Ad-Hoc Query on Strengthening Readmission and Sustainable Reintegration in Kosovo. Requested by HU EMN NCP on 17 th December 2013

Transcription

1 Ad-Hoc Query on Strengthening Readmission and Sustainable Reintegration in Kosovo Requested by HU EMN NCP on 17 th December 2013 Compilation produced on 10 th March 2014 Responses from Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain, United Kingdom plus Norway (20 in Total) Disclaimer: The following responses have been provided primarily for the purpose of information exchange among EMN NCPs in the framework of the EMN. The contributing EMN NCPs have provided, to the best of their knowledge, information that is up-to-date, objective and reliable. Note, however, that the information provided does not 1. Background Information The Hungarian delegation hereby wishes to share some information concerning the project of Strengthening Readmission and Sustainable Reintegration in Kosovo. Overall objective of the project to support the Kosovo Authorities in the proper management and implementation of the system for readmission and sustainable reintegration of returnees in Kosovo. Purpose of the project is to facilitate an integrated and comprehensive approach for sustainable reintegration of returnees in Kosovo through strengthening administrative and institutional capacities of relevant institutions and ensuring the provision of comprehensive socio-economic measures to beneficiary families. 1 of 14

2 The project leaders are the Administration of the Republic of Austria and the Agency for European Integration and Economic Development (AEI) of Austria. The implementation period of the project is 24 months, Hungary as a co-partner participating in the project. One of our tasks is to develop a pilot project for an information campaign between EU-MS and Kosovo. In order to be able to make a successful campaign, we need some information from the Member States. On that basis, the Hungarian delegation has prepared a set of questions which are largely of relevance only for those Member States in which live currently significant number of Kosovo citizens. However, the Hungarian delegation also encourages other delegations to send their views on specific points raised in the questionnaire. The Hungarian delegation would appreciate if EMN NCPs could help our work, so we invite NCPs to send their replies to the questionnaire. The Ministry of Interior of Hungary via EMN HU NCP would like to receive information on the following questions: 1. Does in your country live significant number of Kosovo citizens? If yes, could you provide statistics on them? 2. Could you provide statistics on the number of irregular Kosovo migrants in your country? 3. Has any media campaign/awareness campaign launched in your country which aimed the return of irregularly staying Kosovo migrants? If yes, could you provide more information on them? 4. Is there any NGO which supports voluntary return of irregularly staying Kosovo migrants? If yes, could you list the relevant NGOs (and their contact details, if there are available)? 5. Has any program/project launched by the relevant governmental organisations/institutions supporting the voluntary return of irregularly staying Kosovo migrants? If yes, could you provide a short description on relevant projects? Supported by EU Supported by EU/ Schengen members country Supported by NGO s Name of the program/ project Name of the leader organization/agency Time period of the 2

3 program/project How many co-partners were/are involved in the project from the EU or Schengen Member States Supported organization/ partners in Kosovo Goals and outcomes of the project How many Kosovar citizens participated in the project (between 2010 and the first half of 2013) Is there a follow-up to the return assistance? If you have, what kind of results? The availability of reintegration projects for the citizens of Kosovo (which can be shared with the authorities in Kosovo)? The HU EMN NCP would very much appreciate if we could receive your responses by 17 th January

4 2. Responses Wider Dissemination? Austria No This EMN NCP has provided a response to the requesting EMN NCP. However, they have requested that it is not disseminated further. Belgium Yes 1. On 29 January 2014: This is the number of persons recorded in the registers of the municipalities, including all kinds of legal statuses (refugees, beneficiaries of subsidiary protection, people regularized for humanitarian reasons, family reunification, work, study ), as well as persons who are still in procedure. 2. To have an idea of the number of irregular Kosovar migrants in Belgium, it is worth looking at the number of interceptions made by the Police. These numbers however relate to persons in respect of whom the presumption of nationality is very strong but not proven; some persons may also have been intercepted more than once or even multiple times; other persons are never subject to interception etc. The number of interceptions is therefore only an indication of how many illegal persons are staying on the Belgian territory. In 2013, 181 persons were intercepted in respect of whom the Kosovar nationality was presumed. In 2012 there were 162 persons intercepted. In 2011, there were 252 persons intercepted Awareness raising for, inter alia Kosovar, asylum seekers (orally and/or via leaflets Annex 1) Leaflets, including information on low recognition rate for Kosovar (but also Bulgarian, Slovak, Romanian, Bosnian, Serb, Macedonian and Albanian) asylum seekers, overstay and voluntary return assistance, are handed out to (new arriving) asylum seekers from the Balkans. Leaflets are also provided along with decisions. 3.2 Information hotline for fast track voluntary return Since 2010 has a hotline, that is staffed with multilingual call-takers (Dutch, French, English, Albanian, Macedonian, Rom and Serbo- Croatian), been created with the objective to organise a fast track voluntary return. The target group are new arriving asylum seekers from the Balkans (first intake) and those who have received a negative decision. The return is organised either by bus or by flight Information tools Assistance in returning those ordered to leave the territory (Annex 2) A leaflet Assistance in returning, that includes information on rights and duties, is provided along with the notification of an order to leave the territory. It is handed out by the Immigration Office, the local authorities, the Police, the Federal Agency for the Reception of Asylum Seekers (Fedasil), etc. It clearly promotes voluntary return so as to avoid forced return. It explicitly refers to the voluntary return programme, executed by the International Organization for Migration and Caritas International, by order of Fedasil. Other tools (brochures, posters, DVD, website ( providing this information, were created in more than 20 languages (Dutch, English, French, Albanian, Arabic, Armenian, Georgian, Russian, Chinese, Hindi, Punjabi, etc.). Through leaflets, posters and the Sefor-website, those ordered to leave the territory are clearly encouraged to comply with their order to leave the territory and to contact 4

