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8/9/2019 European Red Cross Return Initiative
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European Red CrossReturn Initiative
A study on how to support sustainablereturn in safety and dignity
European Community under
the RETURN Preparatory
Actions for 2006
Red Cross / EU Ofce
Bureau Croix-Rouge / UE
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The European Red Cross Return Initiative is a joint
project o the British Red Cross, the Bulgarian Red
Cross, the Danish Red Cross, the German Red Cross,
the Swedish Red Cross, the Swiss Red Cross and the
Red Cross/EU Oce, co-nanced by the European
Community under the RETURN Preparatory
Actions or 2006.
The European Commission is not responsible or any use that may be made o the
inormation contained in this report.
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Contents
1. Introduction ........................................................................................................................................................................................ 5
1.1. Objective and Methods.......................................................................................................................................... 7
1.2. Concepts, Defnitions and Limitations .................................................................................................... 8
2. Return in the European Union ............................................................................................................................... 10
2.1. Return in Denmark.................................................................................................................................................. 11
2.2. Return in Germany................................................................................................................................................. 12
2.3. Return in Sweden ...................................................................................................................................................... 13
2.4. Return in the United Kingdom..................................................................................................................... 13
3. Other Stakeholders Engaged in Return Programmes .............................................................. 15
3.1. International Organisation or Migration........................................................................................ 15
3.2. United Nations High Commissioner or Reugees................................................................. 16
3.3. Danish Reugee Council.................................................................................................................................... 16
3.4. Caritas ................................................................................................................................................................................. 17
3.5. Arbeitsgruppe Entwicklung und Fachkrte im
Bereich Migration und der Entwicklungszusammenarbeit............................................. 17
4. European National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
and Return Assistance....................................................................................................................................................... 184.1. Approaches to Return Assistance............................................................................................................. 19
4.2. Return as an Area o International Co-operation .................................................................. 20
5. National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies in Countries o Return......... 225.1. Feasibility Assessments in Countries o Return........................................................................... 22
5.2. Persons Returning and Perception o Vulnerabilities ............................................................ 23
5.3. Challenges with Return Assistance ....................................................................................................... 24
6. Role o the International Federation and the ICRC
in Relation to Migration and Return ............................................................................................................... 25
7. A Best Practice Model......................................................................................................................................................... 26
8. Conclusions and Recommendations............................................................................................................... 28
Annex I: National Societies Engaged in Return Assistance................................................................... 35
Annex II: Summary o Feasibility Assessments..................................................................................................... 47
Annex III: Three Pilot Projects.................................................................................................................................................. 57
Annex IV: Returning to Kosovo What It Could Look Like....................................................................... 63
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1. Introduction
Over the past decade, ensuring the return o rejected asylum seekers and irregular
migrants has emerged as key concern o European governments. While being viewed
as a necessary means o combating irregular migration, return is also considered
important in order to counter misuse o asylum procedures and to maintain the
integrity o asylum systems.
In this regard, the recently adopted EU Return Directive, which sets out common
standards and procedures to be applied in Member States or returning illegally
staying third country nationals, aims to provide or an eective return policy as a
necessary element o a well managed migration policy.1
At the same time, return raises humanitarian concerns. Many rejected asylum seekers
and other migrants who are obliged to return nd themselves stranded in European
countries or long periods o time, living under dicult conditions, sometimes in
destitution. Prospects or sustainable return are oten bleak.2
Those who do return may ace uncertain and precarious conditions, sometimes nding
themselves in a worse situation than when they let their country o origin. They may
have serious concerns about their livelihood as well as their saety. Moreover, any use
o orce risks causing human suering and enorced removal can, thereore, create
situations o extreme vulnerability.3
Return should only take place in sae and dignied conditions. The principle onon-
reoulement must be respected at all times.
In 1991 the Council o Delegates o the International Red Cross and Red Crescent
Movement (the Movement) requested the components o the Movement to actively
seek support o the governments with a view to ensure that a decision to deny asylum
is taken only within the ramework o air and proper procedures and that the principle
o return in saety and dignity o rejected asylum-seekers is reafrmed and, i assistance
is given by National Societies, to respect their adherence to the Fundamental Principles
o the Movement. 4
1 Directive 2008/115/EC o the European Parliament and o the Council o 16 December 2008 on common stan-
dards and procedures in Member States or returning illegally staying third-country nationals, Ocial Journal
o the European Union, L 348, 24.12.2008.
2 Return: Policy and Practice - A guide or European National Red Cross Red Crescent Societies, PERCO, 2008.
3 Ibid.
4 The Movement and reugees, Resolution 9, Council o Delegates, 1991.
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The starting point or Red Cross and Red Crescent action in avour o returnees is the
additional vulnerability caused by return to persons who are already in a vulnerable
situation. Aiming to prevent and alleviate human suering, several European
National Societies provide assistance to vulnerable persons who are obliged to return
to their country o origin, both those who comply with the obligation to return and
persons who are subject to enorced removal. At the same time, they recognise thatsupporting returnees can be a challenging task, thereore requiring jointly agreed
guidance.5
Following the adoption in 1999 o repatriation guidelines 6 by the Platorm or
European Red Cross Co-operation on Reugees, Asylum Seekers and Migrants (hereater
reerred to as PERCO7), discussions continued about how to address at policy level
the issue o return and how to adequately dene the role and activities o National
Societies. A working group on return within PERCO developed an updated guide on
return Return: Policy and Practice 8 that was adopted in 2008 and which sets out
set a ramework or Red Cross and Red Crescent action in avour o returnees.
In 2006, the Swedish Red Cross, in co-operation with the Spanish Red Cross, the Red
Cross Society o Serbia and Montenegro and the Red Cross/EU Oce, organised
the European Open Forum on Return. The objective o this project, which was co-
nanced by the European Reugee Fund, was to acilitate the exchange o good
practices in the eld o return in the EU, taking into account experiences o countries
o origin. Gathering experts rom 17 Member States and several third countries as
well as international organisations, the orum examined models o good practice
and discussed ways o how to better support rejected asylum seekers 9. Building on
its recommendations, the present project the European Red Cross Return Initiative
(hereater reerred to as ERCRI) was conceived with the aim o developing a co-
ordinated European Red Cross response.10
At the European Regional Red Cross and Red Crescent Conerence in Istanbul in
2007, National Societies across Europe made a commitment to improve cooperation
between National Societies in countries o origin, transit and destination in order better
to protect and assist migrants and returnees and to strengthen partnerships with external
actors working in this feld.11
5 Return: Policy and Practice - A guide or European National Red Cross Red Crescent Societies, PERCO, 2008.
6 Repatriation Guidelines or National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, International Federation o Red Cross
and Red Crescent Societies, 1999.
7 PERCO is a network o the National Red Cross Societies o Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria,
Croatia, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Italy, Lithuania, Luxemburg, Malta, the Nether-
lands, Norway, Poland, Serbia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.
8 Return: Policy and Practice - A guide or European National Red Cross Red Crescent Societies, PERCO, 2008.
9 European Open Forum on Return - Final Report, Swedish Red Cross and the Red Cross/EU Oce, 2006.
10 ERCRI is a joint project o the British Red Cross, the Bulgarian Red Cross, the Danish Red Cross, the Ger-
man Red Cross, the Swedish Red Cross, the Swiss Red Cross and the Red Cross/EU Oce, co-nanced by the
European Community under the RETURN Preparatory Actions or 2006.
