The European Migration Network (EMN) and the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) have just published the joint inform ‘Designing migration strategies’. It focuses on the development and implementation of migration strategies by governments in EMN Member and Observer Countries, and non-EU OECD countries, highlighting common challenges and good practices. In this inform, strategies are divided into six categories: asylum, regular migration, integration, irregular migration, external dimension, and contingency planning. Overarching strategies cover at least three categories, whereas sectoral strategies focus on no more than two.
Different approaches to migration strategies are used across EMN Member and Observer Countries. At least one migration strategy exists in 22 EMN Member Countries and three EMN Observer Countries. Of these 22 EMN Member Countries, some have both overarching and sector-specific strategies, while others only have sector-specific strategies. One country indicated that all national sectoral strategies are contained within its overarching asylum and migration strategy. All three EMN Observer Countries who responded to the study have overarching strategies. Three EMN Member Countries indicated that they do not have a strategy for migration.
The primary focus in EMN Member Countries’ overarching or sectoral migration strategies is irregular migration, followed by efforts in integration, regular migration, asylum, contingency planning, and the external dimension of migration. EMN Observer Countries mostly addressed regular migration, integration, and asylum alongside irregular migration.
Dissemination of migration strategies to the public and interest groups takes place in various ways. Some countries have formal communication strategies, others use events to communicate with stakeholders. Ireland, reporting on the White Paper to end Direct Provision/Comprehensive Accommodation Strategy, was one of six countries to report having a communication plan for disseminating their migration strategy. Ireland described the strategic use of press releases, a press conference, and participation in several stakeholder forums to publicise this sectoral strategy.
Good practices were identified in the development and implementation of migration strategies, including inter-ministerial coordination, inclusive consultation processes, and the establishment of new structures to better integrate and protect migrants and diaspora groups. Ireland described the breadth of its consultation process, involving a large number of organisations and individuals in thematic discussions to support the development of its strategy.
In non-EU OECD countries like Australia, Canada, and New Zealand, national migration strategies are used to set migration targets while others focus on general policy direction without specific targets. Japan and South Korea emphasise legislative reforms and migration management in their five-year plans. Canada’s 2023 migration strategy review, which included extensive consultations, serves as a good example of how to update national strategies.