5 the Federal Agency for the Reception of Asylum Seekers (Fedasil), IOM or the Immigration Office (Sefor unit voluntary return) to make arrangements for their return. They are informed that if they do not choose to leave, they can be subject to an entry ban from 3 to 8 years. 4. The Federal Agency for the Reception of Asylum Seekers (Fedasil), which is responsible for the reception of asylum seekers and other target groups, coordinates the various voluntary return programmes. For the latter, Fedasil works together with the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) and Caritas International. Each of them has its own extended network of partner organisations in the countries of origin. The Belgian Immigration Office also contributes to the promotion of voluntary return by closely following the persons to whom an order to leave the country has been notified. This is done through a dedicated unit in the Immigration Office, through 4 liaison agents in the biggest cities and through the communal and local police services. 5. See question 3. Attachments: EMN annex 1.pdf EMN annex 2_SEFORflyer1.docx EMN annex 2_SEFORflyer2.docx Bulgaria NO This EMN NCP has provided a response to the requesting EMN NCP. However, they have requested that it is not disseminated further. Czech Republic NO This EMN NCP has provided a response to the requesting EMN NCP. However, they have requested that it is not disseminated further. Estonia Yes 1-2. No, we may provide Eurostat statistics on Kosovo citizens in Estonia: Kosovo all valid residence permits first permits 1 (family r.) 2 (family and study) found to be illegally present order to leave returned following an order to leave

6 asylum seekers granted protection No 4. Voluntary return is supported in Estonia by IOM Varre project, according to their statistics there is no supported Kosovo citizens. 5. No. Only information we could provide is that on bilateral agreements: on 17 May 2013 the government of the Republic of Estonia and the government of the Republic of Kosovo signed an agreement and implementation protocol for the readmission of persons residing without authorisation and on development co-operation. In the first half of 2011 the joint merger project of Estonia and Finland began, through which they are advising Kosovo on the creation of a school of security sciences. On behalf of Estonia the Estonian Academy of Security Sciences is participating. Between 2008 and 2010 six students from Kosovo participated in master s studies at the Estonian University of Life Sciences within the framework of the EU project Support to European Integration. Finland NO This EMN NCP has provided a response to the requesting EMN NCP. However, they have requested that it is not disseminated further. France NO This EMN NCP has provided a response to the requesting EMN NCP. However, they have requested that it is not disseminated further. Germany Yes 1. At 31 December 2013, according to figures of the German Central Register of Foreigners there were Kosovo citizens living in Germany. 2. Statistical data are not available. 3. No. 4. Currently, there are two projects from German NGOs which support voluntary returnees especially to Kosovo (other NGOs in DE are promoting voluntary return in general including Kosovo): Arbeiterwohlfahrt in Pristina Contact details: Arbeiterwohlfahrt Kreisverband Nürnberg e.v. Kosovoprojekt Project leader: Martina Sommer Tel: martina.sommer@awo-nbg.de 6

7 Diakonie Kosova in Mitrovica Chairman Bernd Baumgarten Managing director Nysret Krasniqi Tel: (0) Mobile: (0) Supported by EU Supported by EU/ Schengen members country Name of the program/ project URA 2 Name of the leader organization/agency Time period of the program/project How many co-partners were/are involved in the project from the EU or Schengen Member States Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) Division 212 International Cooperation Projects (with annual extension) URA 2 started in January Since October 2013 France is involved in the project. In an initial pilot project, the partner authority French Office for Immigration and Integration (OFII) is using the German infrastructure in Kosovo within URA 2 to support voluntary returnees from France. Supported organization/ partners in Kosovo Ministry of Internal Affairs Kosovo and local authorities responsible for returnees and reintegration Several NGOs supporting returnees from Germany 7