11 The Istanbul Commitments, 7th European Regional Red Cross and Red Crescent Conerence, 2007.
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This report presents an overview o the projects ndings, outlines a best practice
model and oers recommendations to the International Red Cross and Red Crescent
Movement as well as to governments and EU institutions. On a more general level,
it seeks to promote a debate among National Societies by enhancing the knowledge
about Red Cross and Red Crescent involvement in the return o vulnerable migrants
who are obliged to return to their country o origin.
The report is based on a survey that targeted PERCO members, our eld missions to
EU Member States, easibility assessments in three countries o return (Kosovo, Mali
and Iraq/Jordan), visits to three International Federation Zone Oces (Europe, West
and Central Arica, and Middle East and North Arica), the ICRC regional oce in
West Arica, and the head oces o the International Federation and the ICRC, as
well as discussions with other stakeholders, including the European Commission, the
United Nations High Commissioner or Reugees (UNHCR) and the International
Organisation or Migration (IOM).
The eld missions and the easibility assessments were made to assess capacities and
approaches, to clariy roles and identiy assistance gaps, and to generally get a better
understanding o the phenomena o return as well as to serve as illustrative examples.
Red Cross sta supporting vulnerable returnees were questioned in semi-structured
interviews ollowed by an additional questionnaire or those National Societies that
were engaged in return actions, to clariy certain aspects.
Based on drat recommendations developed by the project, a nal seminar in Hr
bringing together representatives o 17 National Societies, the ICRC, the International
Federation, the European Commission, the German Federal Ministry o the Interior,
the UK Border Agency, the International Organisation or Migration, Caritas, the
Danish Reugee Council and the European Council on Reugees and Exiles (ECRE),
urther discussed and oered suggestions on the way orward.
1.2. Concepts, Defnitions and Limitations
This study ocuses on protection and assistance oered by European National Red
Cross and Red Crescent Societies14 to vulnerable persons who are obliged to return to
their country o origin15.
A major challenge to any meaningul discussion about return related activities is
the prolieration o concepts, such as voluntary return, mandatory return and
orced return, which are used in various and sometimes contradictory ways by
14 National Societies which are members o PERCO; see ootnote 7.
15 In some instances a person may be returned to another country than the country o origin.
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governments, international organisations, NGOs and National Societies. For the
purpose o this report, it was thereore important to nd a common description o
the projects target group that would be inclusive, applicable in as many contexts as
possible and accepted by major stakeholders.
To this end it was agreed that the ollowing category o persons would be consideredreturnees:
Rejected asylum seekers, irregular migrants and other vulnerable persons
who are obliged to return to their country o origin, irrespective o
whether the persons concerned comply with the obligation to return or
are subject to enorced removal, including those who are kept in
detention.16
While, where necessary, the report reers to various concepts as used by the dierent
stakeholders, it does not attempt to explain their meaning in the particular national
or institutional context.
It should be noted, moreover, that this report does not examine in detail National
Society participation in expulsions and deportations o migrants as a specic
activity, i.e. provision o assistance and monitoring o conditions during removal
operations. This activity was discussed in February 2009 at a seminar organised
by the French Red Cross and the Council o Europe 17. It is also addressed in the
International Federations Policy on Migration.18
With regards to activities in avour o detained migrants (including returnees),
guidelines are currently developed under the lead o the ICRC19.
16 Meeting o the ERCRI Reerence Group, Belgrade, 19 April 2008; c. Return: Policy and Practice - A guide or
European National Red Cross Red Crescent Societies, PERCO, 2008.
17 Strasbourg Recommendations, Seminar on Migration, Unaccompanied Minors and Forced Returns, French Red
Cross and the Council o Europe, 2009.
18 Policy on Migration, International Federation o Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, 2009; the policy provides
that National Societies are under no obligation, as auxiliaries to public authorities or otherwise, to have a role in
coercive acts or migration control. In act, their direct participation may endanger the neutrality and humanitari-
an identity o the Movement. Accordingly, National Societies shall avoid participation in expulsions or depor-
tations o migrants. However, with the prior consent o both, those who will be orcibly removed and the National
Society in the country o return, they may respond to humanitarian needs. In such cases, stringent programming
conditions must be respected.
19 These guidelines do not cover assistance or monitoring during removal operations. The ICRC is o the opinion
that direct participation o components o the Movement to removal operations may endanger the neutrality,
independence and humanitarian identity o the Movement.
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2. Return in the European Union
Return has become an important component o EU Member States migration
policies in recent years and is viewed an action that acilitates the return o third
country nationals to their country o origin or another country outside the EU.
Returning migrants are a heterogeneous group that includes rejected asylum seekers,
reugees ater the termination o their status, irregular migrants and migrants having
overstayed their visa or whose temporary work permit has expired. The realities vary
in the dierent Member States and so also the understanding and legislation related
to return.
As already mentioned, the EU Return Directive, adopted in December 2008 by the
European Parliament and the Council, sets out common standards and procedures
to be applied in Member States or returning illegally staying third country
nationals. Its provisions must be implemented in national law by the end o 2010.
While Denmark, the United Kingdom and Ireland are not bound by the directive, it
constitutes a development o the Schengen acquis and thereore aects all Schengen
countries.
The Return Directive distinguishes between two categories o return, voluntary
return (dened as return in voluntary compliance with an obligation to return)
and enorced removal. It encourages Member States to provide or enhanced
return assistance and counselling and make best use o the relevant unding
possibilities oered under the European Return Fund. The directive urther
promotes Cooperation between the institutions involved at all levels in the return
process and the exchange and promotion o best practices and recognizes that
International cooperation with countries o origin at all stages o the return process
is a prerequisite to achieving sustainable return.20
The knowledge about the dierent return assistance schemes that exist is limited.
Return assistance is primarily provided in the ramework o bilateral projects between
a host country government and IOM. The target group is returnees rom a given
nationality residing a particular host country. Some receive substantial return and re-
integration packages, like or example returnees rom Denmark to Kosovo in 2006/721.
Some receive only a one-way ticket to their original home location and others receive
nothing. The conditions vary considerably between European countries.
20 Directive 2008/115/EC o the European Parliament and o the Council o 16 December 2008 on common
standards and procedures in Member States or returning illegally staying third-country nationals, Ocial Journal
o the European Union, L 348, 24.12.2008
21 See Annex IV: Return to Kosovo What It Could Look Like.
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In addition, those that are subject to enorced removal do not receive any assistance
and are oten returned under dicult conditions. Many aspects o return are not
documented and data collected on return varies rom one country to another. Data
may be collected by various actors, but no overall gure or a country is available.
Evaluations o return programmes are ew and the examples o successul and
sustainable programmes even ewer.
National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, in their role as auxiliaries to public
authorities in the humanitarian eld or otherwise, are engaged in the area o return
assistance. However, National Societies can only perorm activities that respect the
Fundamental Principles o the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.
The activities o a National Society are in response to the vulnerabilities in a given
country as well as the services oered by the government and other stakeholders.
To better understand the current actions in the area o return assistance, one must
thereore be able to understand the environment in which the National Society is
operating. To illustrate this, our governments practices in the area o return have
been included in this report.
2.1. Return in Denmark
Asylum seekers who either withdraw their application or asylum, or whose
application is rejected, have the possibility to receive a small amount o economic
assistance towards their voluntary return to their country o origin.
In particular circumstances the Ministry o Reugees, Immigration and Integration
Aairs can decide to oer economic support or specic groups towards their
voluntary return to their country o origin. This relates to persons residing in
Denmark who have applied or asylum, but who have not yet received a residence
permit in the country.
