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Migration, Asylum, Refugees Regional Initiative MARRI |
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So far, displacement matters were the responsibility of the Regional Return
Initiative (RRI -Working Table I) while migration and asylum issues fell under
Justice and Home Affairs in the Migration and Asylum Initiative (MAI - Working
Table III). Soeren Jessen-Petersen, in his capacity as chairman of both initiatives
has outlined a streamlined and integrated approach, which was endorsed by Justice
and Interior Ministers in Tirana (12 December 2002) and by the Stability Pact
Regional Table in Thessaloniki (16 Deceber 2002) MARRI will cover:
- asylum
- legal migration
- illegal migration
- border management
- visa
policy and entry policies
- return/settlement of refugees/displaced persons
In
the months to come a regional roadmap for action will be developed. Due attention
will be paid to coordinate closely with activites already underway elsewhere,
inside or outside the Stability Pact. The geographic scope of MARRI will be extended
beyond the five SAP countries (Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, FYR Macedonia,
Yugoslavia) to include neighboring candidate countries Bulgaria and Romania, as
well as Moldova. Documents Refugee
Return Migration
and Asylum
Documents
Refugee Return
Objective
The
right of refugees and displaced persons to return and repossess property is the
foundation for lasting peace in the region. Although the provision of reconstruction
assistance remains key, return is not solely driven by funding. In the absence
of indisputable and harmonious legislative procedures throughout the region for
repossession of property by refugees and displaced persons, the return process
will not move forward. Conditions for the sustainability of returnees, such as
social benefits, employment and education, must also be established. The impediments
to return and repossession of property remain both funding-related and political.
The pattern of displacement and the conditions for return call for a regional
and comprehensive approach. The objective of the Regional Return Initiative (RRI)
is to support co-ordination of international action for return and to provide
a dialogue framework to pursue these ends with increased efficiency.
Description
The
Regional Return Initiative has been launched by the Special Co-ordinator of the
Stability Pact at the request of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees and involves
the main agencies in return issues (UNHCR, OHR and OSCE). It is based on the formation
of a Steering Committee on Refugee Matters that is its executive body. Drawing
upon commitments from governments and partners in the region, the RRI supports
the co-ordination of international action on return and delegates specific tasks
and co-ordinate essential action by the three Working Tables to remove obstacles
to return and to promote sustainability. The UNHCR, the HIWG and the PIC continue
to provide the general policy framework for solutions to displacement of populations
and return, and for addressing key political, legislative, and economic obstacles.
The RRI ; - supports the pratical implementation of agreements,
legislation, and commitemments made by regional governments at political level,
with the support of the relevant agencies (UNHCR, OHR, OSCE)
- supports the
adoption and implementation of unbiased and harmonious procedures and legislation
for return and the repossession of property,
- looks at the creation of mechanisms
to realise these rights and ensure that return and repossession of property become
administrative and not political functions,
- allows for co-ordination of the
flow of resources mobilised to ensure usage by the most efficient means.
- Allows
for co-ordination of reconstruction projects
- The monitoring and evaluation
of progress is measured RRI through its partners throughout the region.
As a priority the RRI will focus in 2001 and 2002 on return and re-integration
for refugees in Croatia, Bosnia Herzegovina and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.
Implementation
The
Steering Group is chaired by Soren Jessen-Petersen with UNHCR holding the Vice-Chairmanship.
It includes all main agencies to facilitate the co-ordination of policies and
actions (OHR, SCSP (Secretariat), EC, OSCE, UN, WB, CEB and IOM). The Steering
Group also includes representatives from those countries where return has to be
organised to set up a direct, organised and responsible dialogue between local
authorities and the International Community. Finally the Steering Group includes
donors (Austria, Canada, Germany, France, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Switzerland,
US, United Kingdom) and the WB, to allow them to participate in policy making
so that funds can be better allocated to the process. The Steering Group meets
regularly and at least once every two months. The Chairman, vice Chairman and
representative from the Steering Group will visit regularly Governments of the
countries and areas of return, to monitor progress and completion of commitments.
