Today, IOM Kosovo and Ministry of Internal Affairs have signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the aim to cement the cooperation on Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration.

This year we are marking two decades of IOM's presence in Kosovo. Since June 1999 IOM joined the efforts of the international community to invest in a durable peace process and assist the population in rebuilding their lives and working for the future. Through a large portfolio of projects, IOM Kosovo has worked closely with Kosovo Government and Countries of Destination in supporting more than 220,000 Kosovars who wished to return back under different IOM assisted voluntary return and reintegration Programs.

Besides the direct assistance to individual beneficiaries, IOM in close partnership and cooperation with MIA has made a significant contribution in designing and implementing capacity building activities for the respective departments and for the development of legislation and strategic documents that regulates migration management.

In response to the new migration challenges IOM jointly with Frontex, EASO and UNHCR launched the new IPA funded Program “ Regional support to protection and sensitive migration management in the Western Balkans and Turkey” with the aim to develop and operationalize a comprehensive migration management system in line with EU standards. One of the specific objectives of the Program is focusing on the establishment of Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration mechanism at regional level and operational cooperation with the countries of origin.

In line with the objectives of the Program, IOM jointly with MIA within the new “Law on amending and supplementing the law on foreigners” included the new article on Assisted voluntary return which says “ In the light of encouraging assisted voluntary return, the Ministry may conclude agreements or cooperate with other countries competent bodies, international organizations and civil society”. This article opened the door for even greater cooperation between IOM and the MIA on issues related to the Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration.

DCAM officials having demonstrated professionalism in developments of New Statistical Module within the existing DCAM database that will produce periodic reports compliant to Eurostat templates.  Regionally harmonized and EU compliant templates for data collecting will promote greater standardization and facilitate direct comparison of migration trends in the region.

IOM would like to commend MIA for hard work, dedication and commitment in the field of migration management.

We look forward to continuing our excellent cooperation!

_{Pictured from left to right): IOM Kosovo Chief of mission Tajma Kurt, Minister of Internal Affairs Ekrem Mustafa, UN Development Koordinator Ulrika Richardson.}