The Danish government has on dierent occasions (in 2003 and 2005 and latest in
2007) passed additional acts to the Aliens Act related to return matters. The aim has
been to acilitate voluntary return to Aghanistan and Iraq22 and provide counselling
and nancial support. In general, i.e. not related to special laws or additional acts,
the authorities cover the return ticket and the transportation o personal belongings
(and the Danish Red Cross always covers medicine or the rst three months in the
country o return).
22 The Danish government signed a readmission agreement with the Iraqi government in May 2009. As aconsequence, the Danish government closed the voluntary return project with immediate eect and the Iraqis that
had chosen to take part in the project will no longer have the support described in this report.
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A person who is subject to enorced removal is not entitled to any assistance by the
Danish authorities other than the journey to the country o return.
The Ministry o Reugees, Immigration and Integration Aairs is responsible or
advising on return related matters. However, in reality the Ministry has entrusted the
implementation to dierent authorities, NGOs such as the Danish Reugee Counciland Care4U, and to the Danish Red Cross.
2.2. Return in Germany
In Germany, return counselling was introduced already in the late 1970ies as a right
by law or labour migrants. The right o every migrant to be counselled on return
still exists. The German government and the Federal States o Germany provide
nancial and operational assistance to destitute returnees or voluntary return or
third country migration, through two programmes, the Reintegration and Emigration
Program or Asylum-Seekers in Germany (REAG) and the Government Assisted
Repatriation Programme (GARP). REAG was established in 1979 and GARP in
1989. Both programmes are premised on the assumption o permanent return. I a
person comes back to Germany within ve years ater her/his return and stays or
more than three months, she/he has to pay back the assistance received.
The development o these programmes has been closely related to the changes in
the number and nationalities o migrants arriving in Germany. They are steering
instruments or German migration management. The programmes target persons
rom countries o origin important in terms o migration policy23 and allocate
between EUR 200 and 500 per adult depending on the country o return. The
Conerence o the Interior Ministers o the Federal States (Lnder) decides annually
which third countries citizens the programmes will target. The criteria laid down do
not allow or any fexibility with regard to individual needs or countries o return.
A person who is subject to enorced removal is not entitled to any assistance by the
German authorities. Furthermore, he/she has to hand over all nancial assets to the
authorities beore the departure in order to cover the costs or assistance provided
in the detention acilities and the journey back to the country o return. In some
countries, e.g. Kosovo, initiatives have been established aiming at giving returnees
material support at least in their initial phase ater return. These projects are unded
by the Federal Oce or Migration and Reugees (Bundesamt r Migration und
Flchtlinge BAMF) and governmental bodies o the regions (Bundeslnder, e.g.
Baden-Wrttemberg, Niedersachsen and Nordrhein-Westalen). Basically, expenses
in terms o urgent aid, e.g. or ood and medical provision, costs or specic training
measures (language courses and vocational training) and or enabling people to get
access to the local/regional labour market, will be (partly) covered.23 Ministry o the Interior, Department MI5, Support or voluntary return through the programs
REAG and GARP, 2003.
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The REAG and GARP programmes are administrated by the Ministry o the Interior
and the Federal States and implemented by IOM. The implementation is carried out
in close co-operation with local and regional authorities, organisations such as the
German Red Cross, and specialised NGOs.
2.3. Return in Sweden
In 2007 the Swedish government introduced re-establishment support with the
aim to stimulate return o rejected asylum seekers to Aghanistan, Iraq, Palestine
(Gaza) and Somalia. Returnees have to apply or nancial support. The amounts
were increased in 2009 to stimulate more persons to return. An individual can receive
up to SEK 30.000 and SEK 75.000 or a amily24. The re-establishment support is
paid in ull in the country o return. The Swedish government co-operates with IOM.
Sweden has a tripartite agreement with the Aghan government and UNHCR on
return to Aghanistan. In Serbia, the local organisation Praxis assist with inormation,
counselling and legal assistance related to personal documents or persons in the
process o re-admission in Serbia, under an agreement with the Swedish government.
Presently, the Swedish authorities are looking at urther developing re-integration
support in countries o return, including business start-up and skills training
programmes in two pilot countries/regions (Kosovo and northern Iraq).
In principle, a person that is removed by orce is not entitled to any assistance by the
Swedish authorities. However, some regional police authorities, that are responsible
or enorcing the removal, provide pocket money to individual returnees.
The Swedish government seeks co-operation with dierent non-governmental
actors who come in contact with asylum seekers and irregular migrants. In 2008, the
government approved unding to a Swedish Red Cross project aiming at supporting
rejected asylum seekers rom northern Iraq, Kosovo and Serbia.
2.4. Return in the United Kingdom
The British government oers a voluntary return scheme since 1999 implemented
by IOM. The current Voluntary Assisted Return and Reintegration Programme
(VARRP) is open to asylum seekers including those that are held in detention.
Another programme is available or irregular migrants that have not claimed asylum,
Assisted Voluntary Return or Irregular Migrants (AVRIM). The latter does not
include re-integration assistance.
24 Approximately 2.800 Euro or an individual and 7.100 Euro or a amily.
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VARRP oers advice, counselling and inormation about return, assistance in
obtaining travel documents and payment o costs incurred, a fight home, a meet
and greet service at airport on return, help with onward travel to nal destination, a
relocation cash grant o 500 per amily member returning paid on departure at the
UK airport, and in-kind re-integration assistance.
Re-integration assistance can include extra baggage allowance, up to three months
temporary accommodation ollowing return and payment o childcare ees or inants.
Each returnee is oered help with small business set-up, schooling ees, vocational
training, or job placements.25
Recently the government has adopted a re-entry ban or those who have let
voluntarily but at the public expense, including through VARRP. The returnee
will be reused entry clearance to come to the UK or ve years. Persons who are
deported or removed will be subject to a ten year ban on re-entry and are not entitled
to any return or re-integration assistance by the authorities.26
IOM is the main implementing organisation in the United Kingdom. Various reugee
agencies assist asylum seekers during the asylum procedure, some o which are also
involved in pre-departure counselling, such as Choices, Sae Haven Yorkshire, and
regional Reugee Services.
25 Reugee Council Inormation, Voluntary Assisted Return and Reintegration Programme, April 2008.
26 Ibid.
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3. Other Stakeholders Engaged
in Return Programmes
3.1. International Organisation or Migration
The International Organisation or Migration (IOM) is an intergovernmental
organisation, providing services and advice to governments on migration issues
including return as well as promoting human and orderly migration27. IOM has no
legal protection mandate in relation to reugees and asylum seekers. One o IOMs
many migration management services is the Assisted Voluntary Return (AVR)
programme, which is oered to migrants and governments. It includes assistance to
those wishing to return voluntarily as well as rejected asylum seekers and irregular
migrants without any other option than to return to their country o origin.
In the area o return assistance IOM is the main partner o EU governments
and European National Red Cross Societies that are involved in national return
programmes. IOM is also a major partner in countries o return, having oces in a
large number o countries28.
IOM underlines the importance o the return counselling as a specic eld which
needs specialisation. The screening o persons requesting return assistance is
considered important in order to support successul re-integration.
A major challenge or IOM is the act that dierent host countries oer dierent
amounts o cash grants and types o assistance or return and re-integration. It is
dicult or a returning person to understand why she/he receives less than another
person that has returned rom another country. According to IOMs experiences,
successul re-integration depends to a large extent on how much help a returnee
receives or establishing a project. Another challenge is linked to the ollow-up and
monitoring o returnees, as not much unding is provided or this by governments. It
is also dicult to keep in contact with the persons concerned when they are back in
the country o return.
