The 1st Thematic Workshop of the Pilot Project on Illegal Migration took place at the Polish Ministry of Interior premises in Warsaw on 11–12 March 2013. The event gathered representatives from 21 Prague Process participating states, European Commission, Frontex, International Organisation for Migration (IOM) and International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD). Representatives of academia and non-governmental organisations also took part in the meeting.The workshop was dedicated to the issues related to texts of readmission agreements and negotiations of such agreements and their implementing protocols as well as cooperation on readmission and return with state and non-state agents. Presentations on their national experience in the above-mentioned spheres were delivered by Armenia, Austria, Croatia, Georgia, Hungary, Russia and Turkey. Additionally, Ms. Jana Zacios presented chosen projects realized in the discussed areas by ICMPD.Furthermore, Ms. Paula García Andrade, representing the Universidad Pontificia Comillas in Madrid, delivered a speech entitled “A model text of readmission agreement – is it really doable?” which was complemented by a presentation by Mr. Paweł Busiakiewicz from the EC (DG Devco) on the EU aquis and practice in the field of readmission and return. The issue of cooperation on return and readmission was more broadly presented by speakers from Frontex (Mr. Per Kvistholm, Head of Return Sector), IOM (Ms. Anna Rostocka, Head of Warsaw Office) and the Halina Nieć Legal Aid Centre from Cracow, Poland (represented by Ms. Katarzyna Przybysławska, Chairperson). The workshop concluded with the break-out session during which participants could deliberate in smaller groups on topics discussed over two days of the meeting.