8 The aims of URA 2 are: further improvement of the reintegration management establishment and consolidation of a network for a sustainable reintegration of returnees individual support of voluntary and nonvoluntary returnees as well as locals to a lesser extent counselling, care and help Goals and outcomes of the project The project has continued to develop successfully in It was able to create a sustainable return management in the Republic of Kosovo. The support of URA 2 facilitated the reintegration of people returning to their home country and have in many cases especially through vocational trainings, job and job-creation placements, business start-ups contributed to a sustainable reintegration. Another important goal should be to continue to accompany the Kosovarian government in the implementation of their Reintegration Programme. URA 2 will offer assistance whereever possible and necessary to achieve a long-term self-responsible implementation of the reintegration of returnees 8

9 through the Kosovarian state. How many Kosovar citizens participated in the project (between 2010 and the first half of 2013) Is there a follow-up to the return assistance? If you have, what kind of results? Until June 2013, Kosovarian returnees and locals were supported by URA 2 Recently, we are working on an evaluation of the project. With this evaluation, on the one hand, the quality of services of the Return Center URA 2, and on the other hand, the sustainability of the support measures as well as the effective reintegration in Kosovo are evaluated. The availability of reintegration projects for the citizens of Kosovo (which can be shared with the authorities in Kosovo)? Hungary NO This EMN NCP has provided a response to the requesting EMN NCP. However, they have requested that it is not disseminated further. Italy Yes 1. According to 2011 ISTAT data, there are 22,778 Kosovo nationals regularly residing in Italy. 2. No statistics on irregularly staying Kosovo citizens are available because the exact number of irregularly staying immigrants in Italy is not known. However, it is possible to assert that irregular immigration constitutes only an exiguous percentage of the total and, therefore, the number of Kosovo immigrants irregularly present in Italy is very low. 3. No informative campaigns specifically aimed at Kosovo nationals have been implemented. However, the Italian Network for Assisted Voluntary Return (RIRVA) has launched a generalized campaign on voluntary assisted return targeting third-country nationals from all countries. This campaign aims to raise awareness on existing initiatives on return and to give diffusion to the National Help Desk 9

10 on Return, which provides immigrants with information by phone or through Information Points throughout Italy (see leaflet: 4. No. 5. A project called Family Tracing, funded by the Ministry of Labour and implemented by IOM, was launched in May This project targets unaccompanied minors (UAM) from Kosovo, Egypt, Morocco, Albania, Serbia, Montenegro and Moldavia who are residing irregularly in Italy. Its aim is to trace the families of 700 UAMs to collect information on the minor s context of origin in order to understand what pushed the minor to emigrate and to identify situations of vulnerability. This information will then serve either to create an ad-hoc integration process in Italy or to evaluate the possibility of return to the country of origin, accompanied by reintegration measures (mainly educational and/or labour insertion) ( Moreover, the Italian Authority responsible for the Return Fund has launched a series of return projects in the time frame from 2009 to During this time, a total of 8 Kosovo nationals have been returned with the following projects: PARTIR I (1); PARTIR II (1); PARTIR III: (1); PARTIR III bis (4); PARTIR IV (1). The PARTIR projects are funded by the European Return Fund and implemented by IOM. They are mostly targeted to immigrants in situations of vulnerability, and their aim is to provide orientation and pre-departure counselling, trip organization, reintegration and other services in the home country. Latvia Yes 1. According to Population Register data in Latvia resides 4 Kosovo citizens. Lithuania Yes 1. No. 2. In 2013 hasn t been issued any return decision to Kosovo citizens. 3. No media campaign has been launched. 4. None NGO supports voluntary return of Kosovo citizens. 5. IOM Riga Office implements Voluntary Return Program for illegally staying third country nationals but this program is not focused on Kosovo citizens. 2. Not in the data for No. 4. Assisted voluntary return is provided by the IOM Vilnius office unless return to a particular country is suspended. 10