27 Managing Migration or the Beneft o All: The International Organization or Migration in Brie(Ino sheet: IOM in Brie), March 2009.
28 430 eld oces in over 100 countries, ibid.
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3.2. United Nations High Commissioner or Reugees
Rejected asylum-seekers do not, as a category, all within the mandate o the United
Nations High Commissioner or Reugees (UNHCR). However, UNHCR may
support governments, upon their request, in the return opersons ound not to be in
need o international protection, i.e.:
Persons who have sought international protection and who ater due
consideration o their claims in air procedures, are ound neither to
qualiy or reugee status on the basis o criteria laid down in the 1951
Convention, nor to be in need o international protection in accordance
with other international obligations or national law.29
For example, as mentioned above, UNHCR has a tripartite agreement with the
Swedish and Aghan governments on return to Aghanistan. Assistance is available
or Aghans with pending applications or asylum who decide o their own ree will
to return and those who are ound not to have protection needs or humanitarian
reasons in accordance with the Swedish Aliens Act. The UNHCR Regional Oce
or the Baltic and Nordic Countries oers condential counselling with the aim o
assisting potential returnees in assessing whether return to Aghanistan is the right
decision or the individual.
3.3. Danish Reugee Council
Among the major NGOs engaged in return assistance are the Reugee Councils in
various European countries, such as the Danish Reugee Council. Their approach to
return is based on the returnees consensual compliance with the return.
The work o the Danish Reugee Council is rights-based, and it deends the right o
individuals to seek asylum. The organisation acknowledges the right o governments
to return rejected asylum seekers. However, a prerequisite is that any decision to return
someone to their home country is made on the basis o a air and ecient asylum
procedure, since incorrect decisions including decisions on premature return can
ultimately lead to renewed persecution o the persons concerned.
The Danish Reugee Council applies a holistic approach which encompasses all
phases in the return process and has developed recommendations or the return and
re-integration o rejected asylum seekers30. They have a presence in the countries o
return where they work.
29 Conclusion on the return o persons ound not to be in need o international protection, No. 96, Executive Committee
o the High Commissioners Programme, UNHCR, 2003.
30 Recommendations or the Return and Reintegration o Rejected Asylum Seekers: Lessons Learned rom Return to
Kosovo, Danish Reugee Council, 2008.
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3.4. Caritas
Caritas is a aith-based humanitarian organisation that is organised in independent
national branches. Together with other NGOs, several national Caritas members
active in the eld o return assistance are organised in a network o European
Reintegration Support Organisations (ERSO).
The ERSO network co-operates closely with partners in the countries o return and
aims to improve the assistance or migrants (primarily rejected asylum seekers) during
their voluntary return and re-integration process. They oer returnees impartial
pre-departure counselling and inormation about re-integration possibilities as well
as re-integration assistance and monitoring ater return.
Caritas Europe, which is one o the seven regions o Caritas Internationalis, advocates
or a rights-based approach to return.
3.5. Arbeitsgruppe Entwicklung und Fachkrte im BereichMigration und der Entwicklungszusammenarbeit
Arbeitsgruppe Entwicklung und Fachkrte im Bereich Migration und der
Entwicklungszusammenarbeit (AGEF) is a German organisation working in the
elds o migration and development co-operation. AGEF is ocusing on skills and
vocational training as well as various activities related to job creation and employment.
AGEF is involved in economical re-integration programmes in or example
Aghanistan, northern Iraq and Kosovo targeting persons who are obliged to return
to their country o origin.
AGEF has lead a project with partners rom Germany, Sweden and the Netherlands
aiming at developing tools or planning and implementation o integrated return in
countries o return the CCM Training Project.
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4. European National Red Cross
and Red Crescent Societies andReturn Assistance
A majority o the surveyed European National Red Cross Societies are in contact
with rejected asylum seekers and irregular migrants who are obliged to return.
Eleven National Societies are specically targeting returnees through programmes
or projects.31
The level o involvement, approaches and types o assistance oered varies between
National Societies. Dierences in approach are partly due to dierences in asylum
and return policies and practices o European governments. The presence and
scope o activities o other stakeholders in a given country also infuence the role o
National Societies in providing assistance to vulnerable returnees.
National Societies, NGOs and authorities have all pointed out that persons subject
to enorced removalmay be particularly vulnerable. This group is seldom eligible or
government support and is oten returned under traumatic circumstances without
means to support themselves upon arrival in the country o return.
Most National Societies oer pre-departure counselling and assistance. Two
National Societies have been engaged in provision o assistance and monitoring o
conditions during removal operations (the French Red Cross and the Red Cross o
Luxembourg). Another two European National Societies provide support to persons
ater return to their respective country (the Croatian Red Cross and the Red Cross
o Serbia).
Some National Societies, like the Swiss Red Cross and the German Red Cross, have
several years o experience working with return assistance. Others have become
involved more recently.
The Swedish Red Cross views return assistance as an extension o the support
provided to asylum seekers during the asylum procedure. When an asylum seeker
receives a negative decision, she/he may nd her/himsel in a particularly vulnerable
situation, hence the engagement o Swedish Red Cross in providing counselling
and assistance. Some other National Societies, like the Finish Red Cross, reason
dierently. The Finish Red Cross sees a risk o contradicting their commitment to
the asylum seekers by an involvement in return assistance and believe that the public
may have diculties in understanding what can be perceived as a double role.
31 See Annex I: National Societies Engaged in Return Assistance.
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4.1. Approaches to Return Assistance
National Societies engaged in return assistance provide counselling in order or the
returnees to make an inormed choice whether to return or not, and may also assist
with travel and other documents, directly or through reerral to IOM.
European governments are the main providers o unds or return programmes.
Hence, National Societies are oten aected by the decisions o governments as
regards which nationalities are eligible or support.
Return counselling ocuses on the current situation o the person concerned and the
perspectives or return (situation in country and location o return, security, living
conditions, health care services, educational system, labour market, etc). The return
counsellor may also provide assistance to acquire nancial means or re-integration
or link with other organisations that are able to provide re-integration assistance.
IOM is the main external partner and is in most instances responsible or assistance
provided to the returnee once she/he has arrived to country o return. AGEF is also
cited as a partner providing re-integration support.
National Societies as well as IOM has pointed out that one challenge is to establish
trust between the return programme and the beneciary. In this regard, the return
counsellor plays an important role in establishing a trustul relationship with the
person seeking advice and assistance.
The Spanish Red Cross is implementing two Assisted Voluntary Return Programmes
with the Spanish government as the main donor and the majority o the returnees
coming rom Latin America. It is also engaged in humanitarian assistance programmes
or migrants in countries o origin and transit in West Arica (Mauritania and
Senegal).
The Swedish Red Cross is piloting an inormation network project or return to
northern Iraq, Serbia and Kosovo. In each country/region a ocal point or return
is appointed by the host National Society or by the International Federation to
provide adequate and up-dated inormation on relevant conditions in the respective
country o return. In a second phase beginning mid-2009, additional activities will be
developed based on identied needs and available local capacities.
In 2008 the Swiss Red Cross started to oer return counselling to detained migrants.
It is currently looking into the possibility o expanding its return counselling services
to also include sustainable economic re-integration as a component to be oered to
the returnees in co-operation with the private sector. A easibility study will be ready
by the end o 2009.
