The Czech government has received proposals from the International Organization for Migration (IOM) regarding mobility and migration. In a time of war that affects millions of people and has implications for migration in the area and around the world, Czechia has taken over as EU Council Presidency.
“Czechia has been a major host country to people fleeing Ukraine,” said Ola Henrikson, IOM Regional Director for the European Economic Area, the European Union and NATO. “The unprecedented expression of solidarity, reception and support is shifting to a longer-term approach that will need to encompass wider economic and social inclusion.”
“The challenges and opportunities extend beyond the Ukraine crisis. Comprehensive migration governance, including action to mitigate climate change impacts on human mobility, is needed more than ever in today’s setting,” Henrikson said.
IOM first urges the Presidency to support adaptable and sustainable routes for inclusion and labor mobility. Inclusion of and access to resources for migrants and refugees, as well as recruiting talent and skills to the EU through increased labor migration, can lessen economic downturns, foster shared prosperity, and strengthen social cohesion.
The guidelines also take into account the fact that over 1 billion individuals worldwide lack valid identification, which may prevent them from accessing essential services and preventing them from moving freely. In order to support sustainable development and secure, orderly people mobility, IOM consequently urges the Presidency to promote the registration of legal identification and integrated digital instruments.
Comprehensive migration governance still requires dialogue and partnerships for effective return, sustained reintegration, and migrant readmission. IOM suggests a whole-of-route approach that encourages aided voluntary return, sustainable reintegration, and readmission cooperation frameworks that guarantee return procedures comply with international norms.
Last but not least, IOM implores the Czech Presidency to prioritize boosting support for the nations and people most vulnerable to the effects of climate change in light of the 2022 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP27). The EU should increase its support for building resilience against climate change and for individuals who are moving, moving, and staying put.
IOM is prepared to continue assisting the Presidency, the EU, and its Member States in putting in place balanced, all-encompassing policies and programs that address every aspect of migration and the migration pathways.
