Cooperations and return policies to reduce irregular migration movements between Austria and Serbia Olivera Kovacevic Dr. Katerina Kratzmann National Contact.

Cooperations and return policies to reduce irregular migration movements

between Austria and Serbia

Olivera Kovacevic

Dr. Katerina Kratzmann

National Contact Point Austria in the European Migration NetworkIOM ViennaNibelungengasse 13/41010 [email protected]

Overview

Austria:Setting the context: Migration from Serbia to AustriaPolicy approach on irregular migration ATReturn from Austria to Serbia Cooperation to reduce irregular Migration

Serbia:Arriving in Serbia (Institutions)Policy approach on irregular migration SRBSocio-economic profile of returnees Challenges for re-integration

Setting the context - stock foreign born

Historic ties

Second biggest

group of foreign

born

Source: Statistics Austria, Statistics of the Population Stock, 1.1.2011.

Serbia among the top 10 countries of origin

Tendency decreasing: in 2011, Serbian nationals not among top 10

Source: Federal Ministry of the Interior, Asylum Statistics 2006 -2011.

Setting the context - asylum applications

SRB most important group of refusals of entry

SRB among the top 10 counties of apprehended persons illegally present

SRB most important group of orders to leave

SRB top 2 among returns following an order to leave

Setting the context - irregular migration

Austria´s policy approach on irregular migration

Irregular migration seen as major international challenge of internal security

New „7 Measures Package“1. Obligation of Presence for asylum seekers (5-7 days)

2. Implementation of concept „Aliens Police NEW“ 

3. Icreased requirements in the case of risk of absconding

4. Enforced application of technical means

5. Enforced use of Central Register of Registration

6. Task Force against Irregular Migration

7. Enforced cooperation on the international level

Return from Austria to Serbia

Serbia used to be Top 1 country of Assisted Returns over last years, Top 3 in 2011 for IOM

Forced Return is regulated on the basis of a bilateral Readmission Agreement from 2005 (renewed 2011)

Serbia was Top 1 country of forced returns in 2007 and 2008, in 2009 Top 3

Trend towards more voluntary return

Source: Austrian Federal Ministry of the Interior.

Cooperation to reduce irregular migration

Western Balkans as „Hot Spot“ top priority for cooperation in the field of irregular migration

Cooperatiuon in Counter Trafficking and Smuggeling of Human Beings

Different Initiatives: Police Equal Performance Initiative (PEP)Forum SalzburgILECUs: “Establishment of International Law

Enforcement Coordination Units” Twinning-project “Implementation of the Integrated

Border Management Strategy in the Republic of Serbia“

Arriving in Serbia

Civil wars 1992 - 1999

Political instability

Economic breakdown

Massive emigration (In 10 years decrease in population 200. 000)

Population today 7.498.001 (estimation)

86.000 refugees and iDPs

First in the world in number of refugees per capita

Serbia´s policy approach on irregular migration

Bilateral Readmission Agreements,

Serbia - Austria 2005

Office for Readmission at the Airport in Belgrade

Information Bulletin for Returnees

First hand assistance

Emergency Travel Document ("Putni list")

Permanent Residence

Personal Documents

Social Welfare Health care, education employment, accommodation, legal assistance

Centers for emergency admission

Irregular migration inside Serbia

Numbers 2011: record number 4.320 persons; or 130 % more than in 2009

Profile: mostly adult male 20 and 30 years old unemployed.

Routes: Albania – Kosovo – Serbia – Croatia – EU countries Moldova - Romania - Serbia - Croatia – EU countries

Changing country of origin: 2011: Afghanistan, Palestinian and Northern Africa 2008: Albania, Moldova, Ukraine, Romania, Turkey and

China

Socio-economic profile of returnees

App. 1000 returnees annually (3 voluntary/1 forced)

Returns from AT only make a share of 1-7% of returnees over the last 5 years

Main countries migrants returned from in 2011 are Germany, Sweden, Switzerland and Belgium

01-07.11: 850 returnees: Family status: 387 adults, 244 minors, 150 families with children Nationality: Roma (70%), Bosnjak, Serbian, Askali Sex: male 71%, female 21% Main age: 30-40 low educational background and unemployment

Situation in 2011 January /June

Source: High Commissariat for Refugees Readmission report Serbia 2011

Challenges of re-integration

Lack of documentation for regulating status in Serbia (incl. birth certificates)

Costly process for diplomas recognition

Language barriers

Lack of adequate housing/ Transit centers

Unemployment

Enroll children in school

Medical assistance/ psychological support in case of traumatization

THANK YOU!

Contact details:

[email protected]

[email protected]