Returning migrants and refugees to their home countries is a highly complex process. As the EU puts the spotlight on return in its agenda, there has been a focus on streamlining the coordination, processes, and cooperation between host, transit, and countries of origin. But equally important, return is a very personal issue for the returnees themselves.

In this episode, ICMPD's Dries Lensen and Peter Neelen explain the complexities and sensitivities of return. They also touch on how ICMPD works with EU Member States and (partner) countries of origin, as well as return counsellors, and digitalisation tools. All of these to ensure the whole process of going back and reintegrating into society is safe, humane, dignified, transparent, effective, and sustainable for the returnees.

More information on the Return and Reintegration Facility (RRF) here.

Since Russia's invasion in 2022, uncertainty continues to loom over several aspects of this conflict on the lives of Ukrainians. Along with lingering displacement of those still in their country, continued destruction of infrastructure, and the temporality of those settled in Europe and elsewhere; the Ukrainian people, moreover, remain resilient and forward-looking.

To mark this sombre moment in Ukraine's modern history, ICMPD Portfolio Manager for Eastern Europe and Central Asia Violeta Wagner, and Project Officer Magda Sabadello discuss the current situation in the country; and how ICMPD continues to engage with both the Ukrainian people and host countries. This includes the displaced and diaspora communities; and the work in labour market integration of Ukrainian women, temporary protection, and support in securing Ukraine's border. They also share personal stories from ICMPD's consultation centres for the displaced in Germany, Poland, and Czech Republic – three of the highest hosting countries for Ukrainians impacted by Russa's aggression.

More information here about ICMPD's ongoing response and collaborations for Ukraine. Read here for more on the Ukrainian Consultation Centres.

There are at least three main drivers for the migration year 2025: the ongoing war in Ukraine, the developments in Syria, and the new government in the United States. ICMPD ́s Migration Outlook report takes a look into the future of migration and describes the most important trends, origins, key events, and priorities for Europe.

At the heart of the ICMPD Migration Outlook there are "10 migration issues to look out for." In this episode, ICMPD ́s principal advisor and Migration Outlook main author Martin Hofmann explains these 10 migration issues. These include the relationship between global and European migration trends, return issues, and future developments in labour migration.

Human trafficking is a migration issue. While movements across and within borders increase, it has remained largely invisible and complex to address. Children and women are also faced with rising threats of abuse and exploitation, especially those on the move.

In this episode, ICMPD Senior Researcher Madalina Lepsa-Rogoz and Sergio Rivera Reyes of Fundación Renacer (Colombia) discuss the HEROES Project in more depth. The research component of HEROES has led to the development of a Manual of new tools and strategies to detect and protect victims of human trafficking, child sexual abuse, and child online sexual exploitation; and to support them in case management and referral services. They also talk about the nuances and forms of trafficking and abuse across the countries covered; and how the Manual is helping first-line responders such as social workers, health professionals, teachers, and law enforcement officers in their work to detect, protect, and refer victims to support services.

Read more about the HEROES Project here, including access to download a copy of the Manual.

Amidst the worsening conditions in Afghanistan, ICMPD's Migrant Resource Centres (MRC) remain agile and responsive. Through its strong engagement with communities, the MRCs adapt to the unique challenges of Afghans – especially women – since the fall of Kabul in 2021 that pushed over three million people to flee.

Samim Ahmadi, ICMPD's Project Manager for the Silk Routes region, shares his insights on their ongoing response to the new and often confronting realities of Afghans, and how the MRCs are reaching migrants more widely from across different time zones now. He also discusses their support to (potential) migrants on legal and safe pathways for migration, the distress and frustration that can happen during consultations, various forward-looking partnerships in Europe, and recent examples of how, particularly women, access academic and employment opportunities in the EU and beyond.

More information on Afghanistan's MRCs here.

In political discourses, migration is often linked with the legal or political conditions of migrants, and how this benefits them in their host countries. There are also prevailing, simplistic notions of "illegal" or "irregular" migration, with the narrative – including in the media – often focused largely on the status of migrants themselves.

In this episode of the Migration Podcast, ICMPD experts Veronika Bilger and Maegan Hendow discuss the results of a study conducted under the MIrreM project that highlights the many ways, policies, the key events, and the other actors beyond governments that influence how migrants fall out of, or into, an irregular status. The study tackles how governments have responded to the issue of irregular migration in their own unique ways, the policy shifts and their rationale, the barriers for migrants to seek pathways out of irregularity, or even choose to remain in their irregular status.

The full study may be downloaded here.

Brussels ushers in new leadership at the European Parliament in June. Migration, along with defence and the economy, will be a key issue to drive the changes in and for the next five years’ politics. To make sense of a future that this new set of leaders may draw up, it is vital to look back to the last five years’ key events that have shaped the migration narrative in Europe and beyond its borders.

Between COVID-19 and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine that triggered the Temporary Protection status; ongoing refugee crises intensified by the fire in Greece’s Moria refugee camp and the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan that drove scores of migrants in the Mediterranean; and finally, the adoption this year of The Pact on Migration and Asylum. ICMPD takes stock at the policy directions and, more importantly, what this means to people – those seeking to reach Europe, those who welcome them and those who ask the question of where we are headed, and those who can potentially enrich the region’s ability to sustain its future.

This extended episode of ICMPD’s Migration Podcast brings together two of our Experts, Hugo Brady and Martin Wagner. They discuss these key events and the policy directions in Brussels, the challenges and opportunities that migration has presented the EU, and the priority actions and policy recommendations that will guide the next five years for the new leaders in Brussels and the rest of the European community.

In a year full of elections, ICMPD expects migration to be a pivotal topic. While many governments implement quick fixes ahead of their electoral cycles, opposition parties are tying their campaigns to migration-related promises.

ICMPD’s 2024 Migration Outlook report forecasts record displacement levels resulting from war and conflict, leading to a further securitization of migration and offshoring of asylum procedures, as well as a rise in secondary movements. These developments are taking place while labour migration is ‘coming of age’ in Europe. The main author of the report, Martin Hofmann, ICMPD Principal Advisor provides an overview.