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32 The Danish government signed a readmission agreement with the Iraqi government in May 2009. As a conse-
quence, the Danish government closed the voluntary return project with immediate eect and the Iraqis that hadchosen to take part in the project will no longer have the support described in this report.
33 Return: Policy and Practice - A guide or European National Red Cross Red Crescent Societies, PERCO, 2008.
The Danish Red Cross is oering a comprehensive vocational training programme to
Iraqi returnees in Denmark, prior to their return to Iraq.32
National Societies providing return counselling usually reer returnees to available
public websites, such as IOM and UNCHR, or inormation about countries o
return. Only the Swedish Red Cross has direct contacts with National Societiesor the International Federation in countries o return or this purpose through its
inormation network project, which provides specic and return-related inormation.
A majority o European National Societies engaged in return assistance have a
regular dialogue on return with their respective government through bi-lateral and
other meetings, by commenting on government bills, and through sharing their own
reports on relevant topics.
The Swiss Red Cross, the Danish Red Cross, the Spanish Red Cross and the German
Red Cross have adopted policies guiding their support to returnees. The remaining
National Societies apply the PERCO guide Return: Policy and Practice.33
4.2. Return as an Area o International Co-operation
Few European National Societies working with return assistance have contacts with
National Societies in the countries o return. Return assistance is usually part o
a national reugee/asylum or migration programme, while relations with National
Societies in other countries are handled by a department responsible or international
co-operation. There is presently limited dialogue and co-operation on return between
national and international co-operation departments o European National Societies.
It is important to enhance such dialogue as return and migration is closely associated
with international development.
Only one National Society, the Swiss Red Cross, has a comprehensive strategy or its
return assistance that includes an agreement on the roles and responsibilities o the
various departments, i.e. the Migration Department, the International Co-operation
Department and the Cantonal Associations.
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Three National Societies have experience o providing assistance in both the host
country and the country o return and in co-operating in a programmatic way with
National Societies in countries o return. The Swedish Red Cross, the Luxembourg
Red Cross and the Spanish Red Cross have implemented or are implementing re-
integration or return projects in countries o return. The projects are usually
developed by or in consultation with the international co-operation department othe respective National Society.
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Another scenario is countries with adverse economic conditions, pressures rom
poverty, environmental degradation or scarcity o natural resources (as is the case in
Mali and Kosovo). People lack prospects or work, a sustainable income and access
to basic health and education acilities, driving them to migrate as a strategy or their
own and their amilys survival.
The priorities o National Societies in countries o return thereore do not necessarily
include assisting returning migrants rom European or other countries, as these may
not be seen as vulnerable relative to the local population.
The overall situation in a country is usually also refected in the capacities o the
National Society. Scarce local resources and dependency on outside unding limits its
ability to address indentied needs and to develop additional programmes.
5.2. Persons Returning and Perceptions o Vulnerabilities
A person returning to her/his country o origin may at rst impression not be
perceived as a vulnerable person, but rather a person having beneted rom living
in another country to avoid internal conficts or economical hardship. Such was the
view o many actors met with during the easibility assessments (both internal and
external to International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement).
One tends to overlook that the returnee may have gone through hardship when
feeing or migrating. She/he may have to restart more or less rom nothing upon
return and depending on how long the period o absence has been she/he may have to
re-integrate into a new environment and culture. Children returning may have been
born in the host country and have to learn a completely new language and adjust to
a dierent education curriculum. Return can be a traumatic experience with loss o
prospects or the uture.
As previously mentioned, persons subject to enorced removal are by most actors
considered as a particularly vulnerable group. They usually have had to leave whatever
belongings or savings they may have had behind in the host country. They may have
been detained or shorter or longer periods. Psychologically, many o them may be
in a bad state.
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5.3. Challenges with Return Assistance
It is dicult to prescribe any one remedy as the context varies rom one country to
another, as does the individual situation o a person in terms o coping mechanisms
as well as social networks in the country o return. Return assistance provided by
the National Society in a country o return has to be dened taking into account thelocal context as well as the capacities and resources o the National Society.
Numbers is a challenge when planning return assistance in countries o return.
Returnees usually do not arrive in big numbers at one time, except or enorced
removal fights, which are oten announced at a short notice. The needs o the
returnees will also vary on a case-by-case basis.
Reliable inormation on the country and location o return is dicult to access and
most European National Societies providing return counselling reers to second hand
sources such as websites o other organisations.
Follow-up and monitoring o the situation ater return is also pointed out as a
challenge. In return programmes with a business start up or employment component
the returnee may be ollowed over a period o six months to one year. In reality, it
is not always possible to keep track o the returnee or practical reasons (distance,
insecurity and/or lack o communication means). Evidently, there is a need or
additional research to better understand what happens when people return and i the
return is sustainable.
To avoid creating situations o envy and hostility between the local population and
those returning, all return assistance programmes in countries o return should also
take into account the humanitarian needs o the receiving community.
Return assistance provided or unded by EU Member States is oten time-limited and
restricted to certain nationalities. European National Societies wishing to develop
joint projects on return together with National Societies in countries o return may
nd it dicult to access the necessary resources given the present unding structure
or return assistance.
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6. Role o the International Federation
and the ICRC in Relation to Migrationand Return
Migration is receiving increased attention rom the International Red Cross and Red
Crescent Movement ollowing statuary meetings in 2007 as well as regional conerences
(such as the European Regional Red Cross and Red Crescent Conerence in Istanbul in
2007). In mid-2008 the Secretary General o the International Federation appointed
a Special Representative on Migration. A comprehensive Policy on Migration was
recently adopted by the Federations Governing Board.
Two o the International Federations Zone Oces have established migration co-
ordination positions (the Europe Zone Oce and the West and Central Arica Zone
Oce). They are currently working on what strategies to apply in the zones, taking
into account the realities o the dierent regions.
The Zone Oces consider that they may play one or several o the ollowing roles in
relation to migration work, including return assistance:
Knowledge-sharing, including through web-based newsletters and tools
Linking and bringing partners together
Supporting resource mobilization through joint unding
Giving advice on the situation and capacities o National Societies in the
respective zone
Developing common advocacy positions
Negotiating and assisting in bridging the gap between domestic and
international work
Co-ordinating between National Societies in host and transit countries
and countries o return
The ICRC has appointed a ocal point or migration at its headquarters. In the eld,
some o its oces are involved in return assistance through projects or by including
returnees in their ongoing programmes in confict areas, when they t within
vulnerability criteria applicable to the general population. In West Arica, the ICRC
will support projects with National Societies (Mali and Niger) to provide humanitarian
assistance to vulnerable persons having been expelled rom neighbouring countries
and who are stranded in confict or tensed areas. In northern Iraq, returnees have
been able to access ICRC micro-credit programmes.
It needs to be urther discussed i and how the ICRC may play a role in the provision
o return assistance in countries o confict.
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7. A Best Practice Model
From the lessons learned to date rom various organisations involved in return
assistance activities certain components or a successul return and re-integration
programme can be distinguished.
Such a programme should include:
Legal and return counselling in the host country on an individual case
basis that looks at the specic situation o the individual
Reliable inormation on the situation in the country o return specic to
the individual and her/his case
Assistance to obtain relevant documents prior to return, including
support or travel costs and health/medical assistance
Vocational or other skills training in the host country or in the country o
return, preerably combined with job matching or business start-up
courses
Arrival and initial re-integration support, including legal advice, assistance
with registration procedures, advice on how to access basic services in
the country o return, psycho-social support, accommodation or an
initial period and basic humanitarian support on a needs basis (in the
individual case or or a group o returnees)
Monitoring and ollow-up in the country o return
When applying this best practice model to the present situation among European
National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, a picture emerges which indicates that
a more comprehensive and holistic approach would be needed or National Societies
to realize their ambition to better protect and assist returnees and to contribute to
sustainable return in saety and dignity (see Table 1).
