IOM Brussels organized between September 27th - October 3rd 2004 in coordination with the IOM Missions in Kiev, Chisinau and Bucharest and the Belgian Embassies in Romania and Ukraine a one week study tour for the Senators of the Commission of Interior of the Belgian Senate. The study tour allowed the members of the Commission of Interior to familiarize with the prevailing situation in the respective countries on IOM´s and goverernment related programmes, policies and initiatives in the areas of Assisted Voluntary Return (AVR), counter-trafficking and border management, as well as on cooperation with civil society and other international organizations.
The study tour allowed the Senators of the Commission of Interior of the Belgian Senate to meet with Key Governmental representatives and Ministries dealing with the return and reintegration of rejected asylum seekers from third countries including Belgium, counter-trafficking and law-enforcement officers as well as border management agencies including border police and border check points. Additional meetings have been organized with representatives of NGOs and other local agencies dealing with direct support to returnees and victims of trafficking.
On October 6th 2004, a debriefing was given by the President of the Commission of Interior of the Belgian Senate, Mr. Ludwig Vandenhove, in Brussels, during which the President thanked IOM for the successful organization of the study tour and mentioned that the delegation of the Senators have appreciated receiving detailed information on how the three countries are dealing with illegal migration and their plans for the future. The report of the Commission of Interior of the Belgian Senate can be retrieved at the Senate´s web site: http://www.senat.be/www/webdriver?MIval=index_senate&M=3&LANG=fr
Belgium has a police cooperation agreement with Romania, which was signed on November 1st 2002, while with Ukraine negotiations are still ongoing. In addition, Belgium and Luxembourg have signed a readmission agreement with Romania, but not with Moldova, while with Ukraine all readmission related negotiations are taking place within the larger EU framework. Labour migration is an area of significant interest for Belgium and regularization of migratory flows from the three countries is of great interest and concern for Belgium. The Commission expressed the hope that all three countries will increase their capacities in monitoring the flow of migrants coming through and from the respective countries to the European Union. The Commission acknowledged that all three countries make substantial efforts in controlling migratory flows but there is still a great need for capacity building programmes to improve levels of performance of migration-related agencies as well as exchange of accurate and timely information on migration related indicators.
The Commission emphasized that effective policies for socioeconomic development in the respective countries should be formulated according to their realities and needs in order to achieve long lasting sustainable results. It was also proposed that a more active AVR policy should be envisaged within the larger EU framework.
The Senate is looking to further cooperation with IOM in migration related policy and programming areas.
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