11 5. No. Luxembourg No This EMN NCP has provided a response to the requesting EMN NCP. However, they have requested that it is not disseminated further. Netherlands No This EMN NCP has provided a response to the requesting EMN NCP. However, they have requested that it is not disseminated further. Poland Yes 1. Statistics on the number of Kosovo citizens in Poland shows that their participation in the overall number of foreigners is minor, around 0,05%. In 2012 only 52 citizens of the Republic of Kosovo possessed valid residence permit to stay on the territory of Poland [EU long-term resident`s residence permit - 15; residence permit for a fixed (specified) period - 37], whereas in 2013 the number rised up to 59 foreigners from Kosovo [permit to settle 19; EU long-term resident`s residence permit -1; residence permit for a fixed (specified) period - 39]. 2. There is no data as regards to the number of irregular Kosovo migrants in Poland. Available statistics point that in 2013 only 4 foreigners from the Republic of Kosovo were granted the decision on expulsion (out of 950 issued in total) and no decision on obliging to leave the territory of the Republic of Poland on voluntary basis was made. In 2012 toward one citizen of the Republic of Kosovo a decision on obliging to leave the territory of Poland was issued (out of 5890), no deciosion on expulsion was issued. 3. There is no media campaign/awareness campaign aimed at organising returns of Kosovar citizens. In 2012 there was a nationwide campaign aimed at irregular migrants in general including Kosovar citizens. 4. There are no any NGOs which support voluntary returns of Kosovo citizens. International Organization for Migration is responsible for supporting voluntary returns for irregular migrants in general (including Kosovar citizens). 5. There are no any projects aimed at organising voluntary returns of Kosovar citizens. Projects presently realized provide assistance in voluntary return for irregular migrants in general including Kosovar citizens. Portugal Yes 1. No. In 2012 was recorded in Portugal 14 citizens of Kosovo. 2. One. Detected in irregular situation of staying in national territory. 3. N/A. 4. N/A. 11

12 5. N/A. Slovak Republic Yes 1. No. In the Slovak Republic lives only small number of migrants from Kosovo. To 31 December 2013 only 34 migrants from Kosovo had a valid residence permit in the Slovak Republic (total number of foreigners with valid residence permit to this date was ). 2. Yes. In irregular migrants from Kosovo were detected, in 2012 it was 5 migrants and in migrants. 3. The Slovak Republic does not have any specific programmes aimed at promoting voluntary return for Kosovo migrants. 4. Assisted Voluntary Returns in the Slovak Republic are carried out only by International Organisation for Migration (IOM) in close cooperation with the Bureau of Border and Aliens Police of the Police Force Presidium based on the Agreement of Cooperation between the Ministry of Interior of the SR and the International Organization for Migration of 20 August 1998 on Assistance in the Return of Rejected Asylum Applicants and Irregular Migrants to Their Countries of Origin. Programme is available for all non EU nationals - irregular migrants and asylum seekers regardless of their country of origin and not specifically aimed only to certain nationalities. More information are available here 5. Assisted Voluntary Return Programmes in the Slovak Republic were financed by European Refugee Fund ( ) and European Return Fund (since 2008) aimed at the whole target group regardless of their nationality. Slovenia Yes There have been 83 illegal border crossings of Kosovo citizens in this year. 34 Kosovo citizens have been detected illegally staying in Slovenia. No campaigns have been launched. There are no NGO focused on supporting voluntary returns of Kosovo citizens. Spain Yes 1.) Our statistics do not include data about Kosovo citizens. 2.) Our statistics do not include data about Kosovo citizens. Since 2009, no Kosovo national has applied for any of the Voluntary Return Programs subsidized by the Directorate General for Migration. 3.) No media campaign has been launched specifically aimed at kosovo nationals. 4.) There is no specific program for kosovar citizens 12

13 5.) The Ministry of Employment and Social Security via Secretariat General for Immigration and Emigration, Directorate General of Integration of Immigrants, has been subsidizing non profit entities in order to manage programmes destined to migrants present in Spain to return to their country of origin in a voluntary basis. But there is no specific program for Voluntary Return of kosovar citizens. United Kingdom Yes 1. The UK does not have a significant number of Kosovan Nationals residing in the country. 2. No we are unable to provide statistics on the number of irregular Kosovan migrants in the UK. 3. No There have not been any media/awareness campaigns launched in the UK specifically aimed at irregularly staying Kosovan Migrants as this is not an issue for the UK. 4. N/A 5. N/A Norway Yes 1. According to Statistics Norway, there were about persons from Kosovo living in Norway in No, we cannot. 3. NO specific outreach to just population from Kosovo! General Outreach for Voluntary Return Potential beneficiaries of IOM return programmes; asylum seekers with a negative decision, including asylum seekers in the process waiting for a decision, and irregular migrants. + Migrant groups networks/organisations, media in Norway, non-governmental humanitarian organisations who are in contact with the groups mentioned in target group number 1 above, and government agencies working with migrants. Main actions and outcomes: + ensuring that national and municipal stakeholders, NGOs and migrant organizations have increased knowledge about IOM s services in particular the Voluntary Assisted Return Program (VARP) in support of migrants: and + Ensuring that migrants are provided with information on the VARP through different means and channels. 4. NO special focus on this group. 5. This population also qualifies for Norway s Programme for Assisted Return, but does not receive any cash assistance. 13

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