AIM OF THE EMN CONFERENCE

The EMN Conference sought to discuss current state of play in the field of return and further practical cooperation with countries of return and transit by bringing together European policy-makers and practitioners from the EU Member States, relevant EU institutions and agencies, EU-funded projects, inter-governmental organisations, non-governmental sector, academia as well as third countries. European return policy and measures was put into the broader context of current migration trends and realities as well as situation in the countries of return and transit in order to contribute to further EU policy-making in this area.

The Conference built upon the latest policy developments as well as EU legislation in the field of return and reintegration; foremost the European Agenda on Migration, EU Action Plan on Return and European Council’s Conclusions adopted on 15 October 2015. It collected best practices and lessons learned from various stakeholders and thus formulate conclusions for further use by the EU, its Member States and Norway. As the Slovak Presidency of the Council of the EU followed up on the Netherlands’ endeavours and results achieved in the return agenda.

The EMN Conference is an event at EU level which is organised by the EMN National Contact Point in connection with its Member State's Presidency of the Council of the EU. During the Dutch Presidency of the Council of the EU in the first half of 2016, the EMN Conference was organised in Amsterdam.

The conference was organised within the framework of the European Migration Network (EMN) under the first Slovak Presidency of the Council of the EU (www.eu2016.sk). The event was hosted by IOM Bratislava as the coordinator of EMN activities in Slovakia in cooperation with the Ministry of Interior of the Slovak Republic and the European Commission (DG Migration and Home Affairs).