamental rights protection and migration management that go hand in hand with border management. Beyond the essentials, this e-course addresses other aspects, such as corruption and training that are crucial for the day-to-day operations of border management agencies.

Digitalisation has led to the development of new products, platforms and services, as well as fueled the demands of labour migrants for more information, training and online services. These changes can bring about efficiencies for the public sector by speeding up processes and freeing up employees’ time. Digitalisation also represents an opportunity for countries to attract the best international talent, roll out e-government portals and educate citizens to ensure that they have the relevant digital skills to take advantage of the digital revolution underway while recognizing the skills and qualifications of third-country nationals. This Policy Brief explains the digital products and services available which facilitate labour migration, as well as the current barriers to the use of modern technology. This paper also analyses existing policy measures as well as looks at recommendations on how digitalisation can be leveraged to enable labour migration.