Sponsors
UNHCR
Key
Contacts
Mr Soren Jessen-Petersen,
Chair
Tel: +32 (2) 401 87 14 / 61 58
Fax: +32 (2) 401 87 12
Email: sorenjp@attglobal.net
Mr
Kilian Kleinschmidt, Executive Secretary
Tel: +32 (2) 401 87 14
Fax:
+32 (2) 401 87 12
Email: kilian.kleinschmidt@stabilitypact.org
Mr.
Alex Talmon-l'Armée, Housing Co-ordinator
Tel: +32 (2) 401 68 85
Fax:
Fax: +32 (2) 401 87 12
Email: Alex.Talmon-lArmee@stabilitypact.org
Ms.
Daria Nashat, Assistant to the Executive Secretary
Tel: +32 (2) 401 61
58
Fax: +32 (2) 401 87 12
Email: Daria.Nashat@stabilitypact.org
Key
DocumentsThematic
Activities & DocumentationSteering
Committee Meetings & Mission Reports- 10th
Meeting of the Steering Committee on Refugee Matters, Vienna, 29 November 2002
- 9th
Meeting of the Steering Committee on Refugee Matters, Geneva, 26 June 2002
- Trilateral
Consultation, Belgrade, April 2002
- RRI
Update April 2002
- Trilateral
Consultation, Zagreb, May 2001
- Trilateral
Consultation, Bonn, February 2001
- Mission
to Montenegro, October 2001
- Mission
to Bosnia and Herzegovina, November 2001
- Mission
to FRY, March/April 2001
- Mission
to Bosnia, March 2001
- Mission
to Croatia, February 2001
- Minutes
of the 2nd Steering Committee Meeting, Brussels, 4 May 2000
- Minutes
of the 3rd Steering Committee Meeting, Zagreb, June 20, 2000
- Minutes
of the 4th Steering Committee Meeting, Brussels, 19 September, 2000
- Minutes
of the 5th Steering Committee Meeting, Brussels, 10 November, 2000
- Minutes
of the 6th Steering Committee Meeting, Sarajevo, 22 March 2001
- Minutes
of the 7th Steering Committee Meeting, Paris, 11 June 2001
- Minutes
of the 8th Steering Committee Meeting, Brussels, 11 October 2001
Background
Information- Regional
Displacement Map, UNHCR, August 2002
- Refugees
in SEE - From Emergency Humanitarian Assistance to Long-Term Integration
- Humanitarian
Situation Report - June 2002
- Return
Figures for Bosnia Herzegovina, UNHCR, April 2002
- Census
of Refugees and IDPs in Montenegro - Montenegro Commissioner for Displaced Persons
& UNHCR - March 2002
- Regional
Displacement Map, UNHCR, April 2002
- Return
Figures for Croatia with County and Municipality Details, UNHCR, March 2002
- Agreement
on Education, BiH, February 2002
- Property
Law Implementation Rate, February 2002
- Property
Law Implementation Rate, Detailed Figures, February 2002
- Return
Figures for Croatia, UNHCR, January 2002
- Regional
Displacement Map, UNHCR, January 2002
- PLIP
numbers summary, December 2001
- Regional
Displacement Map, UNHCR, October 2001
Contributions
by Steering Committee Members- Newsletter
on Settlement and Integration of Refugees in Serbia, Nr. 1, April 2003
- SDC
Bulletin, June 2002
- Report
on the Fifth Phase of the ASB/EC Beneficiary Identification and Return Coordination
Unit
- Humanitarian
Risk Analysis No. 18: Humanitarian Situation, Protection and Assistance: Internally
Displaced Persons in Serbia and Montenegro, UN OCHA Belgrade, April 2002
- Internally
Displaced Persons in Serbia and Montenegro - 26 April 2002 OCHA Office in Belgrade
- Swedish
Assistance to the Western Balkans 2001
- UNHCR
Bulletin for Bosnia Herzegovina, UNHCR, Nov./Dec. 2001
- Press
Release, UNHCR, January 2002
- UNHCR
South Eastern Europe Information Notes, No. 13, December 2001
- SDC
Bulletin, December 2001 (English)
- UNHCR
South Eastern Europe Information Notes, No. 12, October 2001
Links
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Migration and Asylum
Objective
Migration and asylum questions are of growing interest and concern in the framework of the Stability Pact and are by essence both national and regional issues. While the countries of South Eastern Europe have very different societal conditions and priorities, and several of them are preoccupied with the return of their own populations, it is acknowledged that present and future migration and asylum challenges require a truly regional response.
