Capacity Building, Information and Awareness Raising towards Promoting Orderly Migration in the Western Balkans (AENEAS 2006) (2008 - 2010)
Geographical Coverage: Albania, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Croatia, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia including the Province of Kosovo
Duration: February, 1, 2008 – January 31, 2010
Donor: EC AENEAS 2006
Status: Completed (precursor to MIDWEB)
Summary:
Objectives
The specific objective is to develop and integrate efficient information, advice and referral services for migrants to assist their informed migration decisions while fostering local capacity and knowledge in the area of labour migration policy and practice.
Activities
- Provide information, advice and referral to migrants and potential migrants on the risks of illegal migration, legal migration opportunities as well as possibilities for work or skills development at home, & procedural arrangements through individual and group counselling sessions within Migrant Service Centers (MSCs) based in the participating locations, and with the aid of information materials (leaflets, radio and TV advertising etc)
- Provide on-the-job training (OJT) and gradual handover of the direct assistance to migrants to national authorities, primarily Public Employment Services
- Organise a regional training on labour migration management for government officials and local institutions providing direct assistance to final beneficiaries; translate and disseminate the IOM/ILO/OSCE Handbook on Establishing Effective Labour Migration Policies in Countries of Origin and of Destination
- Conduct country visits and national-level training by IOM/ILO/EU expert groups to all target locations to develop expertise, know-how and exchange information on relevant labour migration management issues tailored to respond to each country’s specific challenges, including on how to regulate and monitor PEA to work alongside PES on migration-related services
- Gather and analyse data/information on migration potential in the Western Balkans, new migration trends, risks of irregular migration and possibilities for legal migration in view of labour market shortfalls in destination countries
- Produce and disseminate a research report on “Legal emigration from the Western Balkans: dream or reality?”
Results and Lessons Learned
- Migrants and potential migrants assisted with information and advice regarding legal migration opportunities and the risks of irregular migration as well as work/skills development possibilities at home;
- Officials trained in providing direct assistance to potential migrants;
- Policy-makers and practitioners sensitised and trained on policy and good practice in the context of current and projected labour market needs;
- A research report on the migration situation, migrant profiles and potential for labour migration in Western Balkans produced and disseminated
Download: Labour Migration Patterns, Policies and Migration Propensity in the Western Balkans (2009)