IOM Kosovo AVRR Report on Returns and Assisted Persons 2017

Current AVRR Projects: 

• Reception Assistance and Onward transportation to final destination
• Reintegration Assistance for Individual Returnees from Switzerland (RAS) & Return Information Fund (RIF)
• Return and Emigration of Asylum Seekers ex Belgium – REAB Programme
• Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration Programme – Luxemburg (AVRR LUX) 
• Complex Reintegration Assistance to Assisted Voluntary Returnees – Hungary (CRAVR)
• Hungarian Assisted Voluntary Return, Reintegration and Information Programme (HAVRRIP)
• Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration Programme - Slovakia
• Programme for the Assistance to Voluntary Return from Italy and Reintegration– PARTIR II
• Facilitated Reintegration Scheme FRS – Post arrival assistance to the returnees from UK
• Reintegration Cash Grant to the returnees from Norway
• Vulnerable Migrant Group Project – Reintegration assistance for the returnees from Norway
• Reintegration Cash Grant to the returnees from Finland
• Family Tracing Activities and Assisted Voluntary Return of Unaccompanied Foreign Minors – Italy
• Centre for the Provision if Information on Return Support (ZIRF)
• Assisted voluntary return for (vulnerable) Irregular migrants AVRR Outreach 2 – Netherlands
• Family Tracing Activities and Assisted Voluntary Return of Unaccompanied Foreign Minors – Italy

IOM Returns:

According to IOM Kosovo data, during the period of January to December 2017, 1818 persons have returned voluntarily and received assistance from IOM. Again, like in previous years, Germany was the country with record number of returnees, a total of 1476 (81%) returnees during the reporting period, indicating that Germany has been the main target as a host country.

There is a group of countries which form second-tier host countries of returnees, led by Austria with 8%, Luxemburg 5%, Belgium 3% and others 3%. If we compare 2017 data with previous years, we see that the number of returnees has fallen drastically. In 2015 there have been 9749 people assisted to return, whereas in 2016 this number already declined to 6511 voluntary returnees. 

This decrease of number of returnees is to be explained by the massive outflow of Kosovars during 2014-2015 and who have subsequently retuned in large numbers during the years 2015-2016. However, it is to be observed that the number of those returned voluntarily and received assistance is significantly smaller compared to those who left during the wave of massive outflows. Based on figures provided from Eurostat, over one hundred thousand (+100.000) Kosovars left during  the end of 2014 – beginning 2015 period. Below are depicted data on returns from host countries to Kosovo aggregated by different categories.

Returns by month:

As already mentioned, returnees from Germany are permanently on the top of the list throughout the year. As we see from the chart, the March month has had the highest number of returnees, again mostly from Germany.

Returns by country of destination:

As stated above Germany has been main target for migrants from Kosovo, leaving behind by far other destination countries with a total number of returnees for the year 2017 of 1476. Austria and Luxemburg are countries following Germany but in remarkably smaller figures, Austria 143 and Luxemburg 82.

Number of beneficiaries

A number of 83 returnees benefited through different IOM assistance packages. It is important to mention that most of EU countries have phased out their reintegration assistance packages for Kosovar citizens and currently mostly vulnerable groups excluding regular returnees are being supported.

Reintegration schemes used

Housing remains the scheme which has been used mostly by returnees. A good portion of beneficiaries figures consist on overpopulated Serbian areas of Gjilan who used assistance to improve living conditions. As the IOM reintegration assistance in the last time focuses mostly in assisting vulnerable cases a significant amount of assistance has been used to assist returnees with medical conditions. It is important to stress the drop of grants invested in the business which can be explained through assistance delivery to vulnerable groups who put medical conditions and decent living conditions as priority.

Business sectors

When a business reintegration scheme was applied, the majority of grants has been used in the agriculture and farming sector followed by trade and gastronomic activities. The beneficiary list is overwhelmingly dominated by returnees from rural area who tend to invest in agricultural activities as one of most available options and most easy branch to enter. In the table below are depicted business sectors where grants have been invested.

During the reporting period an amount of 150,809 Euro has been spent for reintegration purposes.

Unaccompanied Minors (UAMs) from Kosovo in Western Europe

When UAMs from Kosovo are concerned only few countries support them with assisted return and eventually with reintegration assistance. In this regard, two of the countries, Italy and Norway are distinguished in their advanced practices towards treatment of UAMs in general. While Italy is well-known for its pro-stay laws and policies for UAMs, Norway applies strict rules of repatriation of UAMs, including those from Kosovo. 

The IOM Kosovo team realized a total of 54 visits to the families of Minor migrants. Below are shown some figures on this subject.

Visits/minor migrants by Municipalities