In parallel to the need for economic stabilisation and development, countries of the region have to build up capacities including the legal framework to address these questions. Important aspects are the legislative context as it affects asylum seekers, refugees and other forcibly displaced persons, trafficked children and women, organised temporary or long term labour migrants, irregular economic migrants and other groups.
Description
The suggested process will serve to guide and inform the establishment of the capacity building programmes that are needed in the region in the areas of migration and asylum . As a forum for planning and review of progress, it also aims at establishing lasting partnerships built on trust and confidence among partner/donor countries/organisations and the recipient countries in the region. The process will be driven , guided and supported by three structures within the Stability Pact: The Steering Committee, the Support Unit and the Country-Teams.
Implementation
In order to ensure the proper co-ordination and monitoring of the migration/asylum system development process, a Steering Committee was established under Working Table III. The Steering Committee is open to all States participating in the Stability Pact and to all relevant intergovernmental organisations. It is chaired by the co-chairmanship of Working Table III. It will provide overall policy guidance to the process and ensure that it is implemented accordingly and in compliance with the overall objectives of the Stability Pact.
The Support Unit will provide administrative support to the Steering Committee. Its key function is to collect and synthesise reporting on progress from the field, creating regular progress reports on the full scope of work in the migration and asylum area from all key-implementing partners in the recipient countries.
Given the political nature of the process, the development of solidarity networks and partnerships should be stressed. To this end, the commitment of five contributing Partnership Countries (or pairs of countries, e.g. one EU Member State and one EU Candidate country in the region or close to the region), which undertake to co-ordinate all activities with regard to the five recipient countries, is a basic requirement. These Partnership Countries would be responsible for the overall establishment and materialisation of National Action Plans and could in this context also take on administrative responsibilities with regard to contributions from financing institutions. These partnership-countries, together with the recipient countries and the international organisations with relevant subject experience, constitute the five Country Teams.
The Country Teams will be responsible for the assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation of the different process activities as well as for driving the process itself. The Support Unit and the international organisations within the country.team will provide assistance.
Key Contacts
Mr. Friedrich Krachler, Expert, border control
Organization: Stability Pact MAI Support Office
Tel: +43 1 504 67 10-16
Fax: +43 1 504 67 10-75
Email: friedrich.krachler@StabilityPact.org
Andrea Sölkner, Spec. regional advisor, UNHCR
Organization: Stability Pact MAI Support Office
Tel: +43 1 504 67 10-17
Fax: +43 1 504 67 10-75
Email: andrea.soelkner@StabilityPact.org
Mr. José Pires, Spec. representitive, IOM
Organization: Stability Pact MAI Support Office
Tel: +43 1 504 67 10-13
Fax: +43 1 504 67 10-75
Email: jose.pires@StabilityPact.org
Mr. Mauro Viti, Administrative Assistant Stability Pact MAI-Support Unit
Organization: Stability Pact Migration and Asylum Support Office
Tel: +43 1 504 67 10-15
Fax: +43 1 504 67 10-75
Email: Mauro.Viti@Stabilitypact.org
Mr. Westerberg,
Mr. Schlossstein,
Related DocumentsFirst Steering Committee Meeting
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