News

The majority of the nearly 7 million Ukrainian refugees who have left their country since the outbreak of conflict in February 2022 are women who seek protection in neighbouring countries. Many of them are currently located in national capitals or large cities. Recent discussion on how to relieve the pressure on the infrastructure of these cities has focused on accommodating refugees in rural areas. 

The article prepared by Bernhard Perchinig and Jimy Perumadan highlights several important aspects regarding the integration of refugees in rural areas. It is also available in Russian and Ukrainian languages.

The war in Ukraine is having far-reaching repercussions on many countries around the world, including in Africa, where it is affecting food security, job markets and energy prices.

The article prepared by Veronika Bilger and Nesrine Ben Brahim investigates the early impact of the war on food shortages across Africa and what it could mean for displacement in the continent and beyond. It is also available in Russian and Ukrainian languages.

On 12-13 May 2022, Austria and the Czech Republic in its capacity of Prague Process Chair hosted the Prague Process Senior Officials’ Meeting (SOM) in Vienna. The SOM represented the second preparatory meeting for the fourth Ministerial Conference, scheduled for 24-25 October 2022. It gathered 79 officials from 26 countries, the European Commission, EU Council, EEAS, EUAA, Frontex, IOM, JCP and ICMPD.

The Prague Process panel discussion: ‘The War in Ukraine and its Implications for Migration in the Prague Process Region’ is taking place on 28 April 2022 at 10:30-12:30 CET.

Since Russia invaded Ukraine on 24 February 2022, over 12 million people are estimated to have been displaced internally and internationally. The ongoing war has resulted in the fastest-growing refugee crisis since World War II and has direct implications for the trajectory and patterns of migratory movements in the Prague Process region. 

This Panel Discussion will assess the first two months of the war from a migration perspective. The panelists shall discuss the EU’s immediate response, as well as the current situation on the ground. Special attention will be given to the reception conditions under the Temporary Protection Directive and the prospects of successfully integrating the incoming refugees into societies and labour markets. The panel will also look into the wider migration implications across the Prague Process region, including those arising from the unprecedented sanctions imposed on Russia, which has constituted a key country of destination within the region. Finally, the event shall provide post-war migration scenarios, including the return prospect and its drivers, as well as the wider socioeconomic and demographic implications of the migratory movements experienced to date and expected in the future.

The Prague Process Migration Observatory and ICMPD's Regional Coordination Office for Eastern Europe and Central Asia (EECA) regularly monitor and collect the most recent news on a variety of migration-related topics from the EECA region. Herewith, we present you the latest edition of the MEDIA DIGEST covering news released in March 2022.

The 3rd Prague Process Policy Talk ‘Learning from 2021: What migration dynamics and policy developments to expect in 2022?’ with Mr Jean-Louis De Brouwer, Director of the European Affairs Program, Egmont Institute, and Mr Ralph Genetzke, Director, ICMPD Brussels Mission, took place on 20 January 2022. The talk was moderated by Ms Malin Frankenhaeuser, Head of Policy, ICMPD.

Following their first Policy Talk in January 2021, the two distinguished panelists met again to check in how far their expectations for the past year came to reality. Building on the main lessons from 2021, they looked into the year ahead.

How will the COVID-19 pandemic affect migration and mobility in 2022? What policy developments in the area of asylum and migration can we expect at EU level and beyond? What are the prospects for the wider EU neighbourhood? What migration dynamics can we expect? How can the Prague Process contribute to improving migration and mobility across the region? Or is the worst yet to come?

Jean-Louis De Brouwer and Ralph Genetzke tried to address some of these questions in a discussion moderated by Malin Frankenhaeuser.

You may watch the recording in English and Russian.

The Prague Process Policy Talk ‘Labour Mobility in the EU & Beyond: Introducing the European Labour Authority’ with Ms Slavka Eley, Head of Governance and Coordination, European Labour Authority, and Mr Martin Hofmann, ICMPD Principal Advisor, took place on 27 January 2022. The talk was moderated by Mr Alexander Maleev, Project Manager, Prague Process Secretariat at ICMPD.

After an introduction of the role and mandate of the European Labour Authority, its priorities for 2021-2022 and operational activities, the two distinguished panelists jointly assessed some broader trends in European labour markets, their imbalances, sector-specific challenges and recurring problems. The focus was on the implications of all this for labour mobility within the EU and beyond. In how far could enhanced intra-EU mobility, a targeted upskilling effort and the contribution of third-country nationals contribute to tackling existing and forthcoming skills shortages? What about the situation of particular mobile groups, i.e. posted, seasonal, tele or care workers, commuting across borders? The Talk also looked at the operational aspects of ELA’s & ICMPD’s work. 

You may watch the recording in English and Russian.

In the new ICMPD Policy Insights Commentary published on 8 March 2022, Justyna Segeš Frelak and Caitlin Katsiaficas, policy analysts at ICMPD, addressed the question of current and future integration of Ukrainians fleeing the war. The Commentary is also available in Russian and Ukrainian languages.

Over 2 million people have fled across Ukraine’s borders following Russia’s invasion on 24 February. Right now, attention is understandably focused on their entry and reception. But soon the EU will need to consider how to best help these newcomers settle in. The activation of the Temporary Protection Directive gives (mainly) Ukrainians the right to access key integration-related services and employment. National administrations now face an enormous challenge to make such access a reality.

On Thursday, 3 March 2022, an Extraordinary Justice and Home Affairs (JHA) Council meeting voted on a proposal by the European Commission to activate the EU’s Temporary Protection Directive for the first time for people fleeing the war in Ukraine. 

In the new ICMPD Policy Insights Commentary published on 2 March 2022, Martin Wagner, a senior policy adviser at ICMPD, analyzed the Temporary Protection Directive and what it means for people. The Commentary is also available in Russian and Ukrainian languages.