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Legal and return counselling in the host
country on an individual case basis that
looks at the specic situation o the
individual.
Reliable inormation on the situation
in the country o return specic to the
individual and her/his case.
Assistance to obtain relevant documents
prior to return, including support
or travel costs and health/medical
assistance.
Arrival and initial re-integrationsupport including legal advice,
assistance with registration procedures,
advice on how to access basic services
in the country o return, psycho-social
support, accommodation or an initial
period and basic humanitarian support
on a needs basis (in the individual case
or or a group o returnees).
Vocational or other skills training in
the host country or in the country o
return, preerably combined with job
matching or business start-up courses.
Monitoring and ollow-up in the
country o return.
Table 1: Best Practice and Current Roles ofEuropean National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
Best Practice ModelCurrent Roles o European NationalRed Cross and Red Crescent Societies
Return counselling provided by nine
European National Societies, usually
with reerral to IOM or other return
assistance programmes oered through
the government.
One European National Society oers
specic case-by-case inormation in co-
operation with Red Cross/Red Crescent
partners in countries o return.
Five European National Societies oer
reerrals to other organisations/websites.
Assistance to obtain relevant documents
and health/medical services is oered by
seven European National Societies
One European National Society oersspecic case-by-case assistance in co-
operation with Red Cross/Red Crescent
partners in countries o return.
Six European National Societies oer
reerral to other organisations.
Two European National Societies
oer assistance or reerral to other
organisations.
One European National Societies oers
vocational training opportunities in the
host country.
Three European National Societies oer
reerral to other organisations in host
and/or the country o return.
One European National Society
monitors living conditions ater return
in co-operation with Red Cross/RedCrescent partners in countries o return.
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8. Conclusions and Recommendations
Return assistance programmes and projects have been developed based on varying
realities and practices in dierent countries. At the same time, the EU Return Directive
provides or common standards and procedures and encourages governments to
provide or enhanced return assistance and counselling and to engage in the exchange
and promotion o best practices.35
Dierent local authorities and institutions share responsibilities or implementing
national return policies. Practices vary between the actors involved, but also within
authorities and institutions, rom one geographical area to another in the same
country. Relevant data and inormation on return is not easily accessible in host
countries and countries o return.
Return assistance is a relatively new area o engagement or the International Red
Cross and Red Crescent Movement. The European Red Cross Return Initiative project
has served to give a better understanding o the current roles o European National
Societies, their approaches and challenges.
Still, the perceptions o why, how and what services should be oered varies between
National Societies as well as within National Societies. Services provided by asylum/
reugee departments in the host country National Societies are extended to National
Societies in countries o return, hence entering the area o international co-operation.
The project has also helped to open up a dialogue between National Societies as
well as with other components o the Movement, through easibility assessments in
countries o return and discussions with the International Federation and the ICRC,
at headquarter and zone/eld level. This dialogue needs to continue and to embrace
the knowledge and the experiences o the dierent stakeholders, while at the same
time recognizing the need or piloting new approaches.
It is important to recall that the starting point or Red Cross and Red Crescent action
in avour o returnees is the additional vulnerability caused by return to persons who
are already in a vulnerable situation. As armed by the International Federations
Policy on Migration, National Societies are only concerned with the returnees own
needs and interests, and must at all times maintain their impartiality, neutrality and
independence.36
35 Directive 2008/115/EC o the European Parliament and o the Council o 16 December 2008 on common
standards and procedures in Member States or returning illegally staying third-country nationals, Ocial Journal
o the European Union, L 348, 24.12.2008
36 Return: Policy and Practice - A guide or European National Red Cross Red Crescent Societies, PERCO, 2008;Policy on Migration, International Federation o Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, 2009.
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Return assistance projects need to be in line with humanitarian standards, international
co-operation modalities and practices as dened by the Movement, including the
Seville Agreement.37
Recommendations
To Governments and EU Institutions
Governments must ensure that return only take place in sae and dignied
conditions, in ull respect or the human rights and dignity o those
aected. The principle onon-reoulement must be respected at all times.
Governments and EU institutions should increase eorts to support
vulnerable returnees and provide adequate resources or the development
o actions in line with best practices, rather than ocusing on coercive
acts.
Co-operation and co-ordination among governments should be enhanced
in order to acilitate the establishment o durable return and re-integration
programmes in countries o return, thus minimizing the need or ad hoc
assistance projects.
Better knowledge on the situation and ate o those that have returned
is needed in order to ensure the development o qualitative, relevant and
durable return assistance programmes, and to veriy the accuracy o
return decisions.
Return assistance programmes should acilitate economical as well as
social re-integration. An integrated approach should be adopted,
involving humanitarian as well as development actors.
Governments should support needs-based return assistance or all
nationalities and categories o returnees, i.e. both those returning
in compliance with an obligation to return and those who are subject to
enorced removal. Programmes should be open to all persons returning to
a particular country, irrespective o in which host country they are
residing.
Governments should oer skills and vocational training in the host
country or rejected asylum seekers and irregular migrants while they are
waiting to return to their country o origin.
37 Agreement on the organization o the international activities o the components o the International Red Cross and
Red Crescent Movement (The Seville Agreement), Resolution 6, Council o Delegates, 1997.
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Governments should, in close consultation with other stakeholders38,
develop common minimum standards or return assistance, with a baseline
o approaches, conditions and nancial assistance provided to returnees.
Funding instruments should support the development and implementation
o joint return assistance projects targeting individuals returning romseveral host countries to a specic country o return.
Governments and EU institutions should acilitate co-operation and
dialogue between all stakeholders involved at all levels in the return process
and support exchange and promotion o best practices, aiming at enhanced
return assistance (in line with the Return Directive). At the national level,
the appointment o a ocal point on return assistance could be one way
o supporting improved co-operation and co-ordination.
To the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement
Overall
Assisting migrants in return should be part o an integrated approach
that addresses the needs and vulnerabilities o all persons negatively
aected by migration, in line with the principles o the International
Federations Policy on Migration.
Development o additional return assistance activities should continue
towards the best practice model, in order or National Societies to
better protect and assist returnees. Continued and intensied co-operation
and co-ordination between National Societies in host countries as well as
with National Societies in countries o return are important elements o
a comprehensive best practice model.39
Current programmes or organisational development, which aim at
strengthening overall capacities o National Societies, must continue as
they contribute towards improving National Societies abilities to engage
in new areas o work, or example return assistance.
The roles o the dierent components o the Movement in relation
to return assistance should be urther elaborated and claried based on
practical experiences.
38 Including concerned National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and relevant NGOs.
39 See Chapter 7: A Best Practice Model.
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National Societies must assert the right oaccess to all returnees in need,
irrespective o their status. The provision o services must be organised
in such a way that all in need o assistance and protection can access
them, including persons in detention.40
Stringent programming conditions should be elaborated or situationswhere National Societies provide humanitarian assistance and monitor
conditions duringremoval operations (in accordance with the Policy on
Migration).
Vulnerability and capacity assessments should be carried out jointly by
National Societies in host countries and countries or return, taking into
account the humanitarian needs o the receiving community.
