This EMN Inform summarises the main findings of the 2015 EMN Study on Dissemination of information on voluntary return which was based on contributions from EMN Contact Points from 24 (Member) States[1] and Norway.
Key points to note:
- Whilst there is limited information to estimate the exact scale of irregular migration in the EU, due to the largely clandestine nature of the phenomenon, (proxy) indicators suggest that irregular migration is increasing in many Member States.
- Several challenges in disseminating information on voluntary return to irregular migrants are common to most Member States
- In half of all (Member) States, state actors maintain a limited role in the dissemination of information, as this task is mainly outsourced to intergovernmental organisations or civil society organisations.
- A wide combination of tools (posters, websites, outreach) to disseminate information are used by (Member) States.
- One of the main ways that migrants learn about voluntary return is through speaking with their peers.
- Around one third of all (Member) States have targeted information campaigns specifically at irregular migrants not in contact with the authorities.
- There is little robust evidence of the effectiveness of different measures in reaching out to irregular migrants not in contact with the authorities. However, (Member) States have developed some lessons and potential good practices in disseminating information.
[1] Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom.
See also:
- Dissemination of Information on Voluntary Return: how to reach irregular migrants not in contact with the authorities: EMN Synthesis Report
- National reports from other EU Member States and Norway
