Creation of a Voluntary Return European Network (VREN) (2012 - 2013)

Geographical Coverage: Austria, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Finland, France, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Portugal, Slovakia, Spain, Switzerland

Duration: January 2012 – December 2013

Status: Completed

Summary: The “Voluntary Return European Network” (VREN) is a two-year project prepared jointly between IOM and 16 Member States in Europe namely, Austria, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Finland, France, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Portugal, Slovakia, Spain, and Switzerland. The project aims at setting up a European network on voluntary returns in the 27 EU Member States, Norway and Switzerland, benefiting governmental, non-governmental, and international stakeholders involved in voluntary return. The network will also include members covering the scope of the work in relation to reintegration and return related activities in countries of origin. The overall objective of the project is to facilitate and promote coherent and harmonized voluntary return management policy in Europe. VREN specifically aims at the creation of a sustainable and solid web-based exchange mechanism (in the form of a website) to strengthen and increase coordination and improve information sharing among stakeholders in both Europe (EU MS, Switzerland and Norway) and countries of origin in the field of voluntary return and reintegration. The website will be a forum where all information from the regional and national contexts will be consolidated and accessible to members of the network and the public at large.