Further meetings to enhance dialogue, mutual understanding and
awareness about the situation o returnees, their needs and vulnerabilities
and how to best support sustainable return should be held within the
Movement, involving all National Societies concerned.
Dialogue and co-operation between national (asylum/reugee/migration)
and international departments o National Societies are essential and
should be urther developed.
Capacity-Building and Tools
National Societies in host countries and countries o return, in co-
ordination with the International Federation, should support each other
in building the capacities needed to better protect and assist returnees
(e.g. through sta exchange and mentor programmes), recognizing that
capacity-building is a joint responsibility.
National Societies engaged in return assistance should, based on the
International Federations Policy on Migration, develop more detailed
guidelines taking into account regional and local needs and constraints.
A toolbox on return assistance that provides practical guidance should
be developed. Such a toolbox could include advice on how to apply the
Movements Fundamental Principles in practice when assisting returnees,
which methods to use (e.g. regarding counselling) and how to apply
relevant provisions o international reugee and human rights law as well
as regional and national policies related to migration and return.
40 Return: Policy and Practice - A guide or European National Red Cross Red Crescent Societies, PERCO, 2008; seealso The Istanbul Commitments, 7th European Regional Red Cross and Red Crescent Conerence, 2007; Together
or Humanity, Resolution 1, 30th International Red Cross and Red Crescent Conerence, 2007.
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Towards Best Practice on Return Assistance
All activities must be carried out in accordance with the Policy on
Migration and the PERCO guide Return: Policy and Practice.
Work with return assistance or destitute migrants should be urtherdeveloped, more National Societies engaged and experiences shared
among National Societies.
National Societies in host countries should enhance the dialogue and co-
operation with National Societies in countries o return.
Co-operation between National Societies in host countries and countries
o return should include monitoring o conditions ater return in order to
assert the ate o the returnees concerned, to gain better knowledge
on how to support sustainable return and re-integration, and to inorm
advocacy.
Inormation networks and databases on conditions in countries o return
should be co-ordinated and shared among National Societies providing
return counselling services in order to allow or accurate and up-date
inormation on the situation in the locality o return, thereby contributing
towards a well inormed choice on return or the individual.
Networks should be established and meetings o National Society return
counsellors organised, supported by the International Federation,
in order to acilitate exchange o experiences and best practice, capacity-
building and development o common understanding.
Co-operation and contacts with other stakeholders, such as UNCHR,
IOM, NGOs and NGO networks on return, should be reinorced,
respecting Movement policies and principles concerning external co-
operation.
Joint and Co-ordinated Advocacy
Joint advocacy, inormed by conditions in countries o return and
taking into account the above recommendations to governments and EU
institutions, should be urther developed and pursued in a co-ordinated
way to ensure greater impact.
National Societies should, in particular, ollow-up on the implementation
o the EU Return Directive and related asylum and migration legislation,
and develop joint advocacy positions and strategies, targeting relevantdecision-makers and opinion leaders at all levels.
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The capacity or joint monitoring and infuencing EU policy-making
should be urther enhanced. The Red Cross/EU Oce should be
strengthened to play such a role in co-operation with National Societies
and the International Federation.
The Way Forward
The partners o the European Red Cross Return Initiative and the PERCO
Working Group on Return should provide continued leadership and
acilitate networking and mutual support between National Societies.
This report and its recommendations should be widely disseminated
within the Movement and, as appropriate, shared with external
stakeholders. As a ollow-up o the Istanbul Commitments adopted by
the 7th. European Regional Red Cross and Red Crescent Conerence,
the recommendations should be presented to the next European Regional
Conerence, to be held in 2010.
A joint ocal point should be appointed to ensure that the momentum
gained rom the ERCRI project continues. The role o the ocal point
should be to acilitate sharing o experiences and best practices, contribute
to development o practical tools, development o inormation on return
assistance, and networking with other stakeholders or learning purposes.
The ocal point could also play a co-ordinating role or pilot projects on
return. She/he should work in close co-operation with the PERCO
Working Group on Return as well as other stakeholders within and
outside the Movement.
Joint pilot projects should be developed or return to Kosovo, Iraq and
possibly a ew other countries/regions o return, in co-operation between
involved National Societies and the International Federation. Such
projects should be well documented or learning purposes. The model o
Operational Alliances could be tested, with one National Society acting
as ocal point on behal o other host country National Societies vis--vis
the National Society in the concerned country o return.
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Annex I
National Societies Engaged inReturn Assistance
This is an overview o return assistance activities in eleven European National
Red Cross Societies. The data presented below was collected in 2008.
Other Co-operationrelated and unding o
Target groups Return Activities activities activities
BelgianRed Cross Flemish
Migrants
and asylum
seekers who are
unwilling or
unable to remain
in Belgium and
wish to return to
their country o
origin.
Return counselling:
Inormation on practical
return modalities and
on possible sustainable
return projects available
in country o origin +
reerral to NGO in charge
o project;
Assisting the client to
make a well considered
decision on applying or
voluntary return or not.
Case fle preparation:
Obtaining travel
documents and liaison
with air companies or
medical cases.
Country o origin
inormation
provided through reerrals
to available websites.
No advocacy in the areao return.
Manage
reception and
repatriation
centres.
Restoring
Family Links.
Legal
assistance
or asylum
seekers.
Integration
activities.
Monitoring
o treatment
in airport
waiting zones.
BRC-Flemish
is a partner
to IOM Reab
programme
that is unded
by Belgium
Government.
Co-operation
with Caritas
Belgium.
Financed with
own means
and a service
ee rom IOM
o EUR 50 per
departed person.
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Other Co-operationrelated and unding
Target groups Return Activities activities o activities
BelgianRed Cross
French
Asylum
seekers, rejected
asylum seekers,recognized
reugees and
irregular
migrants who
are unwilling or
unable to remain
in Belgium and
wish to return to
their country o
origin.
Return counselling:
Inormation on
practical returnmodalities and on
possible sustainable
return projects
available in country
o origin + reerral
to NGO in charge o
project;
Assisting the client to
make a well considered
decision on applying
or voluntary return
or not.
Case fle preparation:
Administrative le or
Reab and another one
or the Re-integration
Fund. Assist in
obtaining travel
documents.
Social worker may
accompany returnee
to the airport i
requested.
Country o origin
inormation
provided through
reerrals to available
websites.
No advocacy at
present, but as result
o a current study on
voluntary return
advocacy may emergerom the conclusions.
Manage asylum
centres.
Restoring Family
Links
Legal assistance
or asylum
seekers
Integration
activities
Awareness raising
or social workerson return as
an option or
rejected asylum
seekers
Develops a
position on
return o rejected
asylum seekers
Co-operates with
International
department or
projects with
countries o
return.
Sensitization
project on risks
with migration
with the Red
Cross o the
Democratic
Republic o
Congo.
BRC-Flemish
is a partner
to IOM Reabprogramme
that is unded
by Belgium
Government.
Co-operation
with Caritas
Belgium, CIRE
or returnees to
Russia,
Wluchte-
lingenwerkVlaanderen and
others.
Return activities
nanced with
own means
and a service
ee rom IOM
o EUR 50 per
departed person.
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Other Co-operationrelated and unding
Target groups Return Activities activities o activities
BulgarianRed Cross
Asylum seekers,
irregular
migrants,rejected
asylum seekers,
detained
migrants,
reugees,
returnees and
tracking
victims.
No specic
programme
targeting retur-nees but provide
assistance when
necessary in
detention acilities.
