Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration (AVRR): Global and - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration (AVRR): Global and European trends. AVRR in Malta EMN Maltese NCP Seminar on Assisted Voluntary Return Management in the EU and Malta 12 December 2017 Laura Maciulskaite Officer-in-Charge a.i., Project Manager, AVRR IOM Malta

Assisted Voluntary Concept and definition Return and Reintegration (AVRR) • Orderly, humane, safe and dignified return and reintegration of migrants Principles: who are unable or unwilling to remain • Personal and informed decision in host or transit countries and wish to • Freedom of choice • Absence of coercion return voluntarily to their countries of • Provision of up to date country of origin. origin information • Part of a comprehensive approach to migration management, which includes timely asylum adjudication, effective removals of irregular migrants, regular immigration options and accurate public information on those options. 2017/12/12

AVRR: Impact Impact on migrants: • Takes into account migrant’s decision • Allows for preparation to return • Ensures respect for human rights • Avoids stigma of forced return • Provides counselling, logistical and reintegration support Impact on governments: • Part of a comprehensive approach to migration management • Cost-effective for host countries • Politically palatable to host countries and countries of origin • Promotes international dialogue and cooperation 2017/12/12

AVRR worldwide • Evolution of AVRR: from return transportation arrangements to comprehensive programmes that focus on sustainability of returns. • IOM’s AVRR programmes over the years : - 1.5 million migrants assisted since 1979 - + 512,000 migrants assisted over the last 10 years - + 98,403 migrants assisted in 2016 - 55,577 migrants assisted with AVRR from 1 January to 30 September 2017 (72.88% of this number - from EEA and Switzerland). • Preparatory process of the GCM: IOM is contributing thematic expertise; 2 thematic papers focused specifically on AVRR published in 2017. 2017/12/12

AVRR trends in the EU/EEA (2017) • 43,755 migrants voluntarily returned from the EEA and Switzerland with IOM’s support from 1 January to the end of October 2017. • Top host countries: Germany, Greece, Belgium, Austria, The Netherlands. • Top countries of origin: Albania, Iraq, Serbia, FYROM, Ukraine. • Return recognized as a priority for the EU and EU MS and as a paramount tool to respond to the current migration situation in Europe: EU Action Plan on Return (2015/09), Valletta Summit Action Plan (2015/11), Renewed Action Plan on Return and recommendations issued by the EC (2017/03/02). • Linkages of AVRR with development objectives . 2017/12/12

Malta – Migration features: From 2002 to 2014 , > 19,000 sea-borne asylum seekers and irregular migrants landed in Malta. Since 2014 : • decline in boat arrivals, however, increase in arrivals through other channels (including air arrivals); • no substantial changes in the number of asylum applications submitted in Malta. National context: • Strong economy, with low unemployment and labour demand that cannot be satisfied internally – pull factor for migrants. • MHAS continuous support to the AVRR programme in Malta implemented by IOM. • AVRR as an individual choice for economic, social or family related reasons and as part of strategy to address irregular migration. • Changes in beneficiary trends throughout the years. 2017/12/12

AVRR in Malta • AVRR operations from Malta - since 2007. • From 2009/01 to 2015/06, five consecutive RF-funded AVRR projects implemented in Malta by IOM, in partnership with MHAS:  RESTART I: 2009 25 returnees assisted  RESTART II: 2010 - 2011 65 returnees assisted  RESTART III: 2012 - 2013 73 returnees assisted  RESTART IV: 2013-2014 75 * returnees assiste d  RESTART V: 2014-2015 33 returnees assisted * 72 adults and 3 children assisted to return to their CoOs with their parents • 6 th consecutive phase of the AVRR project - RESTART VI , - funded by the EU under AMIF - under implementation since July 2016. • Strengthening cooperation in the field of AVRR: projects CoMAM, CoMAM II, ‘Enhanced Cooperation’. 2017/12/12

Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (2014-2020) Project part-financed by the European Union Co-financing rate: 75% EU Funds; 25% Beneficiary Funds Sustainable Management of Migration Flows Planned activities and expected results RESTART VI (MT/2015/AMIF/1.01) ) • Project launch meeting; mid-term review and evaluation • Objective: to further support meeting; regular exchanges with MHAS, the RA, relevant the efforts of the Government of stakeholders. Malta in making the possibility • Information dissemination strategy, including: of AVRR available to TCNs o Production and dissemination of information wishing to avail themselves of it, materials (booklets, leaflets, posters, cards). and to thereby contribute to the o 12 quarterly focus groups with staff of closed and effectiveness of overall open accommodation centres. migration management. o Outreach in the community, incl. 36 monthly information campaigns, 15 awareness-raising • Implementation period: lunches in migrant-owned restaurants. 2016/07/01 – 2019/06/30 • AVRR counselling; provision of voluntary return and reintegration assistance to up to 170 beneficiaries, • Budget: EUR 1,249,972.42 among them – to up to 5 vulnerable persons. • Monitoring of up to 170 reintegration cases. • Co-financing: AMIF (75%); MHAS (25%) 2017/12/12

Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (2014-2020) Project part-financed by the European Union Co-financing rate: 75% EU Funds; 25% Beneficiary Funds Sustainable Management of Migration Flows RESTART VI Third-country (non- EU) nationals who… (MT/2015/AMIF/1.01): – have not yet received a final negative decision in Beneficiaries relation to their request for international protection in Malta; • Changes in beneficiary trends over the past few years. – enjoy the right to stay, legal residence and/or international protection within the meaning of Directive 2011/95/EU, or temporary protection • Greater emphasis on and within the meaning of Directive 2001/55/EC in specific measures for vulnerable Malta; groups (UMCs, persons with medical needs, families/single – are present in Malta and do not or no longer fulfil the conditions for entry and/or stay in Malta, parents returning with children). including those TCNs whose removal has been postponed in accordance with Art. 9 and Art. • Those whose deportation 14(1) of Directive 2008/115/EC process has not yet started. … are eligible to apply for assistance under RESTART VI. 2017/12/12

Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (2014-2020) Project part-financed by the European Union Co-financing rate: 75% EU Funds; 25% Beneficiary Funds Sustainable Management of Migration Flows Return / Pre- Post-return Transportation departure • • • Outreach, return Pre-departure cash Reception, information & information and counselling (preparation allowance (EUR 200); counselling; for the reintegration • Assistance at phase); • Identification of special embarkation; • needs; Socio-economic • Transit assistance (incl. • reinsertion & reintegration Assistance with obtaining escorts for vulnerable assistance (EUR 3,800, in- travel documents; migrants); kind); • • Travel arrangements (flight Temporary • Monitoring and evaluation. tickets; arrangements for accommodation & transit & arrival assistance; onward transportation to arrangements for family/community. medical/operational escorts, if needed). 2017/12/12

Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (2014-2020) Project part-financed by the European Union Co-financing rate: 75% EU Funds; 25% Beneficiary Funds Sustainable Management of Migration Flows Activities implemented and results achieved to date • Project launch meeting ; regular exchanges with MHAS, the RA, stakeholders. • Information dissemination strategy developed; being implemented: o Focus groups with staff of HTV and MOC; information session to the Monitoring Board for Detained Persons organized. o Leaders of migrant communities, governmental agencies, diplomatic representations, IOs, and NGOs engaged in outreach. o Focal points for AVRR in 5 open centres – HTV, HFO, MOC, DIL, Balzan – identified. Fixed schedule of ‘AVRR contact hours’ devised. o Information sheet shared with RefCom (to be handed out with decisions rejecting asylum applications). o 2 awareness-raising lunches in migrant-owned restaurants organized. o 5 information sessions for migrants organized. o Focal point for medical cases appointed. o Information materials – 700 leaflets and 120 posters (EN; FR; AR), 1,500 cards (EN; FR; AR; SO; AM) developed; dissemination ongoing. o Over 300 persons participated in different information events and activities. 2017/12/12