Advocacy and
lobbying activities
on situation o
rejected asylum
seekers and irre-
gular migrants
through Bulgarian
Reugee Center,
where Bulgarian
Red Cross plays an
active role.
Manage migrant
detention acilities.
Counselling.
Humanitarian
assistance.
Provide inorma-
tion on country o
origin.
Restoring Family
Links.
Assistance with
money transersand oreign
embassies and
missions to obtain
travel documents.
Caritas Bulgaria
oers assistance to
migrants and asylumseekers.
Helsinki Committee
provides legal
assistance and
runs a detention
programme.
The Centre or
Assistance to
Victims o Torture.
MoU with Ministryo Interior or
assistance to
detained migrants
and detention
acilities.
Other Co-operationrelated and unding
Target groups Return Activities activities o activities
CroatianRed Cross
Peoplereturning rom
displacement
within the
region and
victims o
tracking.
Humanitarianassistance (ood,
clothes and medical
assistance)
Reerral to relevant
organisations
and authorities in
country.
Psychosocial
support
CommunityMobilization
Advocacy based on
Federation policies
and resolutions.
Promotion o the
need or rejected
asylum seekers
to be inormed
about their rights
and conditions
including access
to pre-departure
counselling.
Visits todetention centres.
Restoring amily
links.
Legal advice.
Integration
assistance.
Assists asylum
seekers in asylum
centres.
UNHCR
IOM
The Croatian Law
Centre
The Centre or Peace
Study
Agreements with
the Ministry o
Interior to support
asylum seekers
in centres, the
Ministry o Health
and Social Welare
or assistance to
and protection
o victims o
tracking, Ministry
o Human Rights
or combating
and preventing
tracking.
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Other Co-operationrelated and unding
Target groups Return Activities activities o activities
DanishRed Cross
Rejected
asylum seekers.
Pre-departure
counselling.
Accommodation,
ood and clothes
prior to departure.
Assistance with
packing personal
belongings.
Health care and
medical supplies
or three months in
country o return.
Vocational skills
training and job-
placements through
co-operating
partners.
Departure centres
or rejected asylum
seekers
Escorts i requested
by the returnee
to the country o
origin.
Country o origin
inormation through
reerrals to available
websites.
Regular dialogue
with government,
stressing not to
return too many to
a specic country aswell as allow time
or prepared and
co-ordinated return
activities.
Manage
reception and
accommodationcentres or
asylum seekers.
Integration
activities.
Vocational skills
training.
Initiated dialogue
and potential
co-operation withInternational
Department o
the Danish Red
Cross on return
activities and
reception services
in countries o
return.
Agreement on
co-operation with
AGEF in countrieso return but has
not yet been put into
practice.
Danish Government
unds Danish
Red Cross asylum
centres.
Specic project
on Return to Iraqwith Ministry o
Immigration where
the Danish Red
Cross is responsible
or vocational skills
training component.
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Other Co-operationrelated and unding
Target groups Return Activities activities o activities
GermanRed Cross
Rejected
asylum
seekers,irregular
migrants
and other
vulnerable
persons who
are obliged
to return to
their country
o origin,
irrespective
o whether
the personsconcerned
comply with
the obligation
to return or
are subject
to enorced
removal.
Return counselling:
Analysis o the
current residencesituation and
perspectives or
return.
Inormation about
the situation in
country o return.
Assistance with
travel arrangements
and administrative
procedures.
Assistance to
acquire nancialmeans and
qualication
measures (dierent
training course,
start-up business
support, and medial
care).
Escort i needed
to the airport in
Germany
Re-integration
activities in co-
operation with other
organisations where
possible
Country o origin
inormation provided
usually come rom
IOM and the
German Federal
Oce or Migration
and Reugees
Advocacy with
government on
receiving reugees,
grant human
rights to irregular
migrants, residence
permit to those who
have stayed or long
periods in Germany,
guarantee return
in dignity, avoidingdetention.
Restoring amily
links.
Legal advice
Integration
activities.
NGOs at ederal
level such as
ArbeiterwohlhartNrnberg, Die
Rummelsberger,
Caritas.
Funding rom
European Reugee
Fund, IOM-unding,
rom State, Federal
Land and local
authorities.
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Other Co-operationrelated and unding
Target groups Return Activities activities o activities
LuxembourgRed Cross
Everyone
subject to
enorcedremoval
Return counselling
and inormation on
assisted voluntaryreturn.
Assistance with
contacts in country
o return.
Monitoring o
enorced removal
on government
chartered fights.
Restoring amily
links.
Legal advice to
asylum seekers.
Integration
assistance.
Psychosocial
support in
detention centres.
Co-operation with
NGOs through
LetzebeurgerFluchlingsrot.
Other Co-operationrelated and unding
Target groups Return Activities activities o activities
SpanishRed Cross
Regular or
irregular
migrants that
wish to return
voluntarily.
Mainly
irregular
migrants and
vulnerable
persons
demand the
service.
Regular
migrants that
are lacking
employment
and wish
to return
(receivingthe whole
unemployment
benet they
are entitled
to in two
steps; beore
departure and
upon arrival
plus travel
costs).
Return counselling.
Travel arrangements,
pocket money
during journey
and administrative
procedures in Spain.
Case fle preparationsincluding social and
medical reports i any,
travel documents.
Health escorts i needed
by Spanish Red Cross
health volunteers
accompanying
Pre-departure assistance
through providing or
reerring to shelter
and access to ood.Accompany to hospital
or health acilities in
country o return, i
needed.
Business start up
support (pilot activity
planned or in the
uture).
Advocacy with
government to avoid
specic requirements orreturnees.
Manage
reception
centres.
Humanitarian
assistance
and social
mediation at
Madrid airport
transit zone or
asylum seekers
and detention
centres in the
Canary Islands.
Integration
and labour
integration
activities
Psycho-socialsupport.
Restoring
Family Links.
Legal advice.
Website on
migration legal
and social
counselling on
individual basis.
IOM, Spanish
Reugee
Council, MDPL
(Moviemento
por la Paz) and
ACCEM (Catholic
Commission or
Migrants) and
various networks
in Spain.
Most o budget
allocated or
migrant and
reugee services
are unded by
government,
regional and local
authorities.
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Other Co-operationrelated and unding
Target groups Return Activities activities o activities
SwissRed Cross
Asylum
seekers whose
procedureis pending.
Rejected
asylum
seekers with
a deadline
or departure
including
those in
detention.
Those granted
temporaryasylum
Irregular
migrants
Those in need
o protection
and
recognized
reugees.
Return counselling
on a) perspectives
or return and b) onreturn including:
Analysis o the
current situation
and perspectives or
return.
Inormation about
the situation in
country o return.
Assistance with
travel arrangements
and administrative
procedures inSwitzerland including
medical assistance.
Assistance to acquire
nancial means
and qualication
measures (dierent
training course, start-
up business support).
Case fle preparation:
Preparation and
supply o the relevant
inormation and
assistance needed or
clients to return in
saety and dignity.
Country o return
inormation on
request with IOM,
International Social
Services, other
National Societies,
diaspora networks
and persons that havereturned as sources.
Manage reception
centres.
Welare
assistance.
Integration
assistance.
Tracing and
restoring amily
links.
IOM and
International Social
Services.
Caritas and HEKS.
Government and
cantons are unding
the major part o the
activities.
Swiss Red Cross
own unding or
return counselling
in detention centres(8 cantons) and to
irregular migrants
(5 cantons). Those
groups are excluded
rom government
return unding.
Sponsoring actions
rom companies,
oundations